ALERT ! Pittsboro City Water Users Contaminants

Earlier this year, Pittsboro experienced an influx of contaminants in the city’s drinking water. The introduction of these contaminants likely happened in August, when Greensboro- the source of Pittsboro’s water- learned about 1,4 dioxane and PFAS in the water. 1,4 Dioxane is a probable carcinogen that should not be directly drunken.  PFAS, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, are chemicals that can be found in drinking water if that water has come in contact with spills or waste. Pittsboro receives its water from the Haw River which flows from Greensboro; unfortunately, the contaminants in the water were not made known until a month after the spill was discovered. 

1,4 Dioxane and PFAS have been connected to certain cancers and health problems, although their full effects are unknown. While this information might seem scary, the contaminants were likely only in Pittsboro homes for roughly 6 days. People who typically filter their water probably did not come into great contact with the toxins. To avoid present or future toxins, in-home water filters are the best way to stay safe. These filters can come in forms of a pitcher filter (around $20), a fridge filter (most refrigerators have filters already built-in), or a reverse osmosis system found under the sink, which can cost up to $1,000 if you hire a professional. With all of these filters, regular maintenance is the most important way to guarantee you and your family’s safety. 

Shamrock Environmental Corp., a water treatment company located in Greensboro released a statement about the incident, stating “In August 2019, we treated and discharged approximately 15,825 gallons of non-hazardous wastewater from a customer that did not report the wastewater contained 1,4-dioxane.” Unfortunately, there are no regulations for what can or can not be disposed of in the Haw River. As people and companies continue to dump toxins into rivers, problems like this will likely reoccur.
To read more information about this issue CLICK HERE, HERE, and HERE 
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Carl Johnson Real Estate