A recent water test from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality did not detect any PFAS in the City of Jackson’s drinking water.
PFAS is an abbreviation for a group of chemicals that are used in industrial processes and consumer products. Former industrial sites have been a known source of the chemicals getting into water supplies. Over the past year, elevated levels of PFAS have been detected in water supplies across Michigan, causing great concern in communities. High levels of exposure to these chemicals can lead to health effects in people and animals. Michigan has recently initiated testing for the presence of PFAS in public drinking water supplies, and as a result, 34 sources have been identified thus far that exceed EPA’s current lifetime health advisory levels. PFAS were recently found in large enough qualities to shut down water supplies for a time last month in Parchment and Cooper Township in southwestern Michigan.
A sample of Jackson’s tap water was collected by the DEQ in July. The department’s PFAS Action Response Team has undertaken a proactive effort to investigate sources and locations of PFAS contamination in Michigan. The city received the results last week. After rigorous testing, the state did not find any PFAS in the city of Jackson’s water supply.
“We are very pleased with the results. This is good news for the city,” said Water Treatment Plant Supervisor Mike Osborn. He credits the city’s deep water wells and the close monitoring of local industrial sites for the results. With communities all over the state concerned with PFAS contamination, Osborn hopes this will bring continued assurance to city residents that their water is safe to use. “This speaks to the quality of our water sources here in Jackson,” Osborn said.
Osborn says the water plant will continue to work with the DEQ to monitor the city’s water supply.
U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow Thursday called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to hold a PFAS community engagement meeting in Michigan. The EPA previously announced plans for a forum in Michigan on PFAS, but it has yet to schedule this forum.