Tucson Water has mailed an information packet to about 40,000 customers who live in the area where water from the TARP facility is delivered. A letter explains that water delivered to the area meets or exceeds all federal drinking water standards and is safe for drinking, cooking, and bathing. A brief informational pamphlet about 1,4-dioxane is also provided.

The TARP facility was originally designed in the late 1980s to remove Trichloroethylene (TCE) from local groundwater, but does not remove 1,4-dioxane. In 2002, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notified water providers throughout theUnited States that 1,4-dioxane, a stabilizing agent that was added to TCE, was being detected at TCE cleanup sites around the country.

Tucson Water has been maintaining levels of 1,4-dioxane within the EPA’s Health Advisory level by blending water treated at the TARP facility with groundwater from other areas. However, a long-term solution requires the construction of a treatment facility designed to remove 1,4-dioxane as well as TCE. Tucson Water continues to conduct regular water sampling at the TARP facility and has established a special sampling schedule within the water delivery area to continually monitor for 1,4-dioxane. Water quality sampling results will soon be available on the Department’s website.

Individuals interested in reviewing progress of the TARP cleanup process are encouraged to attend the next meeting of the Unified Community Action Board (UCAB) on Wednesday,October 19, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. at the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center,101 West Irvington Road.

Click here for information about 1,4-dioxane, a map of the TARP delivery zone, the mailing to customers and more.