The previous post looked at the 1.5-year-old effort to divert 1,4-Dioxane in the Nuclear Metals, Inc. (NMI) plume before it can reach the public water supply. This post looks at a longer time frame, and asks whether dioxane levels in the Acton public water supply wells have been getting better or worse over the scale… Continue reading →
The intervention to divert Nuclear Metal’s 1,4-Dioxane from reaching the public water supply
As discussed in earlier Green Acton posts, there is a plume of 1,4-Dioxane flowing from the Nuclear Metals, Inc. (NMI) Superfund Site, passing under the Assabet River, and impacting the water quality at the Assabet 1 public water supply well. Fortunately, there is a pro-active remediation effort underway to intercept and treat this contaminated water.
How can the NMI dioxane plume go underneath the Assabet River?
One of the more surprising aspects of Acton’s 1,4-dioxane situation is that the contaminant plume coming down from the NMI Superfund site goes underneath the Assabet River and thus reaches the Acton Water District’s Assabet 1 public water supply well.
The 1,4-Dioxane Plume from the NMI Superfund Site
Nuclear Metals, Inc. was a company that made depleted uranium munitions for the Department of Defense at a 46-acre site on Rt. 62 in Concord, just across the Concord–Acton town line. These activities resulted in significant contamination of the soil, sediment, and groundwater, and the site is now part of the federal Superfund program. Of… Continue reading →
1,4-Dioxane
1,4-Dioxane is an organic compound that was widely used as a solvent and stabilizer in industrial applications during the late 20th century.
Green Acton/LWV Event: Panel on 1,4-Dioxane in Acton’s Water
The Green Acton Water Committee and the Acton-area League of Women Voters are sponsoring an educational panel discussion about 1,4-Dioxane in Acton’s water supply.
Water Quality
Acton’s waters contain many materials in them other than pure H2O. Some of these are natural and others are introduced through human processes. This page indexes information about the quality of the groundwater, surface waters, and drinking water of Acton.
Perspectives: 1,4-Dioxane in Acton Water
By Lucy Kirshner A year ago, I passed a neighbor on the street who shared her anxiety. “There is poison in our water!” she began. “It’s 1,4-Dioxane and the town knows, but all they’re doing is diluting it, not removing it.”
Unanimous vote in favor of Conant land purchase
There was standing room only at the Acton Water District special district meeting for the vote on whether to authorize the district to purchase 11.23 acres of land in the groundwater protection zones for the Conant 1 and 2 wells. Green Acton President Debra Simes read Green Acton’s position statement. The vote was unanimous in support… Continue reading →
Green Acton position on AWD purchase of Conant Land
Green Acton, by consensus of its Directors, has adopted the following position: Green Acton urges Acton citizens to vote “yes” on Article 1 at the Acton Water District Special Meeting (October 10, 7:30pm, Public Safety Building).