Laboratories Offering Home Testing
PFAS MCLs and Drinking Water
Statewide Testing Initiative
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.
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The former Lowell City Landfill was operated by the City from 1958 through 1983 and is located on Ware Road. The landfill was officially closed due to improper management and maintenance practices. Because of the environmental contamination observed following the closing of the landfill, the City of Lowell began performing an environmental investigation of the property in 2019.
Due to the potential for PFAS-containing waste materials to have been disposed of at the site, the monitoring wells were sampled for PFAS in July 2023. Sampling results identified PFAS compounds in groundwater above criteria at select groundwater monitoring wells. The highest detected PFOS concentration was 18 ppt (compared to 16 ppt) and the highest detected PFOA concentration was 26 ppt (compared to 8 ppt). Based upon these results, the City of Lowell agreed to sample nearby drinking water wells.
Groundwater under the former landfill has been measured to flow generally to the north-northeast. Unnamed drainage creeks are located to the north, which lead to the Grand River, which is located approximately 0.75 miles north of the site.
Content last updated May 2024.
Municipal water is not available in this area and all homes are serviced by private drinking water wells.
The City of Lowell sampled select drinking water wells surrounding the former landfill on Ware Road, Deer Haven Park Drive, White Pine Drive, Big Oak Drive, Valley Vista Drive, and Riverside Drive.
Sampling was completed December 2023 through March 2024.
A total of 43 drinking water wells have been sampled in association with the site. PFAS was not detected in 41 of the drinking water wells. Two wells had low level detections of PFBS that were below the drinking water criteria. Residents were contacted with their results.
The City of Lowell will work with EGLE to investigate and define the extent of the PFAS impacts in the groundwater at the Lowell City Landfill site through the installation of additional monitoring wells and groundwater sampling.