In 1990 Schlage installed an onsite groundwater recovery and treatment system. Schlage entered into an Order (No. 90-06-01-01) with the State Health Department in 1990 to remediate PCE affected soil and groundwater. (This Order was subsequently amended in 1998.)

In 1992, Schlage began operation of a groundwater remediation system between the Schlage property and the former Little Johnson Reservoir (LJR). The system consisted of a series of groundwater recovery wells and a water treatment facility. The treated water was discharged under a permit to the Security Water and Sanitation District (SWSD) sanitary sewer. Thereafter, PCE-affected groundwater was detected downgradient of LJR and in the Widefield Aquifer.

From the time PCE was detected in the Widefield Aquifer, Schlage has responded quickly and proactively. Affected municipal wells were either shut down or water treatment systems to remove PCE were installed; affected residential wells were either provided municipal water hook ups or individual water treatment units. To date, Schlage has installed and currently operates and maintains three municipal water treatment facilities (treating water from four municipal wells), and eight residential treatment units.

Beginning in 1997, Schlage worked on a major upgrade and expansion of the offsite groundwater remediation system. The upgraded system is described as the Bradley Road Groundwater Recovery, Treatment and Injection System (Bradley Road System). The upgraded system has been operating since 1999 and is designed to halt further migration of PCE-affected groundwater. Since installation, various monitoring and recovery wells have been added to the system.

The Willow Springs Ponds are located within the Fountain Creek Regional Park, approximately 0.25 mile southeast of the Interstate 25/Highway 16 intersection, near Fountain, Colorado. In late 1997, the ponds were closed to fishing by the El Paso County Parks Department due to the presence of PCE. Since early 1999, Schlage has operated a mechanical aerator at the northern end of Pond 1. Since that time, monthly sampling and analysis of pond water have been conducted. In July 2003, Schlage Lock installed a second aerator in Pond 1.  Schlage is currently installing an air-sparge treatment system to treat PCE-affected groundwater before it enters Pond 1.

The Willow Springs Ponds were reopened in May 2007 for fishing and Schlage has contributed to the restoration of the fishery by restocking, installing fish habitat structures, constructing two handicap accessible fishing piers and providing educational signs for the public. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has also issued a fish consumption advisory for the fish caught in Willow Springs Pond. For a copy of the advisory click here.

During 2000 and 2001, Schlage collected indoor air samples from residences and a school in the areas of PCE-affected groundwater. The levels of PCE found in the indoor air were similar to or lower than normal background levels measured in houses around the country. The levels found are well below those levels believed to cause health problems and below residential risk criteria used by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Based on all the studies conducted, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment concluded, in an February 15th, 2002 letter, that “the studies did not find any impact, above residential risk concentrations, to residents by tetracloroethene (PCE) vapors coming off the Schlage Lock ground water contamination." The letter further concluded “we would expect that no residents within the Schlage ground water contamination plume would be exposed to indoor-air contamination at a level of concern.”

Schlage conducts quarterly, semi-annual, and annual sampling of groundwater monitoring wells at its property and offsite. In addition, in 2001, Schlage installed a series of sentry wells to monitor groundwater in the vicinity of various municipal water supply wells.

During the fourth quarter of 2001, Schlage installed an onsite boundary control system to supplement the existing onsite groundwater recovery and treatment system. The combined systems consist of 40 recovery wells (4 of which are located in a trench drain). Water from the recovery wells is conveyed to an equipment building where it is filtered and softened; water from 37 of the 40 wells is then conveyed to the Bradley Road System where it is treated to remove PCE and then reinjected.

I