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  • What should I do if my water has elevated nitrates and/or exceeds the MCL?

    If nitrate exceeds the MCL of 10 mg/L, you should find a safe alternative drinking water supply. The quickest thing to do is to begin using bottled water for drinking. Another option is to install a treatment that will remove nitrate from your water such as reverse osmosis or a…

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  • Why is nitrate contamination a concern?

    Nitrate is an acute contaminant, meaning that health effects can occur immediately (I.e. within hours or days) of short-term exposure. Too much nitrate in your body makes it harder for red blood cells to carry oxygen. While most people recover quickly, this can be very dangerous for infants and some…

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  • What is the geographic definition of the Norwood Landfill Site?

    The Norwood Landfill Site consists of multiple areas, including the Old Norwood Dump, the Norwood Landfill, and the Winona Homes Neighborhood. Based upon EPA’s extensive historical research which includes historical aerial photos, newspaper archives from the late 1950’s through the mid-1960’s, historic Norwood Borough Council meeting minutes from the late…

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  • Is EPA planning on taking samples from the basements in the homes you are sampling in the Norwood community? If not, why not?

    EPA is not planning to collect samples from residential basements or crawl spaces at this time. EPA installed six groundwater wells within the Old Norwood Dump, Norwood Lower Park, and the Winona Homes neighborhood. Groundwater wells will not be placed on private residential properties. The wells will be used to…

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  • What is the key question EPA tries to answer through a site investigation?

    Findings of the site investigation determine what hazardous substances may be present, whether they may be released to the environment, and any potential threat to human health. Information about the site that is collected in the preliminary assessment and site investigation phase helps EPA to evaluate the risks posed by…

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  • National Priorities List (NPL)

    The NPL is a list of hazardous waste sites identified by EPA as warranting further investigation into the extent of the risk they pose and whether cleanup of the site under EPA’s Superfund Remedial program is warranted. NPL listing does not promise remedial action, only detailed investigation.

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  • How are EPA’s sampling results verified for accuracy?

    Samples were sent to an EPA certified laboratory for analysis. After the samples are analyzed, the data will be validated independently by chemists to verify the accuracy of the results.

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  • Will EPA sample the Norwood school?

    EPA continues to work closely with the Interboro School District, but there are no plans to sample the Norwood school at this time. For site investigations, sampling activities must be based upon the identification of a potential source of contamination. Based upon research and historic images, EPA has not seen…

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  • How does EPA develop a “sampling plan” for a site like the Norwood Landfill Site?

    EPA uses the information available, including community input, regarding the boundaries and geographic areas of waste that may have been deposited or where contaminated soil may have been placed. The team selects its soil sampling locations based on those areas and consults historic aerial images that help depict those boundaries…

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  • How do we know our drinking water has not been affected over the past 40+ years when the landfill was operating and after it closed since there were no regulations governing its operation or closure?

    The Norwood community is serviced by a public drinking water source. The public water supply must meet federal and state Safe Drinking Water Act Standards. Public water systems are required to share annual reports that describe what, if anything, is found in the water supply.

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  • Were the homes in the Winona Homes and Norwood Acres neighborhoods built on contaminated fill?

    EPA has received anecdotal reports from residents that materials excavated during the construction of the Walt Whitman Bridge, potentially containing contaminants, were used as fill dirt prior to construction of some homes in the area. During the early stages of the site investigation in 2017 and 2018, EPA sampled the…

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  • If I want to talk with EPA about sampling on my property or ask a specific question about my property, who should I contact?

    Please contact Katie Page, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, at 215-814-2409 or [email protected] to ask any questions related to your property.

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  • Why is it difficult to establish a link between cancers or other illnesses and environmental exposures?

    The complex nature of cancer makes it inherently challenging to identify, interpret, and address cancer clusters. Cancer is a term describing different diseases that share a similar characteristic: uncontrollable cell growth and division. As a group, cancers are very common. Cancers are the second leading cause of death in the…

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  • What are the possible health effects of nitrate exposure?

    Short-term: Excessive levels of nitrate in drinking water have caused serious illness and sometimes death. The serious illness in infants is due to the conversion of nitrate to nitrite by the body, which can interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of the child’s blood leading to blue baby syndrome (methemoglobinemia). This…

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  • What is nitrate?

    Nitrate (NO3) is a compound of nitrogen and oxygen naturally found in air, soil, water, and some food. Plants and animals require nitrates for their survival and growth, and the human body also produces this compound. In industry, nitrate is used as fertilizers for crops and lawns. Additionally, nitrates are…

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