Please contact the Site Lead for the most up-to-date status of this site.
Kent Walters, Waltersk7@Michigan.gov or 616-278-4350.
Please note that this landfill is CLOSED and does not accept waste.
Saranac Landfill was, in effect, an open dump prior to the 1960s; it was later leased by the village of Saranac. Records indicate that through the 1970s, the landfill accepted industrial wastes, chemicals, paint solvents, and plating wastes. In the early 1980s, a hydrogeological study at the landfill detected groundwater contamination, which resulted in the state issuing a cease-and-desist order. In late 1984, the landfill ceased accepting waste and was shut down. Because of poor landfill management, alleged disposal of wastes that likely contain PFAS, previous groundwater contamination, and nearby downgradient residential receptors, the site was sampled for PFAS.
Historical records indicate approximate groundwater flow is to the north, toward the Grand River. Flow appears to be controlled by the topography in the region. Multiple private drinking water wells exist approximately 1,500 feet north and northwest of the landfill. No significant surface water bodies exist downgradient of the landfill, except for a small pond adjacent to the Grand River.
Content posted January 2022.
See an aerial view of the location of the site.
Eleven private drinking water wells and one seasonal Type II campground drinking water well exist north and northwest of the landfill, approximately 1,500-2,000 feet hydraulically downgradient of the landfill. All twelve wells were sampled for PFAS. Eleven of 12 samples were non-detect for all analyzed PFAS, and one private well had PFOA and PFOS above drinking water standards. A filter was offered to the impacted homeowner and was refused. Municipal water from the village of Saranac exists approximately two miles east of the landfill.
EGLE will work with MDHHS to determine if resampling of one impacted residential home is needed.
|
Type of Sample |
Date Sampled |
Number of Sample |
Number of Samples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groundwater Monitoring Wells |
November 16, 2021 | 3 | 1 |
| Residential Wells | October 22 - December 3, 2021 | 11 | 1 |
| Surface Water | November 16,2021 | 4 | 2 |
*Residential well and groundwater monitoring well results are compared to EGLE Part 201, Cleanup Criteria Requirements, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended (NREPA), for 7 PFAS compounds effective 12/21/2020: PFOS (16 ppt), PFOA (8 ppt), PFNA (6 ppt), PFHxS (51 ppt), PFHxA (400,000 ppt), PFBS (420 ppt), and HFPO-DA (370 ppt).
*Surface water samples are compared to Rule 323.1057, Toxic Substances (Rule 57), of the Part 4 Water Quality Standards, of the NREPA, non-drinking water values of 12 ppt for PFOS and 12,000 ppt for PFOA.
