1,4-dioxane was used as a stabilizer in industrial solvents in aircraft manufacturing facilities from the 1940s to the 1970s and has been found in groundwater at the Tucson Airport Remediation Project (TARP) well field. Though the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not currently regulate 1,4-dioxane, it does issue health advisories as guidelines for drinking water utilities.

In January 2011, the EPA issued a new health advisory for 1,4-dioxane of 0.35 parts per billion, significantly lower than the previous advisory of 3.0 parts per billion. With this new, lower advisory level, Tucson Water is in the process of designing and constructing a new treatment facility to be located at the existing TARP Treatment Facility. This new facility will utilize advanced oxidation technology to effectively remove 1,4-dioxane from water.

Residents interested in reviewing progress of the TARP cleanup process are encouraged to attend a quarterly meeting of the Unified Community Action Board (UCAB).

The next meeting of UCAB will be on Wed., Apr. 18, 2012, at the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center, 101 W. Irvington Rd. Please contact either of the current Co-chairs Yolanda Herrera at (520) 991-3307 or Martin Zeleznik at (415) 972-3543 for more information or e-mail acuinteriors@aol.com.

For more information:

• Service Area 1,4-Dioxane Sample Points Results Map (Jan. 2012 results)
• 1,4-Dioxane Pamphlet (Nov. 2011)
• 1,4-Dioxane:
  What It Is and What It Means for Customers (July 2011)
• Tucson Water Letter to Customers (Sept. 2011): English - Spanish
• Media Release (Sept. 2011)
• Mayor & Council Memorandum (Aug. 2011)
• 2010 Water Quality Annual Report: English - Spanish

Additional Resources:

• EPA TIAA Superfund site newsletter (Mar. 2010)
• EPA TIAA Superfund site information (May 2011)
• 1,4-Dioxane Tucson Water Fact Sheet (Aug. 2002)
• U.S. EPA 1,4-Dioxane Hazard Summary (rev. Jan. 2000)
• U.S. EPA 1,4-Dioxane Chemical Fact Sheet (Feb. 1995)

(updated Jan. 2012)