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.
Wastewater Treatment Plants / Industrial Pretreatment Program
Laboratories Offering Home Testing
PFAS MCLs and Drinking Water
Statewide Testing Initiative
Official Correspondence
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West Marquette County Sanitation Authority (WMCSA) Landfill is located is located on Highway 41 in Ishpeming Township in Marquette County. The landfill opened in 1966 and was an unlined municipal solid waste landfill that served residents in 6 area townships. The landfill was closed in 1990 with Michigan grant funds. A geomembrane cap, gas vents and 3 monitoring wells were installed.
Annual monitoring of the wells has shown degradation of groundwater with results over drinking water criteria including diethyl ether, benzene and toluene. Because of the probability that the material deposited in the landfill contained PFAS, the impacts to groundwater and downgradient drinking water wells; EGLE sampled two monitoring wells at the landfill for PFAS in November 2023.
PFOA results in monitoring well MW-3 were 420 ppt, compared to the drinking water criteria of PFOA 8 ppts. WMCSA Landfill is located on low rolling sand plains over slate bedrock around 30 feet deep with regional groundwater flow to the northwest towards Carp Creek and Gold Mine Creek.
See an aerial view of the location of the site.
Most of the area is served by municipal water, however there are some downgradient residential drinking water wells. It is planned to sample for PFAS the downgradient residential drinking water wells.
EGLE, DHHS, and local health will evaluate residential well results when received and will conduct additional sampling if necessary.