Avoid Huron River In Oakland County After Chemical Spill: Officials

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — State officials urged residents to avoid the Huron River between North Wixom and Kensington roads in Oakland and Livingston counties after a chemical spill. However, officials said there is no immediate threat to drinking water, as the closest drinking water intake is in Ann Arbor.

Residents were also asked to avoid 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).

State health officials said hexavalent chromium was released into the Wixom Sewage Treatment Facility, which flows into the Huron River. Hexavalent chromium is a known carcinogen that can cause a number of adverse health effects through ingestion, skin contact or inhalation.

Officials have begun testing the water and were expecting results in the coming days. Meanwhile, officials urged residents not to 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 and do not eat fish caught in the contaminated section of the Huron River. A do not eat advisory for PFOS is already in effect.

"This recommendation is being made to help protect the health and safety of families who live, work and play in the Huron River in the affected area," said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. "As we gather additional information through sampling, this recommendation may change or be expanded."

State officials said they were notified at 3:21 p.m. Monday by Tribar that it had released several thousand gallons of a liquid containing 5 percent hexavalent chromium into the sewer system.

The company says it discovered the release Monday but indicated it may have started as early as Saturday morning, according to Wixom city officials. It is believed that much of the contaminant already made its way through the treatment plant by the time the release was discovered.

Officials took river water samples from multiple areas downstream from the treatment plant Tuesday and are working with local and state health officials to assess the extent of the contamination. Officials are also testing water within the Tribar facility and the Wixom wastewater treatment plant.