Tustin Military Base Could Be Toxic.

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TCE contamination from el toro has already seeped into the ground water southwest of the base. the water in the lakes at woodbridge are polluted but so far the toxic plume has not reached drinking water wells. it'll be about 10-15 yrs before that happens at the current rate of the plumes movement but there's no easy fix so its a race against the clock.



google TCE woodbridge and you'll find plenty of discussion dating back several yrs. go to the IRWD website and you'll find info on the ongoing project to pump contaminants out. woodbridge residents had a vote few yrs back on whether to allow pumping wells to be built in the neighborhood that would speed the process but for some reason the NIMBYs decided against it.



this is not new, but somehow they've managed to keep a lot of this quiet outside of the woodbridge community. shows how much irvine residents really follow local news.
 
[quote author="acpme" date=1217464120]TCE contamination from el toro has already seeped into the ground water southwest of the base. the water in the lakes at woodbridge are polluted but so far the toxic plume has not reached drinking water wells. it'll be about 10-15 yrs before that happens at the current rate of the plumes movement but there's no easy fix so its a race against the clock.



google TCE woodbridge and you'll find plenty of discussion dating back several yrs. go to the IRWD website and you'll find info on the ongoing project to pump contaminants out. woodbridge residents had a vote few yrs back on whether to allow pumping wells to be built in the neighborhood that would speed the process but for some reason the NIMBYs decided against it.



this is not new, but somehow they've managed to keep a lot of this quiet outside of the woodbridge community. shows how much irvine residents really follow local news.</blockquote>


Media censorship is well and alive in Irvine.
 
I recommend the free <a href="http://www.irwd.com/FreePrograms/tours.php">Irvine Ranch Water District Tour</a> for all Irvine Residents.

I found it very informative and interesting.



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Have you ever wondered how the water from your tap gets there? Or what makes that water safe to drink? IRWD hosts free Water Awareness Tours each year for those who live or work within IRWD boundaries. Tours are hosted by an IRWD board member and are designed to give residents an opportunity to learn more about IRWD, encourage an open dialogue, and to answer questions regarding the District.



Included is a discussion of water sources, water supply issues, rates, water conservation, water quality, the water distribution system and other issues. Also featured are tours of the IRWD Water Quality Laboratory, the Michelson Water Reclamation Plant, and a bus tour to other District facilities. A special attraction is a guided tour of a portion of the San Joaquin Marsh. We also offer a Virtual Tour of the Michelson Water Reclamation Plant.



These free tours are held on Fridays and Saturdays, starting at 8 a.m. and concluding at 2 p.m. Lunch is provided. We are unable to accommodate children under 16 year of age on the tours.



The Spring Tour Series runs from mid-April through mid-June. Dates for the Spring tours are generally announced in January and will be posted on the IRWD web site, published in the Pipelines billing insert. The Fall Tour Series runs from mid-September through late October. Dates for the Fall tours are generally announced in July and are publicized as noted above. Space on each tour is limited and the reservations fill quickly.
 
[quote author="acpme" date=1217464120]TCE contamination from el toro has already seeped into the ground water southwest of the base. the water in the lakes at woodbridge are polluted but so far the toxic plume has not reached drinking water wells. it'll be about 10-15 yrs before that happens at the current rate of the plumes movement but there's no easy fix so its a race against the clock.



google TCE woodbridge and you'll find plenty of discussion dating back several yrs. go to the IRWD website and you'll find info on the ongoing project to pump contaminants out. woodbridge residents had a vote few yrs back on whether to allow pumping wells to be built in the neighborhood that would speed the process but for some reason the NIMBYs decided against it.



this is not new, but somehow they've managed to keep a lot of this quiet outside of the woodbridge community. shows how much irvine residents really follow local news.</blockquote>


So has this done anything for resale value in Woodbridge?
 
The fly sat on the axle tree of the chariot wheel and said, 'What a dust I do raise!'

