A pesky solvent used as a metal degreaser and in the dry-cleaning industry - known as perchloroethylene (PCE) - has been detected in a plume deep below the ground in an area bounded by 500 South and Sunnyside Avenue (825 South), and Guardsman Way (1580 East) to a point east of 1300 East.

"There are two paramount issues," said Buhler. "Our drinking water must and will be protected, with or without federal help, and the problem was likely caused by one or more federal agencies, so it's appropriate they pay the bill."

Although further studies are needed to pinpoint the responsible parties, dry cleaning operations at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center seem to be a likely source.

Luke Chavez, Utah's site assessment manager with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said PCE was first discovered in an irrigation well at Mount Olivet Cemetery in 1990.

Between 1998 and 1999, five wells were installed in the area, 130 to 400 feet in the ground, to monitor the contamination. Two of the wells have not register the contaminant, but the other three have noted between 11 and 320 parts per billion (ppb).

In mid-2004, a city culinary well at 500 South and 1500 East registered 2 ppb, still below the 5 ppb maximum allowed under federal law.

Jeff Niermeyer, spokesman for Salt Lake City's public utilities, estimated that in two to three years, PCE levels in the city well could hit the maximum mark and require treatment - or shutting down the well, which supplies water to the city during periods of peak usage.

Residents in the affected area were invited to discuss whether they want the plume addressed as a federal Superfund site, or would prefer to have their elected representatives seek other sources of funds to remedy the problem.

Steve Long, who lives three blocks south of the site, said he is "very concerned."

"I'm worried about the Superfund designation and how it will impact property values," Long said. "And I'm not too optimistic about getting money from the feds."

Jordan Nelson Long, a law student at the University of Utah and property owner in the affected area, said she and her husband were surprised to get the city's recent letter about the contamination.

"A number of us want the private parties to pay - that's the advantage of being a Superfund site," Long (no relation to Steve Long) told the panel Wednesday. "We don't want to send the message that people can pollute and the city will pay."

By getting on the National Priority Listing (NPL), part of EPA's Superfund process, Salt Lake City's plume would be in line to get federal funding, said Chavez.

On the other hand, the NPL list alerts homebuyers about properties within a Superfund site, which could affect sales in the area.

"Potential purchasers may shy away," said Kevin Murray, outside legal counsel for Salt Lake City.

However, Superfund properties are being bought and sold now all over the United States, Murray pointed out - "it's become a cottage industry."

Remediation costs could total $5 million, of which about $3 million would be used to further study the site, said Niermeyer.

The crowd gave Buhler support to explore alternate funding sources to avoid the stigma connected with being listed as an EPA Superfund site.

Buhler intends to hold more town meetings on the issue as it unfolds.

cmckitrick@sltrib.com