Whirlpool wants water well ban around former site

— Whirlpool Corp. wants Fort Smith to make it illegal to drill water wells near the site of its former factory.

Representatives of the company explained to city directors Tuesday that a spill of a degreasing solvent in the 1980s left contamination in the groundwater.

The Southwest Times Record reported that the company wants to prevent people from tapping water contaminated with trichloroethylene, which is believed to be a cancer-causing chemical.

City Attorney Jerry Canfield said the proposed ordinance would not block residents’ from pursuing Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool for compensation.

Whirlpool closed its Fort Smith refrigerator plant last year and moved the work to Mexico.

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