Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a large group of man-made chemicals widely used in industrial and consumer products starting in the 1940s. These compounds are often called “forever chemicals” because their strong carbon-fluorine bonds prevent them from breaking down naturally. The presence of PFAS in the municipal water system of Parchment, Michigan, was discovered in July 2018, affecting approximately 3,000 residents in the city and parts of Cooper Township.
Identifying the Industrial Origin
The source of the contamination was traced back to the former paper mill complex in Parchment, which operated under various names, including Crown Vantage and Georgia-Pacific. Paper mills historically used PFAS chemicals to give specialized products, such as food-contact paper, resistance to oil and grease. The mill’s operations included the use of specific perfluoroalkyl polymers.
The contamination originated from the disposal of industrial waste materials. This waste, which included paper pulp sludge containing PFAS, was deposited over decades in an associated landfill and former settling lagoons on the property. These legacy waste sites became the reservoir of the persistent chemicals.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) oversaw the investigation and cleanup activities. The site’s status falls under environmental oversight, governed by state law known as Part 201. Groundwater monitoring wells at the former mill site confirmed extremely high levels of PFAS, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS).
Migration into the Water Supply
PFAS migrated from the industrial property to the municipal drinking water wells through leaching from the waste sites. Over time, rainwater and natural groundwater flow moved through the paper waste landfill and the former lagoons, picking up the soluble PFAS compounds. This contaminated water slowly became part of the area’s shallow and deep groundwater system.
The Parchment wellfield was particularly susceptible to contamination because it was located less than a mile away from the former mill’s waste disposal areas. The local geology, which often involves permeable sand and gravel deposits in river valleys, allowed the contaminated groundwater to travel relatively quickly toward the municipal wells. This movement effectively created a plume of contamination.
Testing confirmed the severity of the issue, showing total PFAS levels in the municipal water supply at 1,587 parts per trillion (ppt). This result was significantly above the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) lifetime health advisory level of 70 ppt for PFOA and PFOS combined. The municipal water contained 670 ppt of PFOA and 740 ppt of PFOS.
Crisis Management and Short-Term Mitigation
Once the high PFAS levels were confirmed in July 2018, authorities issued a “Do Not Drink” advisory for all customers on the Parchment municipal water system. This advisory instructed residents not to use the tap water for drinking, cooking, or preparing baby formula, since boiling the water would not remove the chemical compounds.
State and local authorities quickly mobilized a public health response under the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART). Bottled water distribution centers were established, primarily at Parchment High School, to provide a safe alternative water source for residents. Emergency testing of private residential wells in the surrounding area was also initiated to identify the extent of the groundwater plume.
Permanent Water Infrastructure Solution
The long-term solution required a permanent change to Parchment’s water source. Officials determined that the contaminated municipal wells had to be taken out of service permanently to ensure the safety of the community. An agreement was reached between the City of Parchment and the neighboring City of Kalamazoo.
This plan involved connecting the Parchment water distribution system to the City of Kalamazoo’s clean municipal water supply. New infrastructure, including piping and connections, was constructed to facilitate the change in water source. The contaminated system was drained and flushed before the new, clean water supply was fully integrated.
The successful connection allowed the “Do Not Drink” advisory to be lifted after about a month, providing a lasting remedy to the drinking water crisis. The City of Parchment officially became a permanent customer of the City of Kalamazoo’s water system, ensuring a reliable supply of water that meets regulatory standards.