The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality tested four of the six storm-water outfalls at Selfridge that drain into Lake St. Clair.
They were found to have Perfluorooctanesulfonic (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOA) substances, or PFAS, contaminants above the Environmental Protection Agency’s health advisory threshold of 70 parts per trillion for drinking water, according to a news release from SANG.
“Gone are the days when the military and the government tries to hide something like this,” said Verkest, who had just attended a meeting to discuss another water problem: invasive species.
“You could see there was a conscious effort to treat this differently than they might have in the past.” Since the contaminated water drains into Lake St. Clair, which is a source of drinking water for several local communities including Mount Clemens, New Baltimore and Ira Township, officials also tested water samples in these communities.
The water was determined safe to drink despite low levels of contaminants being detected in each city’s water intake systems.
PFAS is a group of chemicals that are resistant to heat, water and oil and have been used for decades in many industrial applications and consumer products such as nonstick cookware, carpeting, waterproof clothing, upholstery, food-paper wrappings and firefighting – which is where the problems arise at SANG.
Now we’re finding out that they’re harmful,” Verkest said.
Verkest said a scientist representing the federal government who attended the meeting on PFAS would not confirm that it caused any of these conditions, only that they have found a correlation.
SANG has since installed several large domes that filter the storm water and move the PFAS.
Three thousand Michigan residents in Parchment and Cooper Township in Kalamazoo County learned this week that their drinking water is not safe due to PFAS contaminants.

Drinking water in three Macomb and St. Clair county communities tested positive for contamination, according to state environmental officials.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality found perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, in water in New Baltimore, Mount Clemens and Ira Township, MLive reported.
The department issued letters March 2 alerting residents to the presence of the substances, which have been used in non-stick cookware, stain resistant fabrics and firefighting foams.
The chemicals have been linked to cancer, thyroid disorders, elevated cholesterol and other diseases.
Current contamination levels don’t pose any significant danger, the department said.
"I want to assure the residents of the city that their water is safe to drink and that a boil water advisory has not been issued," New Baltimore Mayor John Dupray said.
"I will be attending a meeting with the MDEQ early next week to discuss this issue in greater detail.
We strive to provide the highest quality water possible and will continue to do so."
Last year, Gov.
Plainfield Township, the Saginaw-Midland Corp., Huron Shores Regional Water Authority system in Tawas, Ann Arbor, Grayling and the village of Sparta have also detected PFAS in their water.