Independence Township PFAS

DLZ was selected by Independence Township to evaluate the municipal well field and complete a Wellhead Protection Plan, identifying potential sites of concern within the 1-year and 5-year and 10-year capture zones of their municipal wellfields. As part of the 2019 contaminant source inventory, DLZ identified the Clarkston Road Landfill (CRL) as a potential source of PFAS in the local groundwater.

Furthermore, in 2018, in an effort to investigate sources and location of PFAS contamination in the state, the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team, in coordination with EGLE, tested all sixteen (16) wells within Independence Township. As a result of this testing, Independence received sample results from the Clarkston Gardens well with one compound (PFOA) at 50% of the USEPA MCL for drinking water. Upon receipt of PFAS compounds in this well, the Township proactively shut this wellhead down, as it remains to this day.

More recently, results from additional municipal wells have also detected five PFAS substances; two of which (PFOA and PFHxS) exceed 50% of the MCL. Although the concentrations detected at both wells are below current USEPA drinking water criteria, concentrations at two municipal wells are increasing, therefore, the Township has selected DLZ to assist the Township with environmental and engineering services to address the PFAS in the local groundwater aquifer and municipal water supply.

As a result of the findings, DLZ has worked with Independence Township to secure specific State of Michigan and Oakland County grant funding which will allow the Township to properly investigate the PFAS source and generate a mitigation plan to eliminate potential future PFAS exposure. In the fall of 2022, DLZ, working with Independence Township, initiated the following investigation tasks:

1) Determine the nature and extent of the PFAS contamination, if possible, including confirmation of the CRL as the primary source,
2) Evaluate water quality within private drinking water wells in the general vicinity and downgradient of the CRL, and
3) Conduct an engineering water system reliability study including water distribution modeling to proactively develop potential mitigation plans and evaluate future funding mechanisms for alternate water distribution.

Because of DLZ’s combined Grant Writing, Environmental and Civil/Water Engineering capabilities, we are able to work alongside Independence Township with a multifaceted approach to resolving this complicated PFAS issue.