New Spike in Perchlorate Pollution
Threatens Rialto Drinking Water Wells
A White Paper
Sujatha Jahagirdar, Clean Water Advocate, Environment California Research & Policy Center
Summary
New pollution tests reveal
a new perchlorate ‘pulse’
that threatens to spread to
Rialto drinking water wells.
Perchlorate is the major ingredient in solid rocket fuel.
According to scientific reviews conducted by U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and several state
agencies, at low concentrations in drinking water the
toxin can lead to Attention Deficit Disorder, learning
disabilities and decreased IQ in children.
As a result of inadequate industrial storage and disposal
practices, perchlorate pollutes the drinking water supplies
of millions across the country. The City of Rialto is at the
epicenter of this contamination crisis. Perchlorate
pollution in local water wells was first detected in 1997
and has to date resulted in the closure of numerous local
drinking water wells and incurred the city residents
millions to cover the cost of stop-gap cleanup measures.
Between 1957 and 1963, Goodrich Corporation (then
known as B.F. Goodrich) owned and operated a rocket
fuel manufacturing and processing facility in Rialto, a
small working-class city located an hour east of Los
Angeles. During its tenure, the company produced
A. Rialto Perchlorate Pollution Crisis Background
rocket fuel for the Loki, Sidewinder, ASP I and ASP II
missiles. According to depositions given by former
employees, thousands of pounds of waste rocket fuel
from the manufacturing process were disposed of in a
large unlined pit behind the Goodrich facility.1 Federal
and state officials believe that the Goodrich facility and
disposal pit into which thousands of pounds of the
chemical were dumped are a source of the perchlorate
pollution that has decimated the Rialto’s water supply.
Rialto’s perchlorate pollution problem may soon worsen.
New mandated pollution tests conducted by Goodrich
Corporation and submitted to state water officials in July
2006 reveal an alarming spike in contamination that
threatens to send a new pulse of toxic perchlorate
pollution into Rialto drinking water wells. Levels of
perchlorate pollution in well PW-2, located close to the
historic Goodrich perchlorate disposal pit spiked sharply
in 2006 – from an April 2005 concentration of 53 µg/L to
an April 2006 concentration of 10,000 µg/L.
The increased threat highlights the urgent need for
Goodrich Corporation and other parties responsible for
perchlorate pollution in the Rialto area to immediately halt
the spread of contamination throughout the region,
provide replacement water for wells they have polluted
and institute a long term cleanup plan for the community.
Yolanda Castro moved to Rialto in 2003. Quickly buying
her dream house and sending her kids to school down
the street, the town seemed the perfect place to raise
three young children. Much to Yolanda’s horror, in March
she discovered that water from wells contaminated by
rocket fuel is piped to her home.2
Also known as perchlorate, the chemical is suspected to
have seeped into several of the town’s drinking water
wells from a nearby industrial site once owned by
Goodrich Corp. and Black & Decker.3,4,5 Water
contaminated with rocket fuel at levels up to three times
the safety recommendations issued in other states still
flows from contaminated wells in the city.6
Upon investigating this alarming situation further,
Yolanda discovered that despite the companies’
combined yearly revenues of more than $5 billion,
Goodrich Corp and Black & Decker have to date failed to
clean up the mess they created more than forty years
ago.7 As a result, she and 100,000 other residents in this
diverse, working class community about an hour east of
Los Angeles had their clean water stolen from them.8
The problem began back in the 1950’s and 1960’s when
both companies owned and operated a weapons
manufacturing plant in the northern part of Rialto that
used massive quantities of rocket fuel.9 According to
former employees at the plant, rocket fuel routinely
leaked from the facility during operations and workers
regularly disposed of rocket fuel in unlined pits behind
the plant.10
Nestled near the foothills of the San Bernardino
Mountains, the city had what local water officials
described for decades as one of the purest drinking water
supplies in the region. In the late 1990’s, Rialto water
officials discovered rocket fuel pollution in the city’s
drinking water supply up to 800 times safety
recommendations issued in other states.11
Despite their responsibility and years of negotiations,
neither Goodrich Corp. nor Black & Decker have agreed
to clean up the mess they have created.12 While the
companies delay, many citizens of Rialto drink water that
is polluted by rocket fuel. According to data supplied to
local and state water officials, water from drinking water
wells contaminated at up to three times the safety levels
issued in other states is piped to homes in the city.13 At
levels found in contaminated wells, perchlorate can lead
to Attention Deficit Disorder, learning disabilities and
decreased IQ.14
With several other wells unusable due to contamination,
the drought-prone city teeters on the brink of running out
of water. Residents have also been forced to pay water
bill price hikes to pursue the polluters for clean water.15
The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board
(Water Board) has the power to force Goodrich and Black
& Decker to clean up their mess. Under the California
Water Code, the Water Board can order both companies
to fully clean up their pollution and provide the community
with a safe water supply immediately, while the cleanup
takes place.16 To protect the community, the Water
Board should use these tools immediately.
B. An Alarming Pollution Spike
Monitoring data submitted to local water officials in July April 2005 concentration of 53 µg/L to an April 2006
shows increased perchlorate concentrations in a testing concentration of 10,000 µg/L.17,18
well close to an historic ‘burn pit’ used by Goodrich
Corporation to dispose of perchlorate in large quantities. This level of pollution is more than 5,000 times higher
As shown in Figure 1 below, levels of perchlorate than the only official proposed limit on perchlorate
pollution in well PW-2 spiked sharply in 2006 – from an pollution in drinking water, established in 2006 by the
State of Massachusetts at 2 µg/L.19

