May 21, 2026
WHEREAS, Michigan residents expect and deserve access to clean drinking water and should be protected from harmful contaminants that pose a risk to their health; and,
WHEREAS, there are over one million Michigan residents using private drinking water wells as their source of drinking water; and,
WHEREAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human-made chemicals that were first used in the 1940s for industry and manufacturing, are linked to harmful human health effects, and have been found in Michigan’s water, soil, air, fish, wildlife, and people; and,
WHEREAS, the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) – consisting of seven state agencies, including the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Michigan Department of Transportation; Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs; and Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs – works together to address PFAS, remains a national leader in addressing PFAS, and is committed to protecting the health of Michigan residents and Michigan’s environment from exposure to PFAS; and,
WHEREAS, the MPART Citizen’s Advisory Workgroup, established pursuant to Executive Order 2019-03, consists of residents in the state of Michigan impacted by PFAS; and,
WHEREAS, as of March 2026, there are 340 sites in Michigan where PFAS has contaminated groundwater and the sources are known, and,
WHEREAS, PFAS has been found in groundwater from a variety of sources, including industrial sites, landfills, airports, military sites, and potentially, septic tanks; and,
WHEREAS, since 2018, over 7,500 samples have been collected from private drinking water or commercial drinking water wells and residents have been provided health responses as part of PFAS investigations, and,
WHEREAS, of the over 7,000 Michigan fish tested for the Michigan fish consumption guidelines since routine PFAS monitoring began, more than 90% have some level of PFAS detected in the edible portion; and,
WHEREAS, surface water foam containing PFAS can be spotted on some lakes and rivers in the state; and,
WHEREAS, PFAS can be found in many consumer and personal care products, from stain-resistant carpeting to cosmetics; and,
WHEREAS, during this week, everyone in Michigan is urged to take steps to reduce their exposure to PFAS through actions such as sampling their private drinking water well to see if it is impacted by PFAS, checking the Eat Safe Fish guides before consuming locally caught fish, avoiding foam on surface water, and reducing the use of consumer products that can contain PFAS;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim September 21-25, 2026 as PFAS Awareness Week in Michigan.
