PCE is a solvent, commonly used by dry cleaners and other industries. The groundwater in Lebanon is widely used by residents for irrigation and industrial purposes.
Some residents use the groundwater for drinking water.
The city obtains its municipal water supply from the Lebanon-Santiam Canal. The municipal supply is not affected by the PCE contamination. The PCE contamination was first noticed in a city irrigation well in Century Park in August 1990. PCE concentrations in the 18 wells range from 7.8 to 232 ppb. DEQ has installed monitoring wells throughout the City of Lebanon and conducted and overseen several groundwater investigations.