Hexavalent Chromium release into the Huron River, Tribar Manufacturing, Wixom Michigan
MDHHS lifts recommendation for no contact with Huron River water
after reviewing data related to Tribar toxic chemical release
Amount of chromium released to the river not at levels for human health risk, but
sampling will continue
Printable PDF of 08/12/2022 Press Release
View Report from MDHHS Issued 08/12/2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Aug. 12, 2022
MDHHS CONTACT: Bob Wheaton
517-281-1701
WheatonB@michigan.gov
EGLE CONTACT: Jeff Johnston
517-231-9304
JohnstonJ14@michigan.gov
LANSING, Mich. – There is no need for people and pets to continue to avoid contact
with Huron River water, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
(MDHHS) determined after reviewing data collected following a chemical release in
Oakland County.
MDHHS had issued a no-contact recommendation on Aug. 2 after hexavalent chromium
was released into the Wixom Sewage Treatment Facility from Tribar Manufacturing in
Wixom the weekend of July 29. The sewer feeds the Wixom wastewater treatment
plant, which discharges to the Huron River system.
Data MDHHS received on Wednesday from the Michigan Department of Environment,
Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and reviewed by MDHHS found chromium levels in
the river were below levels of concern for effects on human health. The data
review found that:
The amount of hexavalent chromium released into the Huron River was much
less than originally thought.
The release was predominantly trivalent chromium, not hexavalent chromium.
Trivalent chromium is a micronutrient that is part of humans’ diet and is far less
concerning from a health perspective.
Hexavalent chromium was not detected in the majority of the surface water
samples. The detections in three samples were well below the level that could
cause harm.
“MDHHS is lifting its no-contact recommendation for the Huron River based on testing
results we have received over the past week,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director.
“The collaboration between local and state officials illustrates the strong commitment
our state has to the health and safety of Michigan families.”
-MOREOf 146 water samples collected throughout 42 river miles since the release, hexavalent
chromium was detected in three samples. Chromium was found in six of 146
samples. Hexavalent chromium is a known carcinogen that can cause a number of
adverse health effects through ingestion, skin contact or inhalation.
To protect the health of people using the river, MDHHS had recommended that people
and pets avoid contact with the Huron River water between North Wixom Road in
Oakland County and Kensington Road in Livingston County. This included Norton
Creek downstream of the Wixom Wastewater Treatment Plant in Oakland County,
Hubbell Pond – also known as Mill Pond – in Oakland County, and Kent Lake in
Oakland and Livingston counties. Since that time, MDHHS has learned much more
information, resulting in the decision to lift the no-contact recommendation.
Officials have emphasized there is no immediate threat to drinking water. The closest
drinking water intake is in Ann Arbor. The city has been notified of the release and is
also taking steps to monitor incoming water. In addition, MDHHS and EGLE will conduct
sampling for total chromium and hexavalent chromium three times a week at multiple
locations upstream of the Ann Arbor intake in Barton Pond. There will be testing once a
week for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – known as PFAS. The location and timing
of sampling is designed to assure protection of the drinking water.
“Public health and safety are paramount to EGLE’s mission,” said EGLE Director Liesl
Clark. While diligent sampling and testing continue on miles of the Huron River system,
along with additional support of communities, the hard work and long hours of EGLE
and MDHHS teams have led us to where we are today.”
Test results will be communicated to the public at Michigan.gov/EGLETribarResponse.
MDHHS’s MI Toxic Hotline is still available for questions about potential health effects
or exposures. People can call 800-648-6942, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, and Saturday, Aug. 13 and Sunday, Aug. 14.
# # #
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 8, 2022
EGLE CONTACT: EGLE Media Office, EGLE-Assist@Michigan.gov, 517-284-9278
MDHHS CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, sutfinl1@michigan.gov, 517-241-2112
Additional water testing does not detect
hexavalent chromium following Wixom release
Testing, analysis continues; do-not-contact recommendation remains
LANSING, Mich. – Testing conducted over the weekend by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) did not detect the presence of hexavalent chromium in the Huron River system downstream of a chemical release.
On Saturday, EGLE crews tested 55 locations throughout the river system from Barton Pond – where the city of Ann Arbor has a drinking water intake – upstream to Wixom. None of the 75 samples tested from those locations had detectable level of either hexavalent chromium or total chromium.
