Watson Township Dump (Watson Township, Allegan County)

Ray Spaulding, SpauldingR1@Michigan.gov or 517-290-2401.

This site is the former Watson Township Dump located on the south side of 115th Avenue approximately one quarter mile west of 12th Street. The dump operated from at least as far back as the early 1970s to the mid-1980s. Watson Township hired a consultant to determine if groundwater contamination exists in the area of the former dump. Temporary monitoring wells were installed to evaluate groundwater conditions near the extent of fill material. The analytical results from the groundwater samples indicated that PFAS was present at the dump at concentrations exceeding cleanup criteria for groundwater. The highest result was 474 ppt PFOS + PFOA. A surface water sample was collected from a groundwater seep and Caruthers Lake. PFAS was detected in the surface water sample from Caruthers Lake, north of the landfill but below the surface water non- drinking water standard of 12 ppt for PFOS and 12,000 ppt PFOA.

Groundwater is thought to be a mound at the location of the dump and the gradient is shallow, but appears to flow west, south and possibly to the east, with questionable north flow. Groundwater flow to the west is thought to be intercepted by Schnable Brook and then the pond, flowing to the Kalamazoo River. There is flow to the south, which can be intercepted by an unnamed drainage and pond which flows to the Gun River and drains to the Kalamazoo River.

Content posted February 2020

EGLE identified approximately 20 drinking water wells within a half mile radius of the former dump. As of October 8, 2019, 18 of the drinking water wells have been tested. No PFAS compounds were detected in 18 drinking wells that were tested. The dragstrip has 3 Type II wells, which were sampled on October 4, 2019. No PFAS compounds were detected in the Type II wells.

EGLE will evaluate the investigation results when they are received from Watson Township.