Wash King Laundry (Baldwin, Lake County)

The Wash King Laundry site is a former laundromat and commercial dry-cleaner that is an existing Superfund site located at 9247 South M-37 in Baldwin, in Lake County. The building has been demolished. EGLE proactively tested this Superfund site for PFAS in July 2018 due to the active remediation work that is occurring on-site for other contaminants, and due to the potential of dry cleaners to be a source of PFAS. An active groundwater pump and treat system is operating at this site.

• In mid-July 2018, EGLE took groundwater samples within the current perchloroethylene (PCE) plume at and down-gradient of the former laundromat, as well as downgradient of the former wastewater discharge lagoons that lie 500 feet to the west of the site. A total of 11 samples were taken.
• In mid-August 2018, results from the July 2018 sampling event were received. Two of the 11 samples had detectable levels of PFAS, and each location was down-gradient of the former seepage lagoons. The highest value was 310 ppt PFOA+PFOS, and 550 ppt total tested PFAS.
• In September 2018, the community water supply was tested for PFAS as part of EGLE’s statewide public water supply testing initiative, and again as part of the regular site investigation.
• In September 2018, EGLE collected confirmation samples from the wells previously tested to confirm initial results, more thoroughly evaluate the extent, and to evaluate groundwater down-gradient of the treated groundwater discharge lagoons. Samples were also taken from locations near and/or downgradient of the treated groundwater discharge lagoons, from an extraction well near the former wastewater seepage lagoons, and from the influent into the treatment system.
• In October 2018, results from the community water supply testing returned as non-detect for PFOA+PFOS for both the treated and raw water from the initial sample; the second sample from the community water supply detected 4 ppt total tested PFAS.
• In October 2018, EGLE collected additional samples from select locations down-gradient of the former wastewater lagoons. These additional samples will allow staff to evaluate if treated water that is being discharged contains PFAS.

• On February 4, 2019 the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (EGLE) collected samples from two residential well locations near the Site. Results indicated very low level detections (4 ppt) at one location, whereas the other had 60 ppt PFOS+PFOA detected. The residents were notified, and the location with the 60 ppt PFOS+PFOA was provided alternate water and an in-house filter.
• On March 19 and 20, 2019, additional groundwater monitor well sampling was conducted to better understand the source(s) of PFAS, as well as the extent of contamination on-site. Results indicate there could be perhaps as many as four PFAS contamination sources in the vicinity of the site.
• The Lake County Health Department has attempted to contact the property owner immediately south of the site to discuss connecting that residence/hotel to the community water supply. The owner is unavailable for an extended period; no authorized representative has been delegated to discuss the possible hook up to alternate water.  
• In mid-June, two surface water samples were collected from the Pere Marquette River; one from a location near the upstream portion of the site, and the other from approximately 11 miles downstream. Surface water analytical results have been received and indicate no PFAS concentrations above laboratory reporting limits at either location.

  Sampling Results Summary: PFOS and PFOA Only 

   

  Type of Sample	Date Sampled (or Range)	Numberof Samples	Number of Results Received	Number of Non-Detects	Number Between Non-detect and Standard*	Number Greater Than or Equal to Standard
  Groundwater	July 2018 - September 2018	27	27	21	2	4
  Residential Drinking Water	September 2018 - February 2019	4	4	1	3	0
  Surface Water	June 2019	2	2	0	2	0
  Cumulative		33	33	22	7	4

  *Groundwater results are compared to EGLE Part 201 Criteria of 70 ppt.
  *Residential well results are compared to the USEPA Lifetime Health Advisory Level of 70 ppt PFOS+PFOA.
  *Surface water and effluent results are compared to Rule 57 surface water quality values of 12 ppt for PFOS and 12,000 ppt for PFOA. 

  Sampling Notes

  • Other PFAS analytes were detected in samples. There are no federal or state standards for these analytes. 
  • A community water supply servicing several residences in the Site area has been sampled twice.Initial results were 4 ppt PFAS; whereas the second sample event indicated non-detectable PFAS concentrations.

  Additional Information

  A community water supply provides drinking water to approximately 20 residents and three businesses in the site area. All residents in the affected area were required to hook up to that supply around 1981 due to the other contaminants in the groundwater at that time. Groundwater flow direction from the wastewater lagoons and the current treated groundwater discharge lagoons is generally northwest. Near the former laundromat/dry cleaner building area of the site, localized flow has a more northern direction.