In just under two weeks residents of Nikiski will hear how groundwater is moving through the district, setting the stage for future investigations into possible pollution.
The findings of DOWL KHM’s groundwater study will be presented March 23rd at the Nikiski Senior Center on Island Lake Road.
Environmental Specialist Emily Creely said last November they tested more than 60 wells in order to map and model the level, direction, and patterns of groundwater…
Creely: “Basically between the McGahan airstrip and the dock and then between Island Lake Road and Wick Road and the high school basically and Marhenke Street.”
The concern rose to the forefront in 2012 when AIMM Technologies proposed building a monofill site on Halliburton Drive, near a site which was used to process oilfield waste in the 1970’s and 80’s. Testing of that site revealed contamination levels less than ten times below state standards for drinking water.
Previous water tests revealed multiple aquifers in Nikiski running in different directions, which made it difficult to trace where any potential contamination would run.
Environmental Specialist Zach Huff said the $119,970 study was paid for with a $150,000 state grant.
Huff : “It’s based off of a request from the borough who received a grant from the State to determine how this works in this area. There have been historical issues of contamination and they essentially want to map the flow of the contamination, so our model will help them get an idea of what directions contaminates are moving.”
Huff said the study does not reveal whether there is any contamination, it simply maps groundwater in preparation for future studies.