Contamination of a Municipal Water Supply Well - Private Client

Rincon’s client operated a gasoline service station in Norwalk, California from the 1950s until the underground fuel storage tanks were removed in 1997.  Soil sampling for environmental purposes first occurred here in 1991.  Since that time, soil borings and groundwater monitoring wells have been installed on the property.  Free phase gasoline has been identified in groundwater below this site.  That free phase gasoline has been subject to weekly removal commencing in 1998.

Rincon also reviewed documents pertaining to a City of Norwalk’s municipal water supply well.  Groundwater samples obtained from this well contained several volatile organic compounds, including tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), and 1,2 dichloroethane (1,2 DCA).  The City of Norwalk identified Rincon’s client as one of several gasoline service stations that have had releases of gasoline; the City of Norwalk alleges that these releases have resulted in the contamination of their municipal supply well with 1,2 DCA.

For this project, Rincon reviewed soil and groundwater analyses collected from the many sites in the vicinity of the client property and municipal supply well.We reviewed hydrogeological reports, contamination degradation, contamination associations, groundwater flow models, stratigraphy, and site geology to develop a strategy to defend our client.  We were deposed and provided in-court testimony as an expert witness for this case.  The case was successfully defended.