(Frances Bacon)



The TCE groundwater concerns really should not keep you up at night, or cause you to panic-sell your house in Irvine. TCE is a common contaminant, easily detected, easily removed. And routinely monitored by water supply purveyors such as IRWD. (Irvine residents [like me] received their annual water quality report from IRWD last month.)



Let me pose a question, and an answer from an expert, published in the journal <em>Ground Water</em> and re-printed (where I found it) in the text "Contaminant Hydrogeology"



Question: Which is safer to consume: 1) One glass of well water from the dirtiest TCE well in Silicon Valley (560 times the amount deemed safe in drinking water by EPA and California Health Department) or 2) One peanut butter sandwich.



The "loser" is the peanut butter sandwich. It is 7.5 times as hazardous, according to the data available. (Peanut butter contains a minute quantity of a carcinogen called aflatoxin.)

Reference: Table 1.6 in "Contaminant Hydrogeology", by C.W.Fetter, MacMillan Publishing
 
Go Illini are you a Hydrogeologist?



Irvine is going down the tubes. With the prison (Musick) they are expanding prices will drop even further.
 
[quote author="S_man" date=1217507576]Go Illini are you a Hydrogeologist?



</blockquote>
Environmental/Civil Engineer. 30 years experience, mainly cleaning up contaminated soil/groundwater sites.



I'm NOT advocating running out and taking avoidable risks, like drinking contaminated water. But we should be realistic in evaluating relative risk. My risk of injury or death is a lot higher from driving the 405 freeway to work than it is from living above a groundwater contamination plume that I don't drink from, and has very little, if any, impact on my daily life. If I was really concerned with avoiding any cancer risk, I would have to avoid a LOT of things that make life enjoyable. I mentioned peanut butter, but other items in the list I referenced are shrimp, cooked bacon, broiled fish, bread, herbal tea, root beer, cola, brown mustard, basil, coffee, beer and wine.



Swimming in a chlorinated swimming pool for an hour has twice the cancer risk as drinking the water containing TCE. But by accepting the tiny increase in cancer risk, I'm avoiding a much larger risk of contracting any one of a host of bacterial and viral diseases, as well as <em>decreasing</em> my risk of heart attack, by getting some much-needed exercise.
 
[quote author="asianinvasian" date=1217477149]

So has this done anything for resale value in Woodbridge?</blockquote>


no, it really hasn't. which makes it all ok right?



<a href="http://216.173.246.226/Astories/feb5/woodwell.htm">Irvine World News from 2004 - Woodbridge Residents Fight Well</a>

<a href="http://216.173.246.226/Astories/feb19/letters0219.htm">Irvine World News - Letters to Editor from Woodbridge residents</a>



woodbridge residents know. they've just chosen to keep their mouths shut to protect their own interests.



--



Here's a blog set up by a group former marines stationed at el toro who are pretty pissed about the TCE contamination.

<a href="http://www.mwsg37.com/">http://www.mwsg37.com/</a>
 
The problem with TCE groundwater contamination is the leaching into surface water where it quickly volatizes into airborne gas. I can easily scrub the TCE from my drinking water with a carbon-based water filter. Living next to a lake that is being continually contaminated and is venting TCE into the air I breathe on top of the pollution from the freeways is more added risk. Like much pollution, it's low grade long term exposure that messes you up.
 
So Irvine and the surrounding areas are all screwed if and when TCE goes into the air? Like LA and China with all the air pollution?



Sounds like we're going to need more signed waivers!





[quote author="No_Such_Reality" date=1217551462]The problem with TCE groundwater contamination is the leaching into surface water where it quickly volatizes into airborne gas. I can easily scrub the TCE from my drinking water with a carbon-based water filter. Living next to a lake that is being continually contaminated and is venting TCE into the air I breathe on top of the pollution from the freeways is more added risk. Like much pollution, it's low grade long term exposure that messes you up.</blockquote>
 
It depends on the levels and exposure duration which dictates buildup. And frankly, house to house, person to person will vary greatly.



<a href="http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/investigations/soil_gas/svi_guidance/fs_tce.htm">NY State Health Department on TCE vapor intrusion.</a>
 
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