WAVERLY, Ohio — Toxic chemicals remain in groundwater beneath a property that houses the Waverly Walmart store and a new Aldi under construction, according to a 2025 annual groundwater monitoring report filed with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The site at 11197 U.S. Route 23 in Waverly is the former Parker Hannifin manufacturing facility, where hydraulic system components were produced from 1969 to 1988 using chrome plating, hot salt bath, and phosphatizing processes.
Process wastewater was discharged through two dry wells on the property until 1985. Following the plant closure, environmental investigations found a plume of volatile organic compounds in groundwater, primarily trichloroethylene (TCE).
The 2025 monitoring report shows trichloroethylene was detected at concentrations above Ohio EPA groundwater protection standards in multiple monitoring wells during the third and fourth quarters of 2025.
During third-quarter sampling in September, TCE exceeded standards in four shallow monitoring wells, one intermediate monitoring well, and two recovery wells. During fourth quarter sampling in December, TCE exceeded standards in four shallow monitoring wells and two recovery wells.
Other detected chemicals included tetrachloroethene, dichloroethene, methylene chloride, and vinyl chloride.
The property is divided into three sections. The northern property, formerly the manufacturing facility, is currently being redeveloped for a new Aldi’s grocery store. The central property is currently owned and operated by Walmart. The southern property is farmland.
A groundwater treatment system operated at the site from August 1995 through January 2024, when it was shut down following Ohio EPA approval. During operation, the system treated approximately 2 billion gallons of water and removed approximately 1,824 pounds of volatile organic compounds.
The report states groundwater flows southward across the site toward Pee Pee Creek. No volatile organic compounds were detected above laboratory reporting limits in surface water samples from Pee Pee Creek during 2025.
Offsite monitoring wells south of Pee Pee Creek showed no detection of TCE, confirming the creek serves as a hydraulic divide and groundwater impacts are contained to the property.