USGS to Begin Drilling "Sentinel" Wells Near Kirtland Air Force Base

Beginning around August 7, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey will be drilling “sentinel” wells at the first of three locations in the Trumbull Village neighborhood in Albuquerque to provide early alerts for groundwater contamination. These new sentinel wells will provide early warning if there is a northeastward movement of the Kirtland Air Force Base Bulk Fuels Facility plume, and would provide Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) and Air Force officials lead time to implement plans to protect nearby groundwater drinking water supply wells. A sentinel well is a groundwater-monitoring well located between a known area of groundwater contamination and drinking-water supply wells. The purpose of a sentinel well is to provide advanced warning of movement of groundwater contamination towards the drinking water supply wells. During March and April 2013, the USGS drilled a similar sentinel well, funded by the ABCWUA, near the corner of Trumbull Avenue SE and Mesilla Street SE. This year, the USGS will be drilling at three locations in the Trumbull Village neighborhood: On the north side of the Cesar Chavez Community Center; near the eastern end of Phil Chacon Park; and in the parking lot at Trumbull Park. This work is being funded by the Air Force...more