She never thought to ask. Fairley bought the home in the fall of 1993. The following spring, while speaking with a neighbor, she found that the home sat on a groundwater plume not far from a manufacturing plant about a quarter mile away that had recently been listed as a state SuperFund Site. Several years before, well water in the community was found to be contaminated by chemicals leaking from barrels buried at the facility. Since all the homes are now hooked up to public water, government officials say there is little need to be concerned for health and safety.
Neighbors say there have been many cancer related illnesses and deaths in the neighborhood.
Although there have been no medical studies, property values have plummeted. Fairley had two appraisals conducted for her home. One by someone unaware of the property's environmental problems and another by an appraiser versed in such matters. For many years now, commercial property buyers have been required to conduct environmental inspections as a condition for receiving a mortgage. Guidelines for the purchase of residential real estate however, have not been as stringent.