Figure 1: Spike in Perchlorate Pollution in Well PW-2, Located Near Former

Goodrich Perchlorate ‘Burn Pit’20

10000
9000
8000
7000
Perchlorate 6000
Concentration 5000
(ug/L) 4000
3000
2000
1000
0
O ct-04
D ec-04
F eb-05
A pr-05
Jun-05
A ug-05
O ct-05
D ec-05
F eb-06
A pr-06

Jun-06

Sample Month
C. An Elevated Water Table
A potential explanation for this spike in perchlorate
levels is that heavy rains increased the level of the
water table, dissolving perchlorate contamination
that persists in the soil around the Goodrich ‘burn
pit.’ Once dissolved, the perchlorate would have
traveled into local groundwater, creating a new
‘pulse’ of contamination. Figure 2 illustrates the
increased water table elevation that may have
created this new ‘pulse’ of perchlorate pollution.

Figure 2: Elevated Groundwater Levels in Well PW-221

1220
Groundwater Elevation (Ft)

1210

1200

1190

1180

1170

1160

1150
05
5

6
05

06
04

05
4

05

06
r-0

r-0
-0

-0
g-
b-

b-
-

-
n-

n-
ec

ec
ct

ct
Ap

Ap
Au
Ju

Ju
Fe

Fe
O

O
D

Sample Month
C. A New Threat to Rialto Drinking Water Wells
Contamination originating from the site used by
Goodrich Corporation and other dischargers to
manufacture and process perchlorate is believed
to have polluted numerous drinking water wells in
the Rialto region.22 This new pollution pulse
threatens several drinking water wells located
down gradient of well PW-2. Figure 3 illustrates
the relative locations of well PW-2 and Rialto
drinking water wells that may be at risk of
further pollution.

