Laboratories Offering Home Testing
PFAS MCLs and Drinking Water
Statewide Testing Initiative
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.
Official Correspondence
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Investigations conducted by the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) have found numerous sites contaminated by PFAS due to the use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). MPART evaluated Michigan fire training centers and found several have used AFFF containing PFAS during historical training exercises, including the Kalamazoo Fire Training Center. Michigan law now prohibits training with AFFF containing PFAS.
Given the historical use of AFFF and the potential for groundwater to be impacted and reach nearby drinking water wells, MPART will be sampling drinking water wells near the Kalamazoo Regional Fire Training Center to protect public health.
The direction of groundwater flow is not known but is likely south/southwest towards the Kalamazoo River.
Content posted December 2024.
See an aerial view of the location of the site.
EGLE, DHHS, and local health (project team) identified roughly 20 residential wells and 9 commercial wells within a 0.5-mile radius of the fire training center to sample. MPART will send letters to properties identified in the 0.5-mile radius to request access and start sampling drinking water wells.
Homeowners and businesses that allow access to sample drinking water will be provided with their results and will receive information on how to reduce exposure if there are PFAS detections. The project team will evaluate results and expand the sampling area outward if data suggests the need to do so.