Families in a Cascade neighborhood dealing with cancer-causing chemicals in their drinking water are one step closer to a permanent solution after the township received an over $12 million state grant to expand public water service.
Contamination Above Safety Limits
The funding will help pay for city water connections to the Hillsboro Avenue subdivision, where state officials identified PFAS contamination above Michigan drinking water standards in 2023. PFOA levels reached 38 parts per trillion — nearly five times Michigan’s safety limit of 8 ppt. PFOS levels peaked at 45 ppt, exceeding the state’s 16 ppt threshold.
The contamination was first discovered in November 2022 when a homeowner independently tested their well water and shared results with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. That prompted EGLE to begin testing nearby homes in early 2023.
Neighbors Surprise Discovery
Patrick Mullen moved to the neighborhood with his family in 2022, never expecting their water to be contaminated. When testing began, they weren’t concerned.
“We’d heard enough about it from other locations in Grand Rapids that had had it, we thought, oh, it’s too bad those people have it,” Mullen said. “A little surprised when it came through positive.”
Limited Initial Solution
After the contamination was discovered, the state provided Mullen’s family with a free under-the-sink filter. But the solution only addressed drinking water from the kitchen sink, leaving the rest of the house untreated…