Dow Chemical continuing to clean up dioxin along Tittabawassee River

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FREELAND (WJRT) (7/16/2018) - The clean up of contaminated soil downstream from Dow Chemical continues along the Tittabawassee River -- much to the delight of many homeowners.

Some property owners feel they are getting brand new backyards.

"Before we bought the house, my wife and I did a lot of research on the Dow issue the chemicals in the dirt," said Ben Adams, who purchased a home near Freeland two years ago.

Two years later, he's happy with the cleanup work that has been done.

"It really allows us to have peace of mind when our kids are back there, or when I am cutting the grass," Adams said.

He had a foot of soil removed from about a half acre of his property that was closest to the Tittabawassee River, which testing showed was contaminated with dioxin.

Dow Chemical has been paying for the removal of the soil and the Environmental Protection Agency is overseeing the work.

"We were really excited to make sure they were able to remove all the contaminated dirt, but then also reseed it and actually they will cut the grass the first couple of times for us," Adams said.