Updated: December 11, 2019
This site is a former licensed landfill for the disposal of solid waste. The landfill is owned by the city of Ithaca and operated in the 1960s through the 1970s. In Fall 2017, concerned citizens brought information to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) indicating that waste potentially containing PFAS was disposed of at the landfill.
Recent Accomplishments
On July 3, 2019, the City of Ithaca provided EGLE with city records associated with the sanitary landfill operations.
Next Steps
Residential Well Testing/Alternate Water Information
Upcoming Community Engagement
Type of Sample |
Date Sampled |
Number of Samples |
Number of Results Received |
Number of Non-detects |
Number Between Non-detect and standard* |
Number of > Standard |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drinking Water (residential wells) |
Sep 13 - Sep 27, 2018 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
Groundwater | Jul 30 - Aug 2, 2018 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Surface Water | Sep 13, 2018 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Cumulative | 25 | 25 | 16 | 3 | 6 |
*Groundwater results are compared to EGLE Part 201 Criteria of 70 ppt PFOSA+PFOA.
*Residential well results are compared to the EPA Lifetime Health Advisory Level of 70 ppt PFOS+PFOA.
*Surface water results are compared to Rule 57 surface water quality values of 12 ppt PFOS and 12,000 ppt PFOA.
Sampling notes
Ithaca Sanitary Landfill is a former licensed landfill for the disposal of solid waste. The landfill is owned by the city of Ithaca and operated in the 1960s through the 1970s. It is located at West Washington Road, approximately two miles west of downtown Ithaca in Gratiot County. While closed, the landfill is still owned and maintained by the city of Ithaca.
In the fall of 2017, concerned citizens brought information to the Mid-Michigan District Health Department and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), indicating that waste which possibly contained PFAS was disposed of at the landfill from Wolverine World Wide’s Ithaca plant.
EGLE conducted a groundwater investigation on the landfill property in the summer of 2018 to determine if PFAS contamination or other contaminants were present. During the investigation EGLE encountered shallow (perched) groundwater above a hard, dry clay layer. Well log descriptions from nearby private residential wells also indicate a clay layer at similar depths in the area. Residential wells surrounding the landfill property obtain drinking water from an aquifer below this clay layer.
Michigan’s cleanup standard for groundwater used for drinking water is 70 ppt PFOA and PFOS individually or combined. When groundwater sampling results came back over 70 ppt, EGLE conducted sampling of adjacent residential wells. These results were non-detect, suggesting that the contaminated perched groundwater does not appear to be connected to the deeper groundwater used for drinking water in the area.
Surface water drains from the landfill to the county drain located on the south side of the property. The county drain flows to Pine Creek, which flows to Rainbow Lake. Rainbow Lake is highly used for recreation, such as swimming, boating and fishing.