Skip to main content
Riverside Sand and Gravel Landfill (Grand Rapids, Kent County)

Riverside Sand and Gravel Landfill (Grand Rapids, Kent County)

Disclaimer
Web content may not routinely be updated on this page. Please contact the Site Lead for the most up-to-date status of the site.
Content posted May 2022.

EGLE Site Lead

Kent Walters,  WaltersK7@Michigan.gov or 616-278-4350.

Background

Riverside Sand and Gravel (RSG) located at 2780 Butterworth Drive, is a construction and demolition landfill that started in the 1970s. In 1980, a groundwater investigation determined that the landfill impacted groundwater above environmental standards for iron, chloride, sodium, and sulfate. The landfill went into bankruptcy in 1992; however, a significant amount of material was added to the landfill beyond permitted boundaries from 1991-2004, and some drums of material had to be removed from the landfill. In 2006, the landfill site was acquired by two separate owners. The site was sampled for PFAS in December 2021. 

Historical records indicate approximate groundwater flow is to the south, toward a nearby lake in Millennium Park. Potential impacted waterbodies include a lake located directly south of the landfill, in Millennium Park, and a wetland to the east of the landfill.  

Riverside Sand and Gravel Landfill Map

Recent Accomplishments

  • On December 22, 2021, EGLE received sampling results from the December 3-4, 2021, sampling event. Results indicate that one of three groundwater samples were in exceedance of drinking water criteria, and one of two surface water samples exceeded surface water quality values. Monitoring well ATC-TMW-1 had the highest PFOA at 20 ppt and highest PFOS at 33 ppt. The landfill seep had PFOA at 38 ppt and PFOS at 55 ppt.
  • On April 11, 2022, EGLE sampled seven of the largest lakes located within Millennium Park for PFAS.
  • On April 20, 2022, EGLE received PFAS surface water sampling results for seven lakes. None of the lakes exceeded surface water quality values. The highest result was 4.8 ppt for PFOS and 3.4 for PFOA, compared to 12 ppt and 12,000 ppt respectfully.
  • On May 17, EGLE hosted a community meeting to inform the public of the sampling results from groundwater and surface water.

Next Steps

  • EGLE provided the Landfill owners recommended next steps in the PFAS investigation and is awaiting response.

Residential Well/Alternate Water

  • There are no residential wells downgradient of the landfill.

Upcoming Community Engagement

  • None scheduled at this time.

Sampling Results Summary

Type of Sample

Date Sampled (or Range)

Number of Sample Results Received

Number of Samples above Criteria*

Groundwater Monitoring Wells

 December 2021 3 1
Surface Water December 2021 - April 2022 9 1

  * Residential well and groundwater monitoring well results are compared to EGLE Part 201 criteria 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 57 non-drinking water values of 12 ppt for PFOS and 12,000 ppt for PFOA. 

Sampling Notes

  • The surface water results include a sample from a lake in Millennium Park and a seep sample at the landfill.

Historical Timeline

    • On June 11, 2021, EGLE requested the landfill owners to assess whether RSG is impacting the environment. 
    • On June 16, 2021, the landfill owners informed EGLE they would not be assessing the landfill for potential PFAS impacts.
    • On December 3-4, 2021, EGLE staff sampled three groundwater monitoring wells, surface water from a lake, and a landfill seep for PFAS. 
    • On December 22, 2021, EGLE received sampling results from the December 3-4, 2021, sampling event.  Results indicate that one of three groundwater samples were in exceedance of drinking water criteria, and one of two surface water samples exceeded surface water quality values. Monitoring well ATC-TMW-1 had the highest PFOA at 20 ppt and highest PFOS at 33 ppt. The landfill seep had PFOA at 38 ppt and PFOS at 55 ppt. 
    • On April 11, 2022, EGLE sampled seven of the largest lakes located within Millennium Park for PFAS.
    • On April 20, 2022, EGLE received PFAS surface water sampling results for seven lakes. None of the lakes exceeded surface water quality values. The highest result was 4.8 ppt for PFOS and 3.4 for PFOA, compared to 12 ppt and 12,000 ppt respectfully.