Michigan state investigators said test samples taken Thursday from Hubbell Pond in Milford showed the presence of low levels of a toxic chemical that was released into the Huron River system by the company Tribar Manufacturing in Wixom last weekend.
Two crews from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy sampled waters upstream, downstream and inside the pond Friday to gather more information about the presence of hexavalent chromium, a known cancer-causing chemical .
According to Michigan authorities, hexavalent chromium is a known carcinogen that can cause a number of adverse health effects through ingestion, skin contact or inhalation.
State officials are still investigating why the release occurred, the exact volume and product that was released and the timeline of events.
The Hubbell Pond samples were the only ones where hexavalent chromium was detected, out of more than 30 samples that were taken from various depths from near the release point downstream to Barton Pond in Ann Arbor.
“Liquid containing 5% hexavalent chromium was discharged into the sanitary sewer system at Tribar Manufacturing in Wixom last weekend and was directed to Wixom’s wastewater treatment facility,” he said the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy in a statement.
Michigan authorities advised people and pets to avoid contact with water from the Huron River between North Wixom Road in Oakland County and Kensington Road in Livingston County. This includes Norton Creek downstream of the Wixom Wastewater Treatment Plant (Oakland County), Hubbell Pond (aka Mill Pond in Oakland County), and Kent Lake (Oakland and Livingston Counties).
Residents are also warned not to water their plants with river water or eat fish caught in this section of the river.
Authorities also warned that this recommendation could be expanded to other areas of the river as additional test results are received.
Properly constructed and permitted drinking water wells not influenced by surface water are unlikely to be contaminated by chromium from the river, they said.
