EPA has ordered the city and county to build a system that will extract, treat and remove the contaminant from the aquifer.
EPA said that the contaminant, perchloroethylene, is above the maximum contaminant level under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
In October 2009, the Agency also ordered the county and city to develop a plan for the removal of the contamination, and the current order directs the county and city to complete the remedial action according to the 2009 plan.
The source of the contamination has been identified as historical releases that occurred at the site known as the Griggs and Walnut Ground Water Plume Superfund Site, named after two intersecting streets in Las Cruces, and the releases were most likely associated with maintenance activities or waste disposal.