Industrial chemicals were discharged to the sanitary sewer system from Tribar Manufacturing in Wixom the weekend of July 30 and routed to the Wixom wastewater treatment facility. The wastewater discharges to Norton Creek, which flows into the Huron River system. The liquid contained hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen that can cause a number of adverse health effects through ingestion, skin contact or inhalation.
Of 144 water samples collected throughout 42 river miles since the release, three came back with detections of hexavalent chromium – two detections in Milford’s Hubbell Pond and one in the middle of Kent Lake. The Kent Lake detection, completed by lab analysis late Friday – was 5 parts per billion (ppb) – just at the detectable limit of 5 ppb. The two Hubbell Pond detections were 11 and 9 parts per billion. All three were at or below values to protect aquatic life.*
Investigators are evaluating test results from wastewater solids that were sequestered at the Wixom Wastewater treatment plant that appear to have trapped chromium, including hexavalent chromium, and of a carbon filtration system at Tribar that may have trapped the hexavalent chromium before it was discharged to the wastewater plant.
Until further notice, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is recommending that people and pets avoid contact with the Huron River water between North Wixom Road in Oakland County and Kensington Road in Livingston County. This includes Norton Creek downstream of the Wixom Wastewater Treatment Plant (Oakland County), Hubbell Pond (also known as Mill Pond in Oakland County) and Kent Lake (Oakland and Livingston counties).
As additional test results are received, MDHHS will update this recommendation.
For the section of the Huron River described above:
- Don’t swim in, wade in, play in or drink water directly from the Huron River.
- Don’t water your plants or lawn with Huron River water.
- Don’t eat fish caught in this section of the Huron River. A do not eat advisory for PFOS is already in effect.
Officials stressed that properly constructed and permitted drinking water wells should not be directly influenced by surface water, and therefore, are unlikely to be contaminated by any chromium in the river. Hexavalent chromium from this release is unlikely to enter the groundwater. Unpermitted driven sand points and submerged irrigation pumps installed by property owners along the river may be vulnerable and should never be used for drinking water.
EGLE staff continues the investigation to determine why the release occurred, the exact volume and product that was released, and the timeline of events.
State and local officials continue to work together to protect public health, keep residents informed, and answer questions. Some resources for the public include:
- Webpages from the Oakland and Washtenaw county health departments, and the City of Ann Arbor.
- MDHHS’ MI Toxic Hotline for questions about potential health effects or exposures. 800-648-6942, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- EGLE’s Environmental Assistance Center, a single point of entry into the agency’s programs: EGLE-Assist@Michigan.gov or 800-662-9278.
************
*The state’s chronic aquatic life value is 11 parts per billion (ppb) of hexavalent chromium – designed to protect organisms from long-term exposure harm. Its Acute Aquatic Life Value is 16 ppb, designed to protect from short-term exposures. The samples at Hubbell Pond registered 11 ppb at the surface, and 9 ppb near the bottom. The Kent Lake sample, at between 6 and 12 inches deep, registered 5 ppb. The limit at which testing is not able to detect the chemical is 5 ppb.
