Update # 4 - Cascade Township Residential Drinking Water Well Sampling

Update #4 - Cascade Township Residential Drinking Water Well Sampling

As part of its investigation of Cascade Township residential drinking water wells along "Trout Creek", the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) sampled 156 residential drinking water wells for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) between March and September 2019. Those results are summarized here: Update #1 - May 16, 2019, Update #2 - August 5, 2019, and November 12, 2019.

In November 2019, after requesting access to 139 properties, EGLE sampled 98 additional residential drinking water wells in the area adjacent to Trout Creek for PFAS. This was Phase 4 of the residential well sampling effort.

"Phase 4" sample results are summarized below and in the linked figures (PFOA+PFOS and Total PFAS):

	Range PFOA + PFOS (ppt)
	Non-Detect	0< to <10	>10 to <70	>70
# of Results	39	42	17	0

 

	Range Total PFAS (ppt)
	Non-Detect	0< to <10	>10 to <100	>100 to <200
# of Results	23	26	49	0

Consistent with Phase 1,2 and 3, each result in Phase 4 was below the U.S. EPA Lifetime Health Advisory of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA+PFOS. The highest Phase 4 PFOA+PFOS result was 31.2 ppt and the highest Total PFAS result was 80.8 ppt.

Residents have been provided their results and in response, the Kent County Health Department will offer point-of-use filters to each household where any PFAS was detected.

EGLE will expand it's sampling area to a fifth phase that will attempt to include all remaining residential drinking water wells known to EGLE in the area south of 28th Street, west of the Thornapple River, east of the 36th Street exit off I-96 and north of the M-6 exit off I-96. By March 1st, EGLE will request access by postage mail to sample 193 additional residential drinking water wells, which includes all Phase 4 wells that were not already sampled.

Through four phases, EGLE has sampled 254 residential drinking water wells for PFAS, which was detected in more than 70 percent of results indicating a need to pursue a long-term solution protective of public health for a large area. EGLE has begun to focus on pursuing a long-term solution that would consider all sampled and non-sampled drinking water wells south of 28th Street, west of the Thornapple River, east of the 36th Street exit off I-96 and north of the M-6 exit off I-96.

Further, EGLE, along with the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), and the Kent County Health Department (KCHD), will host a public meeting on Monday May 4th starting at 6:00 P.M. in the Wisner Center of the Cascade Township Library (2870 Jacksmith Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546). Doors open at 5:30pm and time will be available for Q&A at the end.

For questions, contact the EGLE Remediation and Redevelopment Division’s project manager Aaron Assmann at assmanna@michigan.gov or 616-430-5275.

NOTE: This project is not associated with the Lack's Industries (Cascade) project or currently properties with residential drinking water wells north of 28th Street, east of the Thornapple River, west of the 36th Street exit off I-96 or south of the M-6 exit off I-96.

To receive future updates from EGLE on this investigation, register for the Cascade Township Residential Wells Sampling and PFAS Analysis listserv or check for updates to the MPART PFAS Response webpage.

Health related questions about PFAS can be directed to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-662-9278 or the Kent County Health Department at 1-616-632-7100.

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