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Water Treatment Plant

PFAS Testing Notice

RE: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Dear City of Big Rapids Resident,

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has begun a statewide initiative to test drinking water from all community water supplies and schools that use well water. The test is looking for a group of manmade chemicals called per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). MDEQ is taking this precautionary step of testing these drinking water sources to determine if public health actions are needed.

The EPA set a Lifetime Health Advisory (LHA) level for two PFAS in drinking water, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). The LHA level is 70 parts per trillion (ppt, equal to 70 ng/L) for PFOA and PFOS combined, or individually if only one is present. The EPA has not set health advisory levels for other PFAS compounds. The State of Michigan is using 70 ppt for decision making purposes.

The City of Big Rapids water supply was tested by AECOM, MDEQ’s contractor. The test results can be found on the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team website, www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse. The results show there was No Detection of the PFOA and PFOS tested, in the water.

The City of Big Rapids is committed to providing our customers with quality drinking water. As your water supplier, we are working closely with MDEQ to maintain the quality of your water.

For health-related questions, contact the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) at 1-800-648-6942 or visit one of the websites below.

For information on PFAS including possible health outcomes, visit these websites:

  • State of Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) website serving as the main resource for public information on PFAS contamination in Michigan www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse
  • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ASTDR) website including health information, exposure, and links to additional resources www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas
  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) website including basic information, U.S. EPA actions, and links to informational resources www.epa.gov/pfas