GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -Water wells tested near Gerald R. Ford International Airport have no significant signs of PFAS contamination, that's according to a media release from Marketing & Communications Director Tara Hernandez.
Hernandez said, 28 wells were tested and all but one came back with non-detect levels. The private well that did test positive had low levels of two PFAS but state investigators say they do not pose a health concern.
The testing was conducted after elevated levels of the chemicals, caused by firefighting foam, were found in soil and ground water at the airport.
Firefighters used PFAS-laden AFFF in annual training exercises on the northeast side of the property from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, said Jim Gill, the CEO of the airport.
“We applaud the Airport’s efforts in going above and beyond the requirements to conduct
off-site residential testing, and based on the data and related results, we concur there is no
need to continue additional residential testing at this time,” explained Adam London, RS,
MPA, Administrative Health Officer, KCHD.
PFAS chemicals have polluted more than 550 private wells in northern Kent County, leaching into the ground water from waste dumped by Wolverine Worldwide, a shoe company in Rockford. Read more about how residents have been affected by the contaminants with 13 ON YOUR SIDE's Water Worries coverage.
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