Sturgis-Coldwater News

Michigan’s new PFAS drinking water policies -- among the strictest standards in the nation, designed to keep so-called "forever chemicals" out of public water supplies -- went into effect this month, reported Bridge Michigan.

The new rules will raise standards for Michigan’s municipal water supply by offering a higher degree of protection from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are chemicals that are commonly found in nonstick coatings, firefighting foam and other products and have been linked to cancer, thyroid issues and other health conditions.

The policies also lowered the threshold for cleanup of PFAS-laden groundwater, a move designed to address contamination at the source, rather than relying solely on water suppliers to remove it from drinking water that has already been contaminated.

The new limits are more stringent than the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s health advisory levels, which are also hard to enforce.

It’s likely that some municipal supplies are already in violation of the new standards. Municipal water suppliers are now required to test their water quarterly for the state’s regulated PFAS chemicals. A failing grade for four consecutive quarters would indicate a water quality violation.

Some supplies that were already tested and found to have PFAS levels below the federal health guidelines could violate Michigan’s new, more stringent standards, said Steve Sliver, executive director of the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART).

With further testing, “a couple dozen” systems could be required to add treatment systems or take other steps to remove PFAS from water supplies, said Sliver.

The new drinking water standards do not apply to household well water, but Michigan has tested private drinking water wells in areas within the state with known PFAS contamination. Many Michiganders with tainted wells have either switched to municipal water or obtained filters for their home supply.

The new groundwater cleanup standard will help address PFAS contamination at common sources including landfills, manufacturing facilities and other sources that could impact private wells. Sliver said that if investigators believe contamination is moving offsite and affecting residential wells, they will develop plans to assist residents.

Residents who are not near known PFAS sites but are still worried about PFAS contamination in their well water can get assistance. Sliver said the state is making efforts to inform private well owners about PFAS, helping them getting their water tested and providing options for solutions, such as digging a deeper well or connecting to municipal water.

Sliver said state scientists are continuing to test for PFAS contamination across the state and will add locations where PFAS levels exceed the new groundwater standard to the list of contaminated sites.

A list of contaminated sites and supplemental information can be found at Michigan.gov.