PFAS Sites and Areas of Interest
There are two major classes of firefighting foam: Class A and Class B. Class B is also called Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) and is usually created using PFAS. It is a highly effective foam used for fighting high-hazard flammable liquid fires, like gasoline, oil, and jet fuel.
Wastewater Treatment Plants / Industrial Pretreatment Program
Laboratories Offering Home Testing
PFAS MCLs and Drinking Water
Statewide Testing Initiative
Official Correspondence
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Ray Spaulding, SpauldingR1@Michigan.gov or 517-290-2401
Several drinking water wells in Hamilton were tested for PFAS. Two shallow wells contained PFAS at concentrations above drinking water criteria. The highest exceedance, taken from a drinking water well, was 50 ppt PFOA (compared to 8 ppt). The other exceedance was collected from an irrigation well that contained 19 ppt PFOA.
EGLE, DHHS, and Allegan County Health Department (ACHD) established a study area called the Hamilton Area of Interest (AOI) around the contaminated wells to determine if a there is a potential source of PFAS contamination in the immediate vicinity. The current study area is bounded by Lincoln Road (M-40) and Hubbard Street, north of 134th Avenue up to Rabbit River. Letters were sent to residents inside the study area asking for permission to sample their drinking water. Twenty-five wells were tested in January 2024.
As of February 2024, a total of 29 wells in the study area have been tested for PFAS seven of which contain PFAS at concentrations above drinking water criteria. The highest results were 50 ppt PFOA and 28 ppt PFOS (compared to 16 ppt).
The inferred groundwater flow direction is north-northwest towards the Rabbit River. The Rabbit River is a tributary of the Kalamazoo River, which discharges into Lake Michigan.
Hamilton does not have municipal water and relies of private wells for drinking water.
In spring of 2024, EGLE will be expanding the study area to include approximately two dozen additional drinking water wells located northwest of the study area.