Now, Frank Resides and John Pizzo want to know where it came from. "We're concerned about the health of our families and our neighborhood," John Pizzo said.
"When you get something in your groundwater you have it from now on," Resides said. "It's very hard to correct a groundwater problem."
Pizzo and Resides live on along Reservoir Road in East Goshen. Almost 20 residents there have had their wells tested and, in each case, isopropyl alcohol was detected. The chemical, in high doses, can cause headaches, dizziness, and depression among other side effects.
"I think it's a natural for people to have a concern about it and want to know where the source is," said Steve Sinding of the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection.
Resident concerns began when Methyl Tertiary Butyl or MTBE was leaked in high concentrations from a nearby Sunoco station. It's very dangerous to humans and has since been phased out by gas companies. But many residents believe this station is the source of the alcohol.
Sunoco denies the claim, saying it doesn't add the alcohol to its gas.
The DEP agrees.
Currently, there is no state groundwater standard for isopropyl alcohol. A standard is expected later this year, with a limit of 15,000 parts per billion. The highest level found in East Goshen is just 185.