# # #
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 5, 2022 EGLE CONTACT: EGLE Media Office, Update: Hubbell Pond in Milford area focus of today’s testing LANSING, Mich. – State investigators today focused on the Hubbell Pond area in Milford, where two test samples from yesterday showed a low-level presence of a toxic chemical released into the Huron River system by a manufacturing company. Two crews from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) sampled waters upstream, downstream and within the pond Friday morning to gather more information about the potential location of hexavalent chromium, which was released from Tribar Manufacturing in Wixom last weekend. Two samples taken Thursday detected the chemical in Hubbell Pond. They were at and below the state’s values to protect aquatic life*. The Hubbell Pond results were the only detections of hexavalent chromium from widespread sampling Thursday along the Huron River system downstream from the release. More than 30 samples were taken from varying depths from near the point of release downstream to Barton Pond in Ann Arbor. Investigators again stressed that more data is needed to develop a more complete picture of location, movement, and concentration of the contaminant. Liquid containing 5% hexavalent chromium was discharged to the sanitary sewer system from Tribar Manufacturing in Wixom last weekend and routed to the Wixom wastewater treatment facility. The wastewater discharges to Norton Creek, which flows into the Huron River system. Hexavalent chromium is a known carcinogen that can cause a number of adverse health effects through ingestion, skin contact or inhalation. Until further notice, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is recommending that people and pets avoid contact with the Huron River water between North Wixom Road in Oakland County and Kensington Road in Livingston County. This includes Norton Creek downstream of the Wixom Wastewater Treatment Plant (Oakland County), Hubbell Pond (also known as Mill Pond in Oakland County) and Kent Lake (Oakland and Livingston counties). As additional water test results are received, MDHHS may expand this recommendation to other areas of the Huron River. For the section of the Huron River described above:
Investigators are also testing sewage material within the Wixom treatment plant to determine if contamination remains bound up with the sludge inside the plant. Officials stressed that properly constructed and permitted drinking water wells should not be directly influenced by surface water, and therefore, are unlikely to be contaminated by chromium from the river. Hexavalent chromium from this release is unlikely to enter the groundwater. Unpermitted driven sand points and submerged irrigation pumps installed by property owners along the river may be vulnerable and should never be used for drinking water. EGLE staff continues the investigation to determine why the release occurred, the exact volume and product that was released, and the timeline of events. State and local officials continue to work together to keep residents informed and answer questions. Some resources for the public include:
*The state’s chronic aquatic life value is 11 parts per billion (ppb) of hexavalent chromium – designed to protect organisms from long-term exposure harm. Its Acute Aquatic Life Value is 16 ppb, designed to protect from short-term exposures. The samples at Hubbell Pond registered 11 ppb at the surface, and 9 ppb near the bottom. # # #
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Preliminary Results Detect No Presence Of Chemical In Huron River
August 4, 2022
Jessica Mathews / news@whmi.com
View Press Release from MDHHS/MEGLE here - .pdf
Test results from nine surface water samples taken Wednesday downstream of a chemical release into the Huron River system showed no detectable presence of the contaminant hexavalent chromium.
The announcement was made today by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. The state says two tests taken on Tuesday also detected no presence of the chemical. Liquid containing 5% hexavalent chromium was discharged to the sanitary sewer system from Tribar Manufacturing in Wixom over the weekend and routed to the Wixom wastewater treatment facility. The wastewater discharges to Norton Creek, which flows into the Huron River system.
A “do not contact” recommendation remains in effect for both people and pets as continued testing along the river system and in the Wixom wastewater treatment facility was taking place today.
Though the results to date are non-detect, EGLE is expanding its monitoring to ensure public health protection.
Investigators are testing sewage material within the Wixom treatment plant to determine if contamination remains bound up with the sludge inside the plant. They are also in the field today testing at 29 different locations – many with multiple samples – along the river system including Kent Lake.
Crews will also test Barton Pond, where the city of Ann Arbor draws drinking water – both as a precaution and to establish baseline data should contamination reach the intake. Modeling estimates that it would take several weeks at minimum for the streamflow to reach the city’s intake.
Officials stressed that properly constructed and permitted drinking water wells should not be directly influenced by surface water, and therefore, are unlikely to be contaminated by chromium from the river. They say Hexavalent chromium from the release is unlikely to enter the groundwater.
Officials say unpermitted driven sand points and submerged irrigation pumps installed by property owners along the river may be vulnerable and should never be used for drinking water.
EGLE staff inspected the Tribar plant Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation to determine why the release occurred, the exact volume and product that was released, and the timeline of events.
More information and resources for the public are available in the provided link.
Hexavalent Chromium release into the Huron River, Tribar Manufacturing, Wixom Michigan
State and local officials recommend that residents avoid contact with the Huron River between North Wixom and Kensington Roads. This area is well up stream of Hamburg Township. Sampling continues daily along the Huron River. Current Huron River flow models indicate that it could take up to a week for Huron River water to reach Kensington Road from the site of the hexavalent chromium release in Wixom, Michigan.
Below are links to the most recent information available for the Michigan Department of Environment, and Great Lakes.
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDEQ/bulletins/3265c45
https://www.michigan.gov/egle/newsroom/press-releases/2022/08/02/huron-river
HexChrom release 080322 final.pdf