South Bay : Wells May Be Drilled to Stop Toxic Seepage
The state wants to dig five extraction wells at a former trash dump in Rolling Hills Estates to prevent contaminated ground water from seeping farther into Torrance.
The wells would be installed along Crenshaw and Hawthorne boulevards near the boundary between the former county landfill and the Torrance city line. Ground water contaminated with arsenic and other dangerous chemicals has oozed 500 to 800 feet from the landfill site into the neighboring city. The tainted water lies 20 to 70 feet below the ground and poses no threat to nearby sources of drinking water, said Chris Fox of the state Department of Toxic Substances Control.
Once extracted from the wells, the contaminated water would be neutralized and safely disposed of, Fox said.
From 1952 to 1980, 23.6 million tons of waste were dumped at the landfill, including a small percentage of hazardous chemicals such as cleaning solvents and petroleum products. The 291-acre site is now occupied by a park, a botanic garden and a horse riding range.
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