More water wells contaminated by fuel pipeline leak

JACKSON – Seven wells show signs of benzene contamination after a fuel pipeline leak near the Town of Jackson in Washington County. Now, water testing is being conducted on the wells of 70 other homes near the spill area. Those tests should indicate whether the water contains high levels of the carcinogen.

The gasoline leak occurred on Tuesday, July 17th. It released an estimated 54,000 gallons of gasoline from an underground pipeline.

Residents living near the leak are concerned, as levels of benzene in the water is measuring at 500, 1,000 and even 2,000 times higher than the standard for safe drinking water.

"It's one thing for me to take a shower, my husband to take a shower, and then I start thinking about the dishes and the laundry, and then we have a pool," Jennifer Holt, a Town of Jackson homeowner said.

"I don't like the fact that it happened, but I do think they are working pretty hard at it and I'm not upset yet," Loyd Fulton, another Town of Jackson homeowner said. Fulton has lived in the area since 1965.

West Shore Pipe Line has been taking actions to clean up the spill. That includes excavating contaminated soil, conducting air quality monitoring, installing groundwater monitoring wells and sampling water supply wells at homes near the spill location.

People who live in homes potentially affected by the pipeline leak are invited to attend a public informational meeting Tuesday, July 31st to update the public on what's happening. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Jackson Area Community Center, located at N165 W20330 Hickory Lane, Jackson, WI, 53037.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.

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