Is Your Neighborhood Affected? A Guide to the 29th and Grove Contamination Zone

Does this affect where I live? For residents of northeast Wichita, it is the first and most practical question about the 29th and Grove groundwater contamination. Because the pollution sits in the soil and subsurface rather than on any map you can see, the affected area is wider than most people assume. This guide walks through the boundaries of the zone, how the contamination spread, what cleanup is underway, and how to tell whether your property falls inside it.

How the Contamination Spread

The contamination originates at the former Union Pacific rail yard, south of K-96 Highway between I-135 and North Grove Street, a legacy of decades of industrial activity. The main contaminant, trichloroethylene (TCE), is a solvent that was widely used for metal degreasing. It was first detected in 1994 during work on 21st Street, and by 1998 the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) had identified the rail yard as the source. A second contaminant, the dry-cleaning solvent PCE, reached the groundwater from several former dry cleaners in the study area. Improper handling and disposal of this hazardous waste decades ago allowed the toxins to move from the surface down into the water below.

Once these contaminants entered the groundwater, they did not stay put. Groundwater flows slowly through the subsurface, carrying the pollution with it and forming a plume, a stretch of contaminated groundwater moving away from the source. At the Grove site, groundwater sits roughly 14 to 25 feet below the surface, and the plume now extends nearly 2.9 miles south toward Murdock Avenue. To understand the chemical itself, see our guide to what trichloroethylene is.

The Boundaries of the Zone

Here are the rough boundaries of the affected area in Sedgwick County, Kansas commonly called “29th & Grove.”

• Northern boundary: Former rail yard just south of K-96, between I-135 and Grove Street
• Southern boundary: Extends roughly 2.9 miles south toward Murdock Avenue
• Western boundary: Generally follows the area east of I-135
• Eastern boundary: Extends to around Grove Street
• Chisholm Creek: Runs through the affected area and receives treated groundwater
• Primary ZIP codes: 67214 and 67219

The corridor runs through the heart of northeast Wichita, including the Millair neighborhood and the streets, schools, and churches around it.

Important: Contamination underground does not follow property lines. A home two streets over from a neighbor can sit above a different part of the plume, which is why testing eligibility covers the whole corridor, not just the blocks closest to the rail yard.

What Cleanup Is Underway

Residents often want to know what is being done about the contamination, not just where it is. Under state and federal environmental regulations, KDHE oversees an ongoing remediation program aimed at removing contaminants from the environment, reducing risk to the community, and stopping the plume from spreading further. After a detailed investigation and risk assessment, KDHE finalized a Corrective Action Decision in February 2023, the document that lays out the long-term cleanup plan and selects the remedy for the site. The approach combines several methods:

• Groundwater extraction and treatment, pulling contaminated groundwater from the subsurface and cleaning it before the treated water is discharged to Chisholm Creek
• Bioremediation, which enhances natural underground processes that break the toxins down
• Vapor intrusion mitigation and soil work, along with long-term monitoring and sampling to track concentrations and measure progress toward cleanup goals

Cleanup of the groundwater is expected to take ten years or longer. During construction and installation of the treatment system, residents may temporarily see drilling rigs or equipment, but the work itself is designed to protect safety, not compromise it.

What the Health Study Found

In April 2023, KDHE completed a health study to assess the potential impact of the site on the surrounding community. It found elevated rates of liver cancer within the study area compared with Sedgwick County and the state as a whole. The Department of Health was careful to note that the study could not prove the contamination caused those outcomes, but the findings reinforced why free health testing is being offered. The health effects most associated with these contaminants develop slowly, which is why testing focuses on organ function; you can read more about the health effects of TCE over time.

How to Tell If You Were in the Zone

You do not need survey-level precision to know whether you qualify. Ask yourself whether you ever lived, worked, went to school, or went to church in the corridor between I-135 and Grove Street, from the K-96 area south to Murdock Avenue, or anywhere in ZIP codes 67214 or 67219. If you grew up around Millair, that counts. If you answer yes at any point from the 1970s to today, you are eligible, even if you have since moved away. For the full breakdown, see the complete eligibility guide.

Pro Tip: If you are unsure whether an old address falls in the zone, do not rule yourself out. Call a testing partner with the cross streets you remember, and they can help you figure it out. Eligibility is broad by design, and the testing costs you nothing.

Is My Water and Property Safe Now?

The City of Wichita public water supply is drawn from a well field away from the plume and is considered safe to drink. The main risk is past exposure and, for a small number of homes, private wells. Everyday soil in yards across the neighborhood is not the concern; the pollution is in the deeper subsurface and groundwater. If you own property with a private well, KDHE can assess whether your well sits in an affected area and advise you on safety.

Q: I only lived in the area for a year. Do I still qualify?
Yes. There is no minimum time. If you spent time anywhere in the zone at any point since the 1970s, you are eligible for free testing, at no cost and with no insurance required.

Find Out Where Your Health Stands

Knowing whether your neighborhood is in the contamination zone matters most when it leads to action. If your home, workplace, school, or childhood address falls within the corridor, the next step is a free health screening that tells you how your body is doing today. To see what the visit involves, read our step-by-step walkthrough, then book whenever you are ready.

Free testing is available through December 31, 2026. No insurance required. This article is for general education and is not medical advice.