Beginning Thursday, October 12, students of East Rockford Middle School were provided with precautionary bottled water until the results of groundwater sampling for Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are obtained. There is currently no evidence of PFC contamination in the school’s drinking water, but as a precaution, the drinking water wells have been sampled and bottled water will be provided until test results are returned. Testing is being done at this location because a historic disposal area containing leather scraps has been discovered nearby.
Wolverine World Wide (Wolverine), in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), and the Kent County Health Department (KCHD), is providing students, faculty, and staff with bottled water until Wolverine completes groundwater sampling for PFCs and obtains the results.
At this time, eight properties adjacent to the subject area will also be included in the testing area as a precautionary measure.
“Any information will be shared with residents via the Township’s Facebook page, as soon as it is available,” said Cannon Township Supervisor Steve Grimm.
Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, all drinking fountains will be disabled and Wolverine will provide bottled water to the school starting Thursday morning for consumption and cooking, and will do so until we know the status of our well water.
Please be assured that until we receive the test results, only bottled water will be used for consumption and cooking at the school.