Brandon School District Wastewater Treatment Plant (Ortonville, Oakland County)

Kevin Wojciechowski, WojciechowskiK@Michigan.gov, 586-623-2948.

The Brandon School District Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is located at 1050 Ortonville Road. There is currently no municipal or publicly owned wastewater treatment facility in the community. As a result, the Brandon School District operates a small WWTP on-site. The treatment system consists of an in-ground activated sludge system and composite-lined holding pond. The final treated effluent is discharged to the groundwater on-site via two rapid infiltration basins under a state Groundwater Discharge Permit issued to the school district.

As part of a statewide sampling effort, EGLE sampled the WWTP's influent, effluent, sludge, and four groundwater monitoring wells for PFAS in Fall 2021.

Estimated groundwater flow direction is to the northwest on the north end of the WWTP towards Duck Creek, while estimated groundwater flow direction is to the southeast on the south end of the WWTP towards Kearsley Creek.

Content posted June 2022.

EGLE, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), and the Oakland County Health Department are working with the Brandon School District to identify nearby residential wells and determine if sampling for PFAS is needed. The Brandon School District High School and Middle School drinking water has been tested annually for PFAS since June 2018. Three of the wells have been non-detect for PFAS, while low levels of PFAS were detected in one well, but below drinking water criteria.

EGLE will continue to work with the Brandon School District to determine the extent of PFAS contamination in groundwater at the WWTP as well as identify and reduce or eliminate potential sources of PFAS to the WWTP. EGLE, MDHHS, and the Oakland County Health Department are working with the Brandon School District to identify nearby residential wells and determine if sampling for PFAS is needed.