Figure 3: Relative Location of PW-2 and Rialto Drinking Water Wells23

D. Immediate Cleanup Action Required
To protect Rialto drinking water wells against
further contamination and restore the Rialto
drinking water supply to health, the Santa Ana
Regional Water Board should order Goodrich
Corporation and other parties responsible for
contamination to immediately:
A. Begin cleanup of contaminated soil and
groundwater on the 160-acre site and
install immediate measures, such as
extraction wells, to stop the further spread
of the core of the plume
B. Provide replacement water for the following
wells impacted by perchlorate pollution:
City of Rialto, Rialto Well #1
City of Rialto, Rialto Well #2
City of Rialto, Rialto Well #4
City of Rialto, Rialto Well #6
City of Rialto, Chino Well #1
City of Rialto, Chino Well #2
C. Reimburse the City of Rialto and residents
for costs incurred in overseeing cleanup
.
and abatement activities, and installing
interim treatment measures
D. Conduct the comprehensive investigation of
the perchlorate plume necessary to
establish a long-term, comprehensive
cleanup plan for contamination in the region
E. Formulate and implement a plan to clean
up perchlorate contamination in the basin,
restore stability to the region’s water
supply, protect public health from the
adverse impacts of perchlorate
contamination and restore the basin to
health
F. Utilize ‘best available technology’ in all
treatment systems installed by dischargers
G. Outline specific milestones, timelines and
deadlines for each interim measure and
pay penalties of $10,000 for each
discharger for each day that the
responsible parties fail to meet the
deadlines established for implementation of
each interim measure, comprehensive
investigation and implementation of the
long term cleanup plan
Endnotes
1
Deposition of Ronald E. Pozein, before Adrianne Ige Kurasaki, CSR 388, Registered Professional Reporter, Notary
Public, State of Hawaii, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, In the Matter of: Rialto-Colton-
Fontana Area Northeast Operable Unit, San Bernardino County, California, Emhart Industries, Inc. Goodrich
Corporation, Respondents, U.S. EPA Docket No. 2003-11 Volume I
2
West Valley Water District Water System Facilities Base Map, 7 October 2005; Perchlorate concentrations obtained
from California Department of Health Services, Perchlorate Monitoring Results; Oral Communication with Yolanda
Castro, 9 November 2005 http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/chemicals/perchl/monitoringupdate.htm, downloaded 12
October 2005; Oral Communication with Manager, City of Rialto Water Department, 8 November 2005

3
Directive to Proceed with initial phase of perchlorate investigation in the vicinity of the former Goodrich Facility,
City of Rialto, San Bernardino County, California, September 24, 2002,
www.waterboards.ca.gov/santaana/perchlorate/goodrich_inv.pdf (29 September 2005), and its attachments,
www.waterboards.ca.gov/santaana/perchlorate/goodrich_attach.pdf (29 September 2005).
Agreement Between California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Region and Goodrich Corporation
regarding Investigation Requirements Set Forth in the Water Code Section 13267 Order of September 24, 2002,
www.waterboards.ca.gov/santaana/pdf/01-17-03/12.pdf (22 September 2005). Emhart’s responsibility for perchlorate
contamination in Rialto can be obtained at: Cleanup and Abatement Order No. R8-2005-0053, 28 February 2005,
www.waterboards.ca.gov/santaana/pdf/05-53.pdf (29 September 2005).
4
Despite the number of potentially responsible parties identified by the Regional Board, cleanup law holds Goodrich
and Black & Decker responsible for full cleanup of wells contaminated by any amount of perchlorate that originated
from the 160-acre Site during their respective tenures. Both companies may then pursue additional potentially
responsible parties to recover a portion of the cleanup cost. Goodrich Corp. owned and operated a facility the site,
known as the ‘160-acre Site,’ from 1957 to 1963 – Draft Administrative Settlement Agreement Between the California
Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Region and Goodrich Corporation; A subsidiary to Black & Decker –
Emhart Industries – owned and operated a facility at the ‘160-acre Site from 1952 to 1957 – California Regional Water
Quality Control Board, Santa Ana, Cleanup and Abatement Order No. R8-2005-0053, 28 February 2005
5
While Goodrich., and Black & Decker operated an enormous facility on the 160 acre-site in the late 1950’s and early
1960’s, the site has since been owned by several additional parties. In addition, contamination originating from a
landfill owned by the County of San Bernardino is also a suspected contributor to contamination in at least one Rialto
Well. As such, additional parties potentially responsible for contamination of drinking water wells in the region, as
identified by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana, include American Promotional Events,
Mid-Valley Sanitary Landfill, Aerojet, Denova Environmental, Pyro Spectaculars by Souza, Zambelli Fireworks
Manufacturing Company, Whittaker Coporation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Raytheon Company, Pyro Spectaculars
Inc. .

6
West Valley Water District Water System Facilities Base Map, 7 October 2005, Office Of Research And Standards
Massachusetts Department Of Environmental Protection, Interpretative Differences Between Massachusetts’ and
California’s Perchlorate Health Assessments, May 2004; Office Of Research And Standards Massachusetts Department
Of Environmental Protection Perchlorate Toxicological Profile And Health Assessment, May 2004

