Mike Honda: “I commend Chairman Pombo for introducing the Llagas Reclamation Groundwater Remediation Initiative. On January 16, 2003…”

“I commend Chairman Pombo for introducing the Llagas Reclamation Groundwater Remediation Initiative. On January 16, 2003, residents of San Martin, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy in south Santa Clara County were shocked to learn that perchlorate had been detected in more than 800 area wells. The approximately 90,000 residents of the Llagas Groundwater Subbasin rely solely on groundwater for their drinking water supply, but the perchlorate concentration in more than 200 wells exceeds the California Public Health Goal of 6 micrograms per liter. From 1956 to 1996, the Olin Corporation owned and, along with Standard Fusee, operated a flare manufacturing facility on Tennant Avenue in Morgan Hill. During that time, waste water containing perchlorate was discharged to evaporation ponds on the site, which allowed perchlorate to enter the subsurface and contaminate groundwater. The perchlorate was first detected in a public water supply well across the street from the Olin facility in Spring 2002. Subsequent groundwater testing by Olin and the Santa Clara Valley Water District revealed a 10.5 mile long perchlorate plume contaminating the groundwater in the area. As a result, bottled water is being provided to approximately 800 households, and thousands of other residents are receiving treated groundwater from the city of Morgan Hill, the West San Martin Water Works, or San Martin County Water District.”