DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson has filed a lawsuit against Brenntag Mid-South, accusing the Durham-based chemical distributor of illegally releasing industrial chemicals into state waters.
Jackson said clean water is “a universal right,” and his office is seeking swift court action to stop the alleged contamination.
The investigation began after an anonymous tip last year. The Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Environmental Quality launched a joint probe, collecting water samples near the company’s property.
According to Jackson, those samples confirmed the presence of industrial chemicals. Investigators also reported finding chemicals stored in drums and tanks on-site.
State officials allege that groundwater contamination from the facility allowed solvent pollution to flow into Third Fork Creek – a waterway that runs past Burton Magnet Elementary School and eventually feeds into Jordan Lake, a major regional water source.
Jackson said the lawsuit asks the court to immediately halt any ongoing discharges and require Brenntag to clean up the damage.
“First, they have to stop the discharge immediately. Second, they have to clean up the damage they’ve done,” Jackson said. “We’re asking the court to do that in an expedited fashion.”
While Jackson noted the contamination could affect wildlife, he emphasized that officials do not believe drinking water is currently unsafe. Still, some residents say they’re worried.
Ashley Covington, who has a child at Burton Magnet Elementary, said she’s concerned about what might be in the water her family uses every day.
“We use this water to cook, drink, and bathe,” she said. “I don’t know what chemicals are in it. It could be harmful to my body.”
Longtime Durham resident Willie Lyons said he’s noticed changes in the water quality at times, though not consistently.
Jackson said his office is prepared to pursue the case aggressively.
“This is obviously of genuine concern to the people of Durham,” he said. “We think we have a very strong legal case.”
A Brenntag spokesperson told ABC11 the company does not comment on ongoing litigation.
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