7
http://www.blackanddecker.com/CustomerCenter/Company-Information.aspx, downloaded 3 November 2005;
http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/2004-03-22-fortune-500-list_x.htm, downloaded 3 November 2005
8
Rialto Community Profile, http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=10758, downloaded 3 November
2005
9
MEMORANDUM, Index to June 15, 2004, Presentation in City Council Chambers Prepared by City of Rialto, Draft
Administrative Settlement Agreement Between the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Region
and Goodrich Corporation, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana, Cleanup and Abatement Order
No. R8-2005-0053, 28 February 2005
10
Declaration of August 27, 2002, John Kase, Attachment 4, Directive to Proceed with Initial Phase of Perchlorate
Investigation in the Vicinity of the Former Goodrich Facility, City of Rialto, San Bernardino, California, California
Regional Water Quality Control
Board Santa Ana Region, September 24 2002
11
California Department of Health Services, Perchlorate in Drinking Water: Monitoring Update,
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/chemicals/perchl/perchlorateforweb.XLS, downloaded 3 November 2005
12
Goodrich’s responsibility for perchlorate contamination in Rialto can be obtained at: Directive to Proceed with initial
phase of perchlorate investigation in the vicinity of the former Goodrich Facility, City of Rialto, San Bernardino
County, California, September 24, 2002, www.waterboards.ca.gov/santaana/perchlorate/goodrich_inv.pdf (29
September 2005), and its attachments,
www.waterboards.ca.gov/santaana/perchlorate/goodrich_attach.pdf (29 September 2005).
Agreement Between California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Region and Goodrich Corporation
regarding Investigation Requirements Set Forth in the Water Code Section 13267 Order of September 24, 2002,
www.waterboards.ca.gov/santaana/pdf/01-17-03/12.pdf (22 September 2005). Emhart’s responsibility for perchlorate
contamination in Rialto can be obtained at: Cleanup and Abatement Order No. R8-2005-0053, 28 February 2005,
www.waterboards.ca.gov/santaana/pdf/05-53.pdf (29 September 2005).
13
West Valley Water District Water System Facilities Base Map, 7 October 2005; Perchlorate concentrations obtained
from California Department of Health Services, Perchlorate Monitoring Results,
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/chemicals/perchl/monitoringupdate.htm, downloaded 12 October 2005
14
Office Of Research And Standards Massachusetts Department Of Environmental Protection, Interpretative
Differences Between Massachusetts’ and California’s Perchlorate Health Assessments, May 2004; Office Of Research
And Standards Massachusetts Department Of Environmental Protection Perchlorate Toxicological Profile And Health
Assessment, May 2004
15
The $6.85 is the perchlorate surcharge base. An additional fee is calculated based on the units of water used by a
costumer and added to the base charge. For example, if a family used 25 units of water, an additional $4.61 would be
added to the $6.85, totaling $11.46. “Perchlorate Rates,” City of Rialto Finance Department, Utility Billing, 1 April
2004.
16
California Water Code §13304
17
Ibid.
18
Goodrich Corporation Progress Report for the Month of June 2006 160-Acre Parcel, Rialto, California, From
GeoSyntec Consultants to Kurt Berchtold, Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, 10 July 2006, Attachment
4

19
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Research and Standards, Update to “Perchlorate
Toxicological Profile and Health Assessment, For Review and Public comment,” March 2006, downloaded from
http://www.mass.gov/dep/toxics/perchlorate-toxicity-031406.pdf

20
ibid.
21
Goodrich Corporation Progress Report for the Month of June 2006 160-Acre Parcel, Rialto, California, From
GeoSyntec Consultants to Kurt Berchtold, Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, 10 July 2006, Attachment
3

22
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, Administrative Order for Remedial Investigation, U.S.
EPA Docket No. 2003-11, Proceeding Under. Section 106 (a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 9606 (a) ,and under. Section 7003 of the Solid Waste
Disposal Act, as amended, 42.U.S.C. § 6973, In The Matter Of: RIALTO-COLTON-FONTANA AREA NORTHEAST
OPERABLE UNIT SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Emhart Industries Inc., Correspondence between
Robert L. Holub, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Region, and Mr. Terrence G. Linnert,
Senior Vice President, Goodrich Corporation, Perchlorate in Soil and Groundwater at Former B.F. Goodrich Rialto
Facility, Rialto, San Bernardino County, August 24, 2001

23
Goodrich Corporation Progress Report for the Month of June 2006 160-Acre Parcel, Rialto, California, From
GeoSyntec Consultants to Kurt Berchtold, Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, 10 July 2006, Attachment
4