Troy residents are invited to a public meeting tonight as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlines plans for upcoming cleanup work at the East Troy Contaminated Aquifer Superfund site. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Bravo Room at Hobart Arena, 255 Adams Street.

The EPA, with help from the Ohio EPA, will explain the short-term soil cleanup project set to begin later this month. The work will focus on removing contaminated soil outside the former Hobart building, near the intersection of North Clay and East Water streets. Excavation is expected to begin after Memorial Day weekend.

Crews will dig out and dispose of soil contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), then refill the area with clean material and finish with an asphalt surface. It’s part of a larger, long-term effort to address pollution that’s affected roughly 20 city blocks near the Great Miami River. 

The contamination—mostly PCE and TCE, both linked to health risks—has impacted soil, groundwater, and even indoor air. In 2007, vapor mitigation systems were installed in 16 homes and a school. The contamination there was traced to two former auto repair shops, and a private well in the area tested positive for VOCs. Plans for that site include removing the private well, connecting the affected property to the city’s water system, using microbes and organic material to naturally break down pollutants in the aquifer, and putting land use restrictions in place to prevent future exposure. Groundwater and vapor levels will also be closely monitored. 

In 2020, a $6 million cleanup plan was proposed, including:

• Groundwater: injecting into the aquifer microorganisms and an organic carbon food source for the organisms to break down contaminants
• Private well: connect the affected property to the city water supply and remove the private well
• Place controls on land and groundwater use
• Monitor contaminants in groundwater and potential vapor intrusion.

More recently, the EPA has focused on two key areas of concern: the East Water Street Soil Source and a residential plume. Work there has included chemical injections into the ground to break down pollutants, and a pilot test using permanganate to treat the groundwater is currently underway.

In early 2025, EPA contractors began collecting soil samples from the former Hobart Cabinet site in Troy, Ohio. The goal? To confirm contamination levels before kicking off excavation at the East Water Street Soil Source Area later this spring. These tests helped make sure any waste from the dig would be handled, transported, and disposed of properly and in line with both EPA and Ohio regulations.

Looking ahead, a pilot study is set to run through summer 2025. It’ll test whether a chemical called permanganate can reduce VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in the site’s groundwater. For more details, check out the January 2025 fact sheet.

City officials continue to say that the city's drinking water is safe. Troy City Engineer Jill Rhoades said the local water system already includes pre-treatment to remove VOCs before the water reaches homes. “Troy ensures the quality of our water by implementing treatment processes that remove the contaminants to non-detect levels,” she said.

The West Troy contaminated aquifer was featured on Cleveland.com's most toxic places in the state of Ohio.

Tomorrow's meeting is an opportunity for residents to get the facts, ask questions, and understand how these cleanups will protect the community’s health and environment moving forward.