The St. Charles Water Shutdown: An Analysis on the Findett Corp. Superfund Site

Start Date

23-4-2026 12:00 AM

Description

The Findett Corporation Superfund Site, or also known as the Hayford Bridge Road Groundwater Site, in St. Charles, Missouri was historically used for reprocessing industrial fluids. The site is contaminated with hazardous materials including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which have impacted both soil and groundwater. This study examines the environmental and public health risks associated with this site using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping to spatially analyze contaminant plumes, proximity to residential areas, and critical areas such as the Elm Point Well Field, a major drinking water source located nearby. The analysis integrates historical contamination data and hydrogeological features to assess current exposure risks and model potential future migration of contaminants to highlight the ongoing vulnerability of nearby populations due to groundwater transport pathways. It shows the importance of continued remediation efforts and provides a spatial framework to protect community health and local water resources

Research Highlights

  • The Problem: Groundwater contamination from the Findett Corp. Superfund site, specifically volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), threatens municipal drinking water sources in the Elm Point Well Field. 

  • The Method: Spatial analysis was conducted using ArcGIS Pro and the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) geoprocessing tool to map water elevation, flow direction, and average concentrations of vinyl chloride, cis-1,2-DCE, benzene, and 1,1-DCE based on December 2025 monitoring data. 

  • Quantitative Finding: Vinyl chloride concentrations increased in monitoring wells MW-C15, MW-C16, and MW-C17 between 2015 and 2025; average concentration changes included a 12.2 ppb increase at MW-C11 and a 40.0 ppb increase at MW-C12 for vinyl chloride; the human health risk assessment assumes a consumption rate of two liters of water per day over an entire lifetime. 

  • Qualitative Finding: Groundwater moves northeast toward the municipal well field; the contaminant plume shifted from the vicinity of MW-C12 and MW-C13 in 2015 to MW-C15 in 2025; vinyl chloride presents the highest carcinogenic risk through the primary exposure pathway of ingestion. 

  • Finding: While the City of St. Charles's finished water remains safe due to treatment capabilities and supplemental water purchases from St. Louis, the Operable Unit 3 (OU3) plume continues to pose a long-term risk to public health and drinking-water sources.

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Apr 23rd, 12:00 AM

The St. Charles Water Shutdown: An Analysis on the Findett Corp. Superfund Site

The Findett Corporation Superfund Site, or also known as the Hayford Bridge Road Groundwater Site, in St. Charles, Missouri was historically used for reprocessing industrial fluids. The site is contaminated with hazardous materials including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which have impacted both soil and groundwater. This study examines the environmental and public health risks associated with this site using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping to spatially analyze contaminant plumes, proximity to residential areas, and critical areas such as the Elm Point Well Field, a major drinking water source located nearby. The analysis integrates historical contamination data and hydrogeological features to assess current exposure risks and model potential future migration of contaminants to highlight the ongoing vulnerability of nearby populations due to groundwater transport pathways. It shows the importance of continued remediation efforts and provides a spatial framework to protect community health and local water resources