Groundwater Remediation
Tumamoc Landfill
The assessment and remediation of the Tumamoc Landfill is a jointly funded project between the City of Tucson and the University of Arizona. Due to the open space value of this property and the general area s use by the world renowned Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill, there is strong community involvement and support at the site.
The City regularly monitors the groundwater quality and reports this data to the community through a newsletter delivered door to door. In 2003, the current monitoring well network of ten groundwater wells was completed. That data shows the delineation of contaminants that include volatile organic compounds, such as tetrachloroethene (PCE), and the inorganic compound nitrate. PCE is an industrial solvent while nitrate may be associated with agricultural uses. The State of Arizona regulates both of these compounds.
The City of Tucson s water supply facilities are not affected by the groundwater contamination at the Tumamoc Landfill. Residents living in the area around the Tumamoc Landfill receive their water from either Avra Valley, west of the Tucson Mountains, or from other Tucson Water facilities located miles away from the landfill. Tucson Water regularly monitors all water delivered to customers to ensure it meets local, state, and federal drinking water standards.
The City is planning the following additional action at the Tumamoc Landfill in 2004:
- Investigate off-site sources for the nitrate contamination;
- Conduct the first quarter sampling in February 2004 for all wells;
- Complete a state of the area geophysical survey to delineate the waste and determine the potential for wetted areas within and below the waste;
- Initiate a design to address the surface drainage and ponding on the landfill. This is important as water ponding on the landfill can exacerbate the movement of contaminants through a landfill; and
- Continue to inform the public through public meetings and this web page.
Newsletter Archives:
July 2005 Newsletter (pdf)
April 2004 Newsletter
December 2003 Newsletter
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