The Granger Grand River Hazardous Waste Landfill is located at 8550 West Grand River Highway. It is a closed landfill that operated from 1970 until approximately 1983. In 1980, the site was designated a hazardous waste site under the Federal Resource Recovery and Conservation Act (RCRA). During operation, the landfill accepted certain industrial wastes including paint sludge, polyester resins, nylon production sludge, aluminum hydroxide sludge, wastes containing heavy metals and tannery sludge that is known to contain PFAS. Although the landfill once accepted hazardous waste, testing shows that the leachate (wastewater produced within the landfill) is no longer hazardous.
This leachate is sent to the local wastewater treatment plant. Because of both the past contamination and the presence of PFAS containing waste in the landfill, EGLE asked Granger to test certain groundwater monitoring wells for PFAS. PFAS levels above Michigan’s cleanup standards were found in two of the seven wells tested. The highest levels were in well MW 19r, including: PFHxS at 520 ppt (compared to 51 ppt), PFOA at 110 ppt (compared to 8 ppt), and PFOS at 43 ppt (compared to 16 ppt). Currently contamination is only known in the shallowest of three monitored aquifers under the site. Groundwater flow in the area is complex and can shift direction because Granger operates purge wells that pump groundwater. These wells help control the movement of contamination. The active solid waste landfill on the property has not been found to be a source of contamination release. Openlander Drain is the nearest surface water body that has potential to be impacted. The Openlander Drain is in the Looking Glass River watershed.
View an aerial image of the site.
EGLE, MDHHS, and local health have reviewed residential well logs and have developed a plan to sample identified drinking water wells. Identified well owner(s) receive a letter in the mail requesting access to sample drinking water.
Evin Maguire, MaguireE@Michigan.gov or 517-338-3525
