A drinking water advisory was issued on July 26 after toxic per- and polyfluorinated substances were found entering the Parchment water supply at levels 20 times greater than a state and federal health standard.
Levels of the toxic compounds are still present in homes connected to the water system, which includes residences in Parchment and Cooper Township.
Tests for PFOS and PFOA, two compounds among a larger collection of PFAS substances linked to various health risks in adults and children, found levels below the EPA lifetime health advisory of 70 parts per trillion.
Rounds of testing began after contaminated Parchment water was flushed and Kalamazoo started supplying water.
Results from Aug. 15 samples showed 24-33 ppt of total PFAS.
Thursday, MDEQ released results from 50 tests taken to find per- and polyfluorinated compounds, known collectively as PFAS, lingering after the Parchment water system was flushed of highly contaminated water.
So far, Parchment is the only municipal supply where levels greater than 70 ppt were found.
Two Kalamazoo baseload stations feeding Parchment’s water system found total PFAS between 9-19 ppt.
Eight single-family homes were tested for lead and copper on three occasions.
An additional 12 homes were included in Parchment’s lead and copper program, but homeowners could not be reached.