Updated: November 4, 2020The Huron River drains portions of seven counties in Southeast Michigan. The Huron River Watershed is more than 900 square miles and consists of hundreds of tributary creeks, lakes, and the Huron River proper. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) began sampling intensively on the Huron River due to the city of Ann Arbor detecting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Huron River, which is the main source of the city of Ann Arbor’s drinking water, and the discovery of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in the river at levels over the Rule 57 Water Quality Standard (WQS) of 11 ppt PFOS. The following is a timeline of PFAS investigation activities in the Huron River Watershed.These investigations have also led to fish consumption advisories to protect the public, which are available on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' (MDHHS) Michigan Eat Safe Fish website and the Michigan PFAS Action Response website. One of the most commonly detected substances in fish tissue is perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), in part because it bioaccumulates, or builds up, in the food web.Reports
- Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Huron River Watershed June-August 2020 Surface Water Sampling Status Update September 16, 2020
- Investigation of the Occurrence and Source(s) of Per-‑ and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) in the Huron River Watershed Using Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers (POCIS) (MI/EGLE/WRD-20-020)
- Investigation of the Occurrence and Source(s) of PFAS in the Huron River Watershed July 2018 - Dec 2019
Next Steps
- EGLE will conduct additional surface water sampling upstream in Regan Drain and Washago Pond as part of the investigation into possible sources.
- Sampling of seven residential wells in the vicinity of the former Daimler Chrysler Scio site are expected to be sampled by the Washtenaw County Health Department in September or October 2020.
- The feasibility study for remedial options to address the PFAS contamination venting to the river from the former Daimler Chrysler site is expected to be received in several technical memorandums from TRC in September and October 2020.
- In response to foam complaints on Portage Lake, EGLE is investigating possible sources. There are no known PFAS sources at this time.
- EGLE will evaluate known sources of environmental contamination, closed landfills, hazardous waste facilities, and facilities that discharge wastewater to the Huron River.
- EGLE will continue to sample fish from selected waterbodies in the Huron River watershed and provide results to the MDHHS as available.
- EGLE will continue to work with the city of Wixom and Tribar to control/reduce discharges to the WWTP with the goal of meeting the Rule 57 water quality standards in Norton Creek under the IPP PFAS Initiative.
