How A New Jersey Water Official Uncovered The Source Of 1,4-Dioxane In A Major National Supply
Years ago, a dangerous drinking water contaminant was found in one of the country’s most significant source water supplies. And now it’s come to light that, were it not for a dedicated local water official, the source of this contamination could have remained unchecked due to gaps in regulation.
The problem can be traced back to a discovery in 2020, with high levels of the toxic 1,4-Dioxane plastic manufacturing byproduct found in the Delaware River. This source provides drinking water to more than 13 million people throughout the Eastern U.S., and while the presence of 1,4-Dioxane in drinking water is not limited by any federal regulations, the discovery prompted action from local officials.
Much of this work fell on New Jersey American Water Official Matt Csik, who struck out to discover the origin of this dangerous contamination. Csik’s company approached the New Jersey and Pennsylvania departments of environmental protection, as well as the Delaware River Basin Commission, in early 2020, but Csik soon found that he had to take matters into his own hands.
“The onset of the pandemic slowed the process, Csik said, so he went out to gather samples himself,” The Morning Call reported. “Donning his wetsuit and driving along the Delaware River with his wife, Csik waded into the river and collected samples for testing.”
Through this investigative work, Csik narrowed the source of contamination down to the Lehigh River, to the area around an Allentown, PA, wastewater treatment plant where levels of 1,4-Dioxane contamination were more than 100 times higher than New Jersey’s proposed rules for levels in safe drinking water.
“The treatment plant immediately stopped accepting [plastics and polymer manufacturer Coim USA’s] waste and the amount of 1,4-Dioxane in the Delaware dropped,” Politico reported.
Today, official work to track down additional sources of 1,4-Dioxane in the area continues, and Csik remains committed to removing this contaminant from drinking water, regardless of how strictly it is regulated on a local or federal level.
“New Jersey American’s sampling shows the primary source of the chemical threatening its supplies has substantially gone away since last summer,” per Politico. “Csik … said the utility was fortunate to have a treatment process that helped remove 1,4-Dioxane and is getting ready to add another treatment process that further removes the chemical.”
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