PARCHMENT, Mich. – The City of Parchment is telling people to stop using the city’s water due to high amounts of the chemical PFAS.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), are part of a group of chemicals used for in manufacturing, firefighting and other consumer products.
Bottled water will be provided starting Friday at Parchment High School from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m The city provided these short-term solutions: The City of Parchment’s water supply system is being drained.
Once it is drained, the City of Kalamazoo will connect residents on the City of Parchment’s water supply to the City of Kalamazoo’s water supply system.
Residents will be notified once this occurs.
The City of Kalamazoo will begin flushing the City of Parchment’s water supply system.
The City of Kalamazoo will continue flushing out the City of Parchment’s water supply system until test results come back that shows the PFAS levels are below the health advisory level.
Governor Rick Snyder is directing the state departments of Environmental Quality, Health and Human Services, and State Police, as well as the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART), to assist.
“Our next step is to work as a team to address the source of this contamination and restore the municipal water system.
People can also get PFAS information online at the website of Michigan PFAS Action Response Team.