Recently, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has been closely monitoring a dioxane plume that is making it's way towards the Huron River, Ann Arbors primary drinking water source. This is a major concern for residents of the area due to the toxicity of dioxane to humans. The agency is scrambling to minimize the potential risk of exposure.

Back in 1966 Pall Corporation- a global manufacturer of filtration products, dumped large amounts of dioxane into the environment. This went on for nearly 20 years, at that point the damage was already done. Unfortunately, due to state laws the DEQ cannot force Pall Corp to do a clean-up. Thus leaving the area polluted and at risk of the chemical spreading into our ground water.

It is unsure where or how the plume will spread, but local officials are growing increasingly concerned about dioxane reaching Barton Pond, primary drinking water source.

Officials from the Department of Environmental Quality discussed the situation with city officials and residents at a meeting of the local Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane. They are pushing towards stricter policies regarding clean-up. 

Pall Corp is working towards releasing a plan of action for the clean-up, but at this time no remedy has been put into place. The DEQ continues to work on establishing stricter laws.