Groundwater Samples Taken Around Former IBM Endicott Site

The village of Endicott is moving to conduct independent testing of groundwater samples following efforts to remove chemical contamination linked to IBM manufacturing activities.

Mayor LInda Jackson says water samples were obtained Tuesday from several well sites around the village.

Jackson said she was concerned last February when an IBM newsletter to Endicott residents suggested there would be no further action regarding the chemical contamination that had occurred decades earlier.

The mayor said she was advised by an IBM manager overseeing the cleanup work that "remediation and monitoring will continue for some time."

Jackson said the manager was willing to allow the village to take its own water samples to coincide with IBM's sampling.

The "dual sampling" occurred at six monitoring well locations. The village is expected to receive results of the testing in about two weeks.

Phil Grayson, an Endicott village representative was on hand as the water samples were taken from the wells, as were representatives from the Broome County health department and the state Department of Environmental Conservation.