Watch CBS News

I-Team: Another Chemical Compound Found In Sherborn Water Wells

SHERBORN (CBS) - Trace amounts of the toxic compound Dioxan have been found in two more wells in the town of Sherborn. The homes are just a short distance from the General Chemical Hazardous Waste facility in Framingham. Dioxan was used at the plant which is now shut down.

The ground water below the facility is contaminated and there is concern it may be impacting wells in nearby Sherborn. The State department of Environmental Protection has been doing the tests in the neighborhood.

Earlier results showed trace amounts of the compound PCE in wells at two homes.

The DEP says the water is safe to drink and the levels are too low to present any risk to the homeowner.

The following e-mail is from the state DEP to WBZ:

From the first round of well water samples taken from homes in Sherborn, the laboratory testing for the compound 1,4-dioxane reported trace levels in well water from two homes on Meadowbrook Lane and Coolidge Avenue. The lab reported estimated values for both samples as they cannot guarantee the values below the lab reporting limit of 143 parts per trillion (ppt). The health guideline is 300 ppt.

Home well #1 – 80 ppt

Home well #2 – 89 ppt

1,4-dioxane is a compound frequently used in cosmetics and personal care products, such as shampoos, as well as in laundry detergents. It is possible that these trace amounts leached into the groundwater from the home septic systems after these products were flushed down the drain over the years.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.