Robert Gibbons has been active in the Emerson East Neighborhood Association for 12 years, so he knows an important neighborhood issue when he sees one.

And he says the fate of Well No. 3, which the Madison Water Utility shut down recently because of high levels of the industrial carcinogen carbon tetrachloride, is one of those issues.

Numerous difficulties faced by the utility come together in a discussion of the problem- plagued well - aging equipment and infrastructure, finding a clean source of water in an urban, industrial area and a public that remains skeptical about the utility's ability to resolve problems and assure the safety of their water.

Neighborhood residents, many of whom have dealt for months with discolored water, have lots of questions about everything from the safety of their drinking water to the possible future use of a contaminated well.

The neighborhood association has scheduled a public meeting on the well for 7 p.m. tonight at the Bashford United Methodist Church, 329 North St., according to Gibbons. Officials from the Madison Water Utility will be on hand to answer questions.

"I'm concerned because of all the problems they've had with that well," Gibbons said. "And simply taking it off-line doesn't really solve the problem. I'm anxious to hear what they have to say."

Built in 1928

The well, near the intersection of East Johnson Street and First Street, serves almost 10,000 people in a large section of the Isthmus and the city's Near East Side. Built in 1928, it is one of the city's oldest wells.

But the well has had more than its share of problems in recent years.

It is one of four city wells that has regularly been found to contain high levels of manganese, the problem mineral that has plagued city residents the last two years and can cause health problems at high enough levels. The well also has high levels of iron, which can discolor tap water and turn laundry rust-colored.

Now, however, the more pressing issue is the chemical carbon tetrachloride. A known carcinogen, the chemical is an industrial solvent that was widely used for many years.

In October 2000, the chemical was detected in Well No. 3 at a level of 8.3 parts per billion, above the health standard of five parts per billion set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Although the utility shut the well down and tried to fix the problem, testing continued to detect carbon tetrachloride.

In June, tests showed carbon tetrachloride levels at 4.7 parts per billion and in September, 6.2 parts per billion. Just after that test result, the utility shut the well down.

Deciding what to do with the important well is yet another challenge for a utility that has had more than its share of problems over the last two years.

From its initial fumbling response to the manganese issue to larger problems with communication and management, the utility has been the focus of increased scrutiny by the city. Last spring, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz issued a 10-point program aimed at restoring confidence in the city's water and the utility.

Though two tests in the last six years have shown carbon tetrachloride at levels above government health standards, it is unlikely enough of the chemical has been pumped through the system to endanger anyone's health, according to Tom Stunkard, a water quality engineer with the state Department of Natural Resources who oversees regulation of the utility.

Since July, the well was only used periodically, primarily to provide increased water pressure for flushing mains.

"The levels were such that I don't see it as an issue," Stunkard said of any health concerns.

The bigger problem is what to do with the well.

David Denig-Chakroff, general manager of the Madison Water Utility, said three options exist for solving the problem:

Abandoning the well and relying on other wells to provide water to the area.

Building a new well.

Treating the water to remove the carbon tetrachloride.

Each of the options comes with its own set of problems, Denig-Chakroff said.

It is unlikely, he said, that the area could be served with other wells if Well No. 3 is abandoned.

Though the neighborhood is being adequately served by wells 24 and 8 this fall and winter, that setup probably wouldn't work during summer months when dry weather and any fire emergency could result in shortages and low water pressure.

Using other wells that are even farther from the neighborhood is difficult, Denig- Chakroff said, because old pipes don't allow enough water to be pumped.

"We just don't have the pipes to do that," he said.

Drilling a new well is expensive - about $3 million - and may be difficult because of the extensive contamination that exists across the Isthmus.

A 2003 DNR study traced the source of the carbon tetrachloride in the well to a defunct company called Lindsay Finishes that manufactured paint products and was in the factory-laden area across East Johnson Street.

But DNR remediation experts also said in the report that the chemical could be coming from more than one source.

And that's the problem, according to Denig-Chakroff, with digging a new well in the area. It may be difficult to find a new source of water that isn't also contaminated.

Finally, Denig-Chakroff said, installing equipment to remove the carbon tetrachloride is possible, but the problem of other contaminants such as manganese and iron would remain.

Denig-Chakroff said a decision will probably have to be made this winter. And that decision, he added, will involve extensive discussion with residents in surrounding neighborhoods.

This aspect of deciding the fate of the well - involving neighbors and gaining their trust on issues related to health and water quality - may be the sternest test faced by the utility.

Using bottled water

Finding residents who don't trust the utility is not difficult.

Joe Sweeney lives on Mifflin Street in a house served by the well. But the problems with manganese and discolored water and his concerns about the health of his 15-month-old daughter have prompted him to use mostly bottled water.

Sweeney said he is skeptical about anything utility officials say because past assurances that everything was OK were frequently followed by the announcement of more problems.

"How many times are they going to say, 'This well is OK,' and then find these high levels again?" asked Sweeney. "It's just so hard to believe them."

Jon Standridge, a member of the water board who has been outspoken in his requests of utility officials for more openness, said the process of deciding what to do with Well No. 3 will be a good measure of how much the utility has learned about working with the public over the recent rocky months.

"The utility," Standridge said, "has a real issue with communication. And we've lost the trust of people because of that. ... The goal should be having absolute trust in the water from all our consumers."

Well 3 meeting

A public meeting on the future of problem-plagued Well No. 3 is scheduled for 7 tonight. The meeting is being hosted by the Emerson East Neighborhood Association in the fellowship hall of Bashford United Methodist Church, 329 North St. Officials with the Madison Water Utility will be on hand to answer questions about the well.