The EPA received five comments between March and May, all of which supported the listing of the contaminated area, known as the Five Points PCE Plume, on the National Priorities List, said Peggy Linn, EPA Region 8 spokeswoman.

When the National Priorities Board meets in September, it will decide whether to include the Five Points plume on the National Priorities List, declaring it a Superfund site, Linn said.

Another well in Woods Cross is also contaminated with PCE, but the EPA considers those PCE levels within the range it considers safe.

Jette said well contamination isn't limited to Davis County. One well in Sugar House was contaminated with tetrachloroethylene in 1990, and one in Mapleton, located near an explosives factory, was found to be contaminated with nitrate and shut down in 1989.

The loss of a well for a city can mean spending $100,000 to $500,000 to develop a new source of drinking water, Jette said. In comparison, a source-protection plan might cost $1,500 to $5,000.

Davis drinking-water wells

• Number of wells: 68

• Cities with protective ordinances: Bountiful, Fruit Heights, Layton

• Cost to replace a failed well: $100,000 to $500,000

• Cost to protect a well: $1,500 to $5,000

Source: Davis County Health Department

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com