Two cancer-causing chemicals have been found in three wells near the Madison Early Childhood Learning Center on Bahl Avenue.
  

One of the chemicals is TCE, a non-flammable, colorless liquid with a somewhat sweet odor and a sweet burning taste.  It is used as a cleaner to remove grease from metal parts.  It is also found in glues, paint removers, typewriter correction fluids, and spot removers.

The other is DCE, a highly flammable, chlorinated, colorless liquid that has a sharp, harsh odor.  It is used when mixing other chlorinated chemicals and is most often used to produce chemical solvents.

Both can have adverse health effects in high concentrations over long periods of time. 

Matt Work, Environmental Health Director for the Mansfield-Ontario-Richland County Health Department, says the discovery in dictates ground water contamination that may affect drinking water. 

Children attending the learning center have been using bottled water for drinking, cooking, and hand-washing and residents are urged to do the same.

Work says the water is safe for washing clothes and dishes, but may present a small risk from showering. 

More wells will be tested to determine the extent and cause of the contamination. 

The health department is working with the E-P-A to come up with short and long-term relief, such as carbon filters being installed at the affected wells to remove the chemicals, and city water lines being installed next spring.    

The affected area is south of Park Avenue East between Hickory Lane and South Illinois Avenue, Park Avenue East between Eastlawn Avenue and Illinois Avenue, and North Street.  
  

If you have any questions, call the health department at 419-774-4520 or long onto its website www.richlandhealth.org, or call the Ohio Department of Health at 614-644-8562, or Darla Peelee at the Ohio EPA at 614-728-0035.