The West Michigan Environmental Action Council will host a public informational kickoff about PFAS issues in Muskegon County and the Safe Water for Muskegon County PFAS Well Testing Pilot Project Thursday, March 26, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Muskegon Community College.
The event will introduce a new pilot program designed to assist private well users in Egelston, Muskegon Charter and Moorland townships with PFAS screening.
Attendees will learn: What PFAS are and why testing matters; how the pilot program works; who is eligible; how applicants will be selected; and the process going forward.
Fact sheets and printed educational materials will be available at the event, which is open to the public.
Muskegon County currently has 19 identified PFAS sites. PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of human-made chemicals that persist in the environment and have been linked to potential health risks. They have been used in industrial processes, firefighting foams, metal plating operations, and the manufacture of stain resistant and water-resistant products. In Muskegon County, contamination has been associated with historic industrial activity and waste disposal practices. Information on the status of these sites will be presented at the meeting.
In designated state study areas surrounding known sites, the State of Michigan provides no-cost residential well screening. However, residents who live outside of those study boundaries and rely on private wells are responsible for arranging and paying for their own testing. The Safe Water for Muskegon County pilot was developed to help address that gap by providing limited cost-assisted screening to qualifying households outside current state study areas. A total of 36 test kits will be distributed by this December.
The project is funded by the Community Foundation for Muskegon County and coordinated by Tanya Cabala of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council in partnership with Dr. Rick Rediske. Cabala and Rediske co-coordinate the Muskegon County PFAS Task Force through WMEAC. The project is being carried out in cooperation with the three townships affected.
The meeting is informational and will explain how the program works, outline eligibility criteria, describe how residents may apply, and answer community questions.
