MOUNT VERNON — The quality of the ground water in the area of the closed landfill on Thayer Road has been closely monitored and subject to rigorous testing since the landfill was ordered closed by the state in 1990.

Thursday morning, a representative of the Columbus firm which tests the water throughout the year, told the Knox County Commissioners the condition of the water is improving.

Glen Hackett, of Environmental Consultants Inc., told the commissioners the latest testing showed the water poses no threat to human health.

“Results from the April sampling event show that ground water around the landfill is not posing any public health threat and the quality in our corrective measures monitoring wells is improving,” Hackett said.

Several wells have been dug over the years in the area of the closed landfill, which was capped in 1993 with several layers of clay and soil, and then seeded for vegetation.

Samples of the water from those wells of varying depths are tested at least twice a year, usually in spring and fall, for 78 different parameters, according to Hackett.

The wells fall into different monitoring categories. They are classified as being in detection monitoring if there has never been a higher than acceptable level in 66 of the 78 parameters which the state has specified.

melissa.raines@mountvernonnews.com