A former naval industrial facility site in the Midwest was where the U.S. Navy and its contractors produced advanced weapons systems starting in 1940 during World War II.
Later in 1981, trichloroethylene (TCE) was found in on-site groundwater wells, soil, and in a drinking water intake pipe located in a local river that was close to the site. During manufacturing operations of the weapons systems volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were used as degreasers for metal parts primarily TCE. The industrial handling, storage, and disposal practices of chemicals like TCE were not as protective of the environment as today.