Small amounts of 1,4-Dioxane present in Pittsboro's treated water

A view of the Haw River, Pittsboro's drinking water source.
A view of the Haw River, Pittsboro's drinking water source.
Courtesy of Haw River Assembly
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PITTSBORO — Small traces of 1,4-Dioxane have been found in Pittsboro's water supply after a discharge of the likely carcinogenic compound on April 5. 

Greensboro alerted the town to the release of 1,4-Dioxane into the Haw River on April 6, and Pittsboro town staff requested to test water samples from storage tanks in town following the news of the discharge. 

Town Manager Chris Kennedy provided an update on Thursday evening, and the newest lab results were released to the public. 

The treated water located at Pittsboro's treatment facility had a low concentration of 1,4-Dioxane with 4.94 micrograms per liter on April 11 and 1.97 micrograms per liter on April 12. 

"The numbers...indidcate limited contamination thus far with the event," Kennedy wrote in his Thursday press release. "The town expects this trend to continue with low levels of 1,4-Dioxane in our distribution system with consistent non-detect results in our raw water grabs."

Pittsboro staff are continuing to send water samples for testing, as well as discussing potential solutions with Greensboro and the N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality.