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<br />Gem Lake News Page 3 of 6
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<br />Eight Wells in Gem Lake Show Traces of 1,4 Dioxane
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<br />The distribution of the 1,4-Dx detections in the
<br />private wells makes the source unclear. Additional
<br />sampling efforts to identify the source are ongoing.
<br />Samples of shallow ground water (less than 100
<br />feet below the ground surface) were collected from
<br />borings drilled on the Water Gremlin property as
<br />part of required monitoring in December 2019 and
<br />the summer of 2020. This monitoring showed 1,4-
<br />Dx at concentrations greater than the HRL.
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<br />In January and February 2020, MDH sampled 11
<br />private wells, detecting 1,4-Dx below the HRL in 3
<br />wells. Water Gremlin sampled 44 more private
<br />wells in July 2020, but detected 1,4-Dx in only 3
<br />additional wells, also below the HRL. To better
<br />understand the occurrence, movement, and the
<br />source of 1,4-Dx in the area, additional data
<br />collection and analysis is required. White Bear
<br />Lake City water was tested in March 2020 and no
<br />1,4 DX was detected.
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<br />After results from additional sampling are in, the
<br />MPCA/MDH will determine the locations of any
<br />additional residential well sampling. Water Gremlin
<br />is currently drilling additional monitoring wells near
<br />their facility to evaluate the water quality and flow
<br />direction in the deeper sand aquifer. This is the
<br />aquifer from which most nearby private wells
<br />appear to be getting their water (based on the few
<br />available well logs for the private wells in the
<br />area).
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<br />The chemical 1,4-Dx is thought to pose no health
<br />risk when used for washing, household tasks, etc.
<br />and presents what they call a low health risk in
<br />drinking water. Nevertheless, it should be
<br />monitored.
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<br />If you have questions regarding this important
<br />matter, contact the Minnesota Department of
<br />Health by calling 651-201-4897 and leaving a
<br />message or emailing health.hazard@state.mn.us.
<br />To contact the MPCA, call 651-757-2998
<br />As you may know, Water Gremlin, a White Bear
<br />Township manufacturer on Otter Lake Road, has
<br />had ongoing issues with the release of more
<br />potentially harmful chemicals, such as TCE, above
<br />the allowable limits in the past few years. They are
<br />working with the Minnesota Department of Health
<br />to test wells in the area to determine potential
<br />pollution affects.
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<br />In 2020, 6 private wells in Gem Lake, out of a total
<br />of 54 sampled had detectable levels of the
<br />chemical 1,4 -dioxane (1,4-Dx). Concentrations in
<br />all six wells were below the Minnesota Department
<br />of Health (MDH) Health Risk Limit (HRL) for
<br />drinking water of 1 part per billion (ppb) and were
<br />not of health concern.
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<br />Follow up sampling began in July 2021. Initial
<br />results of the sampling have shown that 8 wells
<br />have 1,4-Dx slightly above the MDH HRL, ranging
<br />from 1.1 to 3 ppb. All wells are located in a cluster
<br />along the western part of Goose Lake Road.
<br />Affected residents have been contacted and will
<br />receive bottled water for drinking and cooking. The
<br />addresses of affected homeowners is not public
<br />information.
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<br />In December 2020, the Minnesota Pollution Control
<br />Agency (MPCA) directed Water Gremlin to submit a
<br />work plan to sample additional private wells within a
<br />one-mile radius of their facility, including wells that
<br />had previous detections of trace amounts of 1,4-Dx.
<br />Water Gremlin’s environmental consultant, Wenck,
<br />sent letters to 129 residents, requesting access to
<br />collect and test their well water, including some
<br />homes that went beyond the one-mile radius. As a
<br />result, they tested 49 wells on 48 properties.
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<br />The 1,4-Dx HRL of 1 ppb represents an amount of
<br />a contaminant that poses little or no health risk to
<br />those drinking the water daily for a lifetime,
<br />including sensitive or highly exposed people. 1,4-
<br />Dx is considered a likely human carcinogen, based
<br />on studies of animals exposed to very high
<br />amounts. Concentrations detected in well water in
<br />Gem Lake are just above the HRL and present a
<br />low health risk. 1,4-Dx breaks down quickly in the
<br />body and is eliminated within several days. For
<br />more information about 1,4-Dx exposure and health
<br />in Gem Lake, see 1,4-Dioxane in Private wells-
<br />Gem Lake and the White Bear Area (PDF)
<br />(https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/enviro
<br />nment/hazardous/docs/sites/ramsey/wgprtwellgeml
<br />ake.pdf).
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