Schlage Lock Company

• Perchloroethylene has been found in the ground water, or water moving beneath the ground surface, of the Widefield Aquifer. (See  Off-site PCE Ground Water Concentrations )
• Perchloroethylene was used by the facility from 1977 to 1992. 
• Releases of this chemical from three source areas on Schlage Lock Company property to the ground resulted in it moving down through the soils and rock to the ground water below. Once in the ground water, it moved slowly following the path of the aquifer ultimately to the Willow Springs Ponds area (approximately 3.5 miles).  

No one is known to be drinking or using the untreated ground water. All residential drinking water wells known to be impacted by this contamination have had treatment systems installed. All residents receiving municipal water are using water that has been tested for perchloroethylene, and if present, has had perchloroethylene removed. 

Vapors from solvents in ground water can sometimes migrate from the ground water upward through soils and into the basements and buildings above. However, testing of indoor air in buildings in the Security, Widefield and Fountain areas has shown no migration of perchloroethylene from the ground water into homes above. (See  PCE Indoor Air Quality Results  )

Perchloroethylene is a liquid that evaporates quickly. For more information about the health effects of perchloroethylene and other volatile organic compounds, please see the  Volatile Organic Compound Fact Sheet   , November 2000.

• Environmental Health Site Assessment  

• Schlage Lock Company used perchloroethylene to clean the metal parts it was making into locks and related items.
• Schlage Lock Company stopped using perchloroethylene by 1992.
• Perchloroethylene is also known as PCE, tetrachloroethylene, perchloroethene and "perc."
  • It is commonly used as a solvent and is found in many household items such as: pesticides, adhesives, aerosols, paints and coatings.
  • It is also commonly found in carpet, drapery cleaning fluid, and household spot removers; telephone and computer cables; plastic items; vinyl cove molding; linoleum; concrete blocks; latex paint; carpet padding; foam rubber; lubricants and cosmetics.

•  Perchloroethylene was used by the facility from 1977 to 1992. Releases of this chemical resulted in it moving down through the soils to the ground water below. Once in the ground water, it moved slowly following the path of the aquifer ultimately to the Willow Springs Ponds area (approximately 3.5 miles).
• Clean up of the Schlage Lock Company property is important because removal of the source area stops the continued movement of perchloroethylene away from the property.
  • Soil Vapor Extraction - a technology used to remove perchloroethylene from the soil above the ground water by drawing air through the soil, pulling the perchloroethylene vapors from the soil.
  • Air Sparging - a technology used to enhance removal of perchloroethylene from ground water by blowing air through the ground water causing the perchloroethylene to volatilize into the soil above the groundwater where it can be removed through soil vapor extraction.
  • In-well Sparging and Stripping systems - this technology is used to remove perchloroethylene from ground water, treat it within the well. Perchloroethylene that is not broken down by this method moves to the extraction wells for treatment above ground.
  • Onsite Boundary Control System - wells located along the Schlage Lock property boundary remove ground water, pipe it to the Bradley Road treatment system where it is run through an air stripper to remove perchloroethylene, and then is re-injected clean to the aquifer.
• Perchloroethylene is kept from moving into the Widefield aquifer by a series of wells that draw the ground water up, push it through an air stripper to remove the perchloroethylene, and then re-inject clean water to the aquifer.
• The wells are located in the Little Johnson Reservoir and along Bradley Road.
• Treatment of water within the Willow Springs Ponds is conducted using two aerators that have been placed in the north pond. 

• The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (the state health department) is responsible for enforcing the hazardous waste regulations in the state of Colorado.
• The state health department entered into a Compliance Order on Consent with the Schlage Lock Company in June 1990 as a formal regulatory mechanism.
• As the investigation progressed, and available technology improved, a better understanding of the contamination nature and extent evolved, and an Amended Order on Consent was agreed to in August 1998.
• The Amended Order, still effective, addresses activities already underway and several matters which had arisen since the 1990 Order.
  • The Order addresses specific strategies for the continued investigation and clean up of the perchloroethylene in ground water.
  • It established required procedures and timeframes for how the work would progress.
  • The state health department staff:
    • Review and approve work plans prior to commencement of cleanup activities,
    • Review data and other information submitted by Schlage about the treatment systems monitoring,
    • Review and approve all public information about the cleanup developed for public distribution,
    • Participate in all public meetings, and
    • Make project update presentation to the public, upon request.

For more information about the Schlage Lock Company cleanup, please contact: 

Jeannine Natterman
Public Information Officer
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Denver Metro: 303-692-3303
Toll Free: 1-888-569-1831
Email:  jeannine.natterman@state.co.us