This is the first meeting that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and Ottawa County Department of Public Health has held since early November 2018, after elevated levels of PFAS substances were detected in wells at Robinson Elementary School.
A high level of PFAS was found at the school and one residence.
Kristina Wieghmink, the public information officer for the county health department, said the February meeting was scheduled due to requests from Robinson Township officials and community members.
“We want to ensure Robinson Township residents and the public have information about PFAS and the opportunity to ask questions from local and state health officials on the PFAS testing in their area, and other concerns in the community,” she said.
Four potential sources for the contamination were initially considered — including firefighting foam, undocumented dump sites, biosolid applications and highway construction materials.
DEQ spokesperson Scott Dean told the Grand Haven Tribune this month that high concentrations of PFAS chemicals have not been discovered in close proximity to nearby biosolid applications or highway construction materials.
Dump sites have historically been allowed without documentation, Dean said, but none have been identified close to elevated PFAS levels in the township.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a lifetime health advisory of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) in drinking water for the two chemicals PFOA and PFOS.
Michigan has not established standards for drinking water, but the DEQ has investigated the contaminants across the state.
In a statement, the congressman said task force leaders are concerned that contamination like what was discovered at Robinson Elementary School is “just the tip of the iceberg.” “At the end of the day, residents deserve to know the truth and the full picture about the health risks, as well as the sources associated with PFAS and PFOAS,” he said.