2 Wells in L.A. Found to Be Contaminated

Two wells in Los Angeles have been found to be contaminated by the industrial chemicals TCE and DCE, state Health Services Director Kenneth Kizer said Friday.

He said water in the wells contains TCE and DCE in concentrations of 7.5 parts per billion and 0.7 parts per billion, exceeding the state action levels of 5 ppb for TCE and 0.1 ppb for DCE.

TCE and DCE, widely used as industrial cleaning solvents and chemical manufacturing intermediates, can cause liver and kidney damage in persons in high concentrations.

The Los Angeles City Department of Water and Power serves residents from a total of 71 wells in the San Fernando Valley ground-water basin, from which the contaminated wells draw their water.

Dilution Process

Water from the contaminated wells is pumped into a large reservoir where it is diluted with water from uncontaminated wells so that the concentrations of TCE and DCE decrease before it is distributed to customers.

Kizer said the source of the contamination is not known. However, he said it appears to be another case of contamination by chlorinated hydrocarbons that have been found in other wells located in the basin.

Kizer said the findings are the result of an extensive statewide program by his department to determine the extent of organic chemical contamination of wells that supply drinking water.