PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of widespread man-made chemicals that don’t break down in the environment or the human body and have been flagged as a major contaminant in sources of water across the country.
Keep up with PFAS-related developments in the Great Lakes area.
In this edition: Low levels of PFAS detected in Portage well water, U.S. Navy halts plans to ship 58,000 gallons of PFAS-containing foam to a New York burn plant, firefighting foam manufacturer says Wisconsin wells free of PFAS but DNR says more tests needed, and the EPA says it will take more than a year to set drinking water limits for PFAS.
Click on the headline to read the full story:
Michigan:
According to a news release from the city, the 2020 first quarter testing results show that samples from a Portage municipal well tested above non-detect levels for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at 16 parts per trillion (ppt). The state has been regularly testing the well since 2018 when it first tested at 13 ppt.
New York:
- Navy says it will halt all PFAS shipments to Cohoes’ burn plant – The Times Union
The decision was made following a Times Union story earlier in the week, about plans, later abandoned, to send 58,000 gallons of the foam, known as aqueous film forming foam, to be incinerated in the Norlite plant in Cohoes.
Wisconsin:
- Firefighting Foam Manufacturer Says Most Wells Tested So Far Turned Up No Trace Of PFAS -Wisconsin Public Radio
A manufacturer of firefighting foam says the majority of more than 250 drinking water wells it’s tested in Marinette County turned up no trace of toxic chemicals known as PFAS. But state regulators say it’s too early to tell the scope of PFAS contamination within drinking water in the area.
National:
- PFAS Limits in Drinking Water to Take More Than a Year, EPA Says – Bloomberg Law
The EPA won’t be able to set drinking water limits for two PFAS chemicals in the next year, agency administrator Andrew Wheeler told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Wednesday.
Catch up with other PFAS headlines and news from Great Lakes Now:
MPART: Michigan’s efforts to root out and deal with PFAS contamination
Coping with PFAS: How have families been dealing with PFAS contamination in their communities
API key not valid. Please pass a valid API key.Featured image: Fire Department sprays water on fire suppression foam in Hangar 706 while other firefighters watch. (Photo by Greg L. Davis U.S. Air Force via dover.af.mi)
