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EGLE to present PFAS surface- and groundwater sampling results Oct. 29 after high PFOS detections in Port Huron Township ponds
Summary
The health department said EGLE has found high PFOS levels in surface waters in Port Huron Township and will present findings and sampling plans at an Oct. 29 public meeting; groundwater sampling results are pending and may be reassuring, department staff said.
The St. Clair County Health Department told its advisory board Oct. 7 that the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has found very high PFOS concentrations in surface water sampling in Port Huron Township and will host a public meeting Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. at the Bluewater Convention Center.
Health staff said EGLE's surface-water testing has found elevated PFOS in a series of ponds and borrow pits, including Thompson Street Pond. The department advised residents not to eat fish caught in an affected pond. Department officials said they are awaiting groundwater sampling results; thick, impervious clay in the area may prevent surface contamination from reaching groundwater, but staff urged continued caution.
Why it matters: PFOS (a type of PFAS) can accumulate in fish and pose long-term health risks when present at high concentrations. Groundwater contamination of private wells would raise a different level of public-health concern because residents could ingest contaminated water.
Next steps: EGLE will present its findings and an overview of sampling plans and results at the Oct. 29 meeting; staff urged residents with potential information about local fill material, landscaping mulch/pulp use, or disposal practices to come forward. Department staff said they have not identified a single definitive source and that one hypothesis is contaminated pulp material used as fill, but sampling so far has not isolated a source.
Board members asked staff to publicize the EGLE meeting and to post results once groundwater testing is complete.
