Attorney General Jeff Jackson Secures Injunction Against Brenntag to Halt Durham Water Contamination

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson obtained a preliminary injunction forcing Brenntag Mid‑South to stop discharging contaminated water from its Durham facility into an unnamed tributary of Third Fork Creek, which feeds Jordan Lake. The court order, effective immediately, requires the company to submit a site‑assessment report identifying the contamination source, develop a plan to cease surface‑water discharges, and continue water‑quality monitoring under the oversight of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ).

Brenntag must also replace and maintain protective barriers along the creek, reimburse the City of Durham for warning‑sign installation, and cooperate with ongoing supervision by NCDEQ and the Attorney General’s office. Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams praised the action, emphasizing the city’s commitment to protecting its waterways and watershed.

The injunction marks a coordinated effort by state officials to enforce water‑quality laws and remediate environmental damage caused by the chemical plant.