CADILLAC - PFAS has been a growing concern in Cadillac, with some homeowners worried about the forever chemicals in their water, and they voiced their concerns at a Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA) meeting.
“One thing that we know about PFAS is that there is zero amount that is safe for human consumption,” said meeting attendant Mary Galvanick.
Thirty-three tests were run by the Michigan PFAS action response team in the industrial district to determine if PFAS was detected in the area.
“Our results showed that there’s concentration of PFAS in the area, all over the area. We haven’t found any particular area that extremely high, it’s just kind of a low level across every place,” said Cadillac utilities director Jeffery Dietlin. “There are some homes that test PFAS free, there are some homes that tested with elevated levels of PFAS. Some that test above state or the new federal limits.”
Cadillac city officials said using the water system is OK.
“What we are looking at, I want to stress this, is private wells. Private individual wells, not the city of Cadillac’s water system. The city of Cadillac’s water system has been tested multiple times, every year its tested at all three of its locations, two which are active now, they’ve always came back PFAS free. There’s never been any PFAS response. I just want to make that clear,” said Dietlin.
The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team tested 33 wells and are still waiting for results on 15 tested wells. At this time there is no firm date on when those results will be in.
There are roughly 223 wells and there are no plans to test areas south of the city.
If you are concerned about areas that are not being tested, the city has a suggestion.
“I would recommend that if you’re worried about your well, get it tested. Most people that install a well, they get it tested.”
Galvaneck feels a sense of anguish regarding the results.
“The results that we received today at the LDFA meeting definitely made me feel that we need more testing done. We’ve definitely been confused on how many wells we have, whatever that number is, they all need to be tested,” she said.
For people whose area tested positive for PFAS, the city manager said filters are available and the city will begin delivering jugs of water.