Fresh Concerns About Drinking Water Near NJ Superfund Site
RINGWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Lead in the water in Flint, Michigan was a wake up call for the entire country.
Now, there's renewed attention being paid in northern New Jersey to a source of drinking water for roughly 3 million people.
The Wanaque Reservoir sits about a mile downstream from a Superfund site in Ringwood, where nearly 50 years ago Ford dumped paint, sludge and other industrial waste, and there are concerns the water is being tainted.
"There has certainly been sufficient time, and there has certainly been sufficient toxic waste that was dumped in upper Ringwood that over time has certainly made it down to the reservoir," environmental watchdog Robert Spiegel told WCBS 880's Sean Adams.
The Record reports the Environmental Protection Agency has monitored groundwater and found no contamination migrating offsite.
Nevertheless, it has ordered additional wells to be dug as a precaution to make sure benzene, arsenic and lead are not migrating toward water sources.
Environmentalists fear water pollution could already be widespread and want the soil removed, not capped.
The EPA will host a public meeting March 1.