Old Gas Leak Sparks Water Ban in Wisconsin

By: Nathan Lamb

Contaminants from an old gas leak have left residents of a Wisconsin apartment complex without drinking water for more than three months, according to this article from the Kenosha News.

Roughly 25 residents of the Lincoln Crest Apartments at Twin Lakes have been getting by on bottled water since high levels of a gasoline additive were discovered at the complex’s well by the state's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in late October.

The testing revealed methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), a fuel octane heightening compound that’s considered a potential carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The contamination was traced back to leaky tanks at a neighboring gas station, which were removed in the early ‘90s. Contaminated soil was found up to 10 feet underground and excavated from the site, and shallow wells nearby were re-drilled because of the problem.

While leakage has stopped the gas station, the groundwater remains an issue. Contamination was discovered at two neighboring sites with deeper wells over the past five years. A DNR official says that it’s unclear how the contamination reached that deeper aquifer, but added that MBTE moves quickly though soil and can spread rapidly through groundwater.

A new and deeper well is being drilled for the Lincoln Crest Apartments, using funds from a state gas inspection tax.

Twin Lakes is a village of roughly 6,000 people, approximately 50 miles southwest of Milwaukee.

Texas Residents Blame Oil Producer for Mysterious Illnesses

By: Duane Craig

“Respiratory problems, stomach issues, heart issues, fatigue and aches and pains” top residents lists of ailments in the Cherry Creek subdivision in Shepherd, Texas, according to this Eastex Advocate article. One resident even claims to be waking up at night with chest pains and vomiting. Residents claim an oil producer nearby, Famcor, is the source of air pollution, or other contamination, that is making them sick.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was on the case looking for air quality issues while the Texas Railroad Commission, which is supposed to handle investigations into soil and water contamination, had been elusive about answering questions related to their activities in the case -- at least at the time the article referenced above was published. One resident claimed to be told by an official of the agency that it didn’t have enough people to regulate all the businesses it is supposed to oversee and that some of its required inspections were years behind schedule.

TCEQ says it hasn’t found any air quality violations and has monitored the area on seven occasions, even using infrared cameras at times. The suspect company has a permit that allows it to release a certain amount of pollution. The investigation and air quality testing continues.

Mold Contamination Figures into Long Running Construction Defect Issues

By: Duane Craig
Approximately 70 residents in a housing development in Manatee County, Fla., want their homebuilder to buy back their homes because of structural defects, water intrusion, mold and sinking floors, according to this article.

Two former employees of the builder, KB Home, claim they advised management of the problems and recommended that home sales be stopped until the causes of the defects were discovered and corrected. Those employees were subsequently fired and they each brought lawsuits against the company in 2007 and 2009. A local, licensed contractor who inspected one of the residences said architectural plans had not been followed and the lumber used to build the home was contaminated with mold before it was ever installed. The mold contamination then spread throughout the structure. One homeowner had to move out of his house on more than one occasion so that repairs could be made. He is especially angry at the builder, now believing the company knew about the problems all along.

These cases at Willowbrook townhome community have prompted the Manatee County Board of Commissioners to support legislation at the state’s level that would remove mandatory arbitration clauses from contracts dealing with home sales and construction. The clauses effectively remove the option for homeowners to pursue civil lawsuits and often tie them up in mediation proceedings that exhaust their resources, according to this editorial