Hartford families want answers on long-term solutions to PFAS contamination
HARTFORD, Mich. — A group of families in Hartford is looking for answers after finding out their wells are contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), but the state said it has yet to find a long-term solution for the problem.
The contaminants are remnants of the former Du-Wel Metals Products facility at 520 Heywood Street. Given the type of facility, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy tested monitoring wells near the site at the beginning of 2019. After test results came back positive for PFAS, the state then started testing residential wells for contamination.
According to EGLE, 82 residential samples were tested. The department said 31 wells showed some level of PFAS detection, while 11 samples showed more than the EPA’s Lifetime Health Advisory Level of 70 parts-per-trillion.
David Harn, assistant district supervisor for mediation and redevelopment in the Kalamazoo district, said the residential well with the highest amount of PFAS tested about 900 parts-per-trillion.
Harn said all of the impacted families were given filters for their wells, a short-term fix he said makes the water safe to drink. He said the filters are only effective for levels of PFAS up to 1,500 parts-per-trillion.
According to Harn, the state and local health agencies are working to figure out a long-term solution for the contamination, including testing to see if additional wells were impacted.
“At this point we feel like we’ve got a good handle on residential wells in path of harm,” he said. “If the investigation determines otherwise, we'd provide them with filters.”
The Du-Wel facility was closed in 2002, and the building was eventually torn down. Harns referred to it as an orphan site, meaning there is no responsible party left to pay for the state’s investigation, and said the burden ultimately falls on taxpayers.