Press Release: PFAS Water Test Results Released
11/29/2018 2:49:00 PM - Environmental Team

UPDATED: PFAS Water Test Results Released for Charter Township of Union Water Supply within Isabella County

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has been testing drinking water from all community water supplies across the state. This test is looking for a group of manmade chemicals called per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). MDEQ is taking this precautionary step of testing these drinking water sources to determine if public health actions are needed. Below is information provided by the MDEQ.

What is PFAS?

It is not uncommon to find low levels of PFAS in drinking water supplies, as PFAS can be found in fire-fighting foams, stain repellants, nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, food wrappers, and many other household products. They do not break down in the environment and move easily into water.

Who paid for the initial testing?

Funding for the initial testing was provided by legislation signed by Governor Rick Snyder as a supplemental appropriation for the current fiscal year.

Who conducted the initial testing?

The MDEQ contracted with AECOM, a private environmental firm to conduct the statewide sampling.

Municipal Sample Testing Dates

As reported on October 10, 2018, The City of Mt. Pleasant, Charter Township of Union and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe were scheduled to be tested separately during the week of October 15, 2018. These tests were all conducted on October 18, 2018. If you are unsure of who your water system/provider is, please refer to your water bill.

Lifetime Health Advisory levels set by Environment Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a lifetime health advisory (LHA) level for two PFAS in drinking water, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). The LHA level is 70 parts per trillion which is the equivalent of one drop of water in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools) for PFOA and PFOS combined, or

individually if only one is present. The State of Michigan is using 70 ppt for decision making purposes.

Test Results

The following test results were provided by the MDEQ and can be found on the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team website, www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse.

UPDATED: Charter Township of Union Test Results

Charter Township of Union’s results show that of the three sites tested for PFOA and PFOS, two sites were found to

be non-detects, and one site came back at 6 ppt. This level is below the EPA’s lifetime health advisory of 70 ppt.

Based on the 6 ppt test result, local officials will be working in tandem with the MDEQ to conduct follow-up sampling

and evaluation.

Can I drink the water?

With the information available at this time, and the test results received from the MDEQ, there is no reason to

believe the water is unsafe to drink. If you have individual concerns, please refer to the resources provided below.

At-Home Water Filtration Systems and Reverse Osmosis Information

Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Treatment Systems – NSF/ANSI Certified 58

These systems and replacement cartridges can be found locally in-store or online at these major retailers: Meijer,

Walmart, Home Depot, Menards, Lowes, Culligan and Amazon.

Water Filtration Systems – NSF/ANSI Certified P473

These systems and replacement cartridges are not as widely available, but can be found online through Walmart,

Home Depot and Amazon.

If you need help installing these units, please contact a plumber or a licensed professional.

City of Mt. Pleasant Test Results

As reported on November 20, The City of Mt. Pleasant’s results show that of the PFOA and PFOS tested, a

non-detect level was found in the water. This level is below the EPA’s lifetime health advisory of 70 ppt.

Can I drink the water?

With the information available at this time, and the test results received from MDEQ, there is no reason to believe the

water is unsafe to drink. If you have individual concerns, please refer to the Updated Water Information section

provided below.

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Test Results

As reported on November 27, The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s results show that of the PFOA and PFOS tested,

a non-detect level was found in the water. This level is below the EPA’s lifetime health advisory of 70 ppt.

Can I drink the water?

With the information available at this time, and the test results received from MDEQ, there is no reason to believe the

water is unsafe to drink. If you have individual concerns, please refer to the Updated Water Information section

provided below.

Updated Water Information

Updated water information can be found on the Central Michigan Health Department website at

https://www.cmdhd.org/ or by calling the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-648-6942 or

the MDEQ Environmental Assistance Center at 1-800-662-9278.

For information on PFAS including possible health outcomes, visit these websites:

• State of Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) website serving as the main resource for public

information on PFAS contamination in Michigan www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ASTDR) website including health information, exposure,

and links to additional resources www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas

• United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) website including basic information, U.S. EPA

actions, and links to informational resources www.epa.gov/pfas.