The above map describes the relationship between the original heating oil spill and the town water wells. The circle at the hospital site represents the approximate location of the 1987 heating oil leak at Kent and Queen Anne’s Hospital (the old hospital), along Roberts Street on the east side of the current. The lower circle represents the town well-head closest to the oil remediation area.
Amounts of oils leaked, recovered and recoverable—quantities fiercely debated— will be the topic of a 6:00 pm Tuesday meeting at Town Hall when the Maryland Department of Environment discusses their plan for extracting the remaining oil with the Mayor, and Town Council.
Currently no traces of oil have been detected in the town water supply.
Front image: Chestertown Well-Head on N. Kent St.
Dan Menefee says
Good graphic. I would like to point out though that oil components have been discovered in monitoring wells at or near Campus ave that had never before detected liquid phase hydrocarbons, a property of heating oil. This migration is fairly recent, in the last three years, and as a result of turning the pump and treat system off in 10 months during 2012 and 2013 — and without notifying the town. This new detection is a fact that can not be ignored as we consider whether to free 80,000 gallons of oil trapped precariously in the subsurface — with no assurance that all of it can be reclaimed in the process. Are we willing to put up $20 million to rebuild our water infrastructure from scratch — after the hospital is cleared of any liability when the case is closed in a year?
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David Foster says
Thanks to the Chestertown Spy for providing this visual perspective of the oil spill.
Unfortunately, this visual fails to show the drinking well that has already had to be closed (without compensation from the Hospital) because MDE feared that the mere act of pumping water from that well might suck the oil down hill at a faster rate. In addition, the map fails to show that the entirety of the spill is within the MDE prescribed “Wellhead Protection Area,” an area intended to provide special protection to drinking water particularly from the threat of Leaking Underground Storage Tanks. Sadly, neither the people who live in this immediate area nor those who receive their drinking water from the town of Chestertown have ever been officially informed about the nature or the extent of this threat.
Richard Norton says
This is an Eastern Shore novel in the making.
??? Migration fairly recent? Pumps turned off??
??? Hospital clear of liability in 2016???
Where can I find an internet site with all the documents and data from this case of negligence. Where is Brokavitch?
Time to be vocal and respond with actions that affect the $$$$$ at the hospital.
RVN