Water Protection Activities in Washtenaw County

Gelman Sciences Inc. 1,4-dioxane Response Assessment:
A court-ordered Prohibition Zone has been established in a
portion of the identified plume area and areas where the plume
is expected to travel toward the Huron River in the future.
Residents within the Prohibition Zone must disclose the
presence of 1,4-dioxane beneath their properties, as well as the
groundwater use restrictions, to perspective home buyers.
Washtenaw County, the City of Ann Arbor, the Townships of
Scio and Ann Arbor, and the State of Michigan have worked
diligently with residents and Pall Life Sciences to assure that
the contamination issue is addressed. The PZ is a tool intended
to reduce potential exposure to the plume, as it prevents the
drilling of new wells. In addition, 124 homes previously served
by well water have been connected to the City of Ann Arbor
water supply. Despite these efforts, due to disputes over
responsibilities and methods, cleanup has taken over 20 years
and will likely require decades of continued oversight.
Next Steps:
Continue to actively treat 1,4-dioxane. Carry on monitoring the
remediation efforts and provide input to MDEQ. Advocate for
additional, properly designed and located monitoring wells,
which are needed to more accurately identify plumes and track
plume migration. In cooperation with MDEQ, continue to
monitor drinking water wells affected or threatened by 1,4dioxane.
If State funding is not replaced for this program,
monitoring of affected or threatened drinking water wells will
likely end after 2008. Work with stakeholders to assure best
management practices and technologies are employed in the
effort, and that action is taken in the most expeditious manner.
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Map 7: Gelman Sciences Inc. 1, 4-dioxane Plumes