newmark ground water contamination

BUNKER HILL GROUND WATER BASIN

The Newmark Groundwater Contamination site underlies approximately eight square miles of land in the northwestern and west-central portions of San Bernardino, California, which have been developed for light industry and residential use. The site consists of two contaminated groundwater plumes at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains: the Newmark Plume area extends for 5 miles on the eastern side of Shandin Hills, while the 4-mile long Muscoy Plume area lies to the west of Shandin Hills. The groundwater contamination from Norton Air Force Base is not considered part of this site. Detection of the contamination occurred in 1980 with the institution of a water supply monitoring program, although the suspected disposal may have occurred as early as the 1940s. The discovery of the contaminants, including chlorinated solvents, tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and trichloroethylene (TCE), resulted in the closing of 20 water supply wells within a 6-mile radius of the site. Twelve of the wells resumed operation after the State installed air stripping towers on eight wells and carbon filtration systems on the other four. The site covers part of an essential groundwater aquifer for the City of San Bernardino. The Bunker Hill Basin’s primary groundwater supplies water to the city and its surrounding areas. More than 25 percent of the municipal water supply for the City of San Bernardino's 175,000 residents has been affected by the advancing contamination plumes. The City of Riverside, with a population of approximately 250,000, relies on wells down gradient from the Newmark plume for approximately 75 percent of its total water supply. Over 115,000 people in the rapidly growing communities of Colton, Loma Linda, Fontana, Rialto, and several unincorporated areas also use well water unprotected from the contamination. Newmark groundwater is a primary local source of public water for the City of San Bernardino.

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