PARCHMENT (WKZO AM/FM) — Thursday from 2pm to 7pm will be the last time that the water station at the Haven Reformed Church will be operational, but homeowners who live at a home serviced by Parchment City Water are no longer eligible for the free water service, because the water coming from the taps is safe to drink.
Only homeowners on private wells within the testing zone remain eligible for the final bottled water distribution.
Some new sites that have tested above the safe level have been discovered near the edge of the 1.5-mile radius.
The DEQ has issued a new map with new boundaries based on test results, and will be offering either free filters, or bottled water delivered to your home for now, whether or not your home has been tested, and depending on your location.
We have the map and a complete description of the changes below.
COUNTY OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE:
With the Parchment municipal water system back in operation, the top priority is protecting the remaining members of the public who depend on private wells for their drinking water from unacceptable levels of PFAS contamination.
Residents east of the Kalamazoo River and within 1.5 miles of the former Parchment municipal well field will continue to be supplied alternative water as a precaution while the investigation into PFAS contamination in the groundwater continues.
To date, DEQ has taken 202 residential well samples in Parchment and Cooper Township and found no PFOS and PFOA contamination over the EPA Health Advisory Level of 70 ppt outside of a one-mile radius from the former Parchment municipal well field. However, DEQ has received some results at the outer edge of the one-mile radius with total PFAS results over 70 ppt. The highest of these results was 122 ppt.
DEQ’s review of groundwater flow in the area shows groundwater flowing toward Kalamazoo River, downhill from the higher elevations east of Riverview Avenue. These groundwater flow characteristics correspond with rapidly falling PFAS results being seen east of Riverview Avenue.
inside the 1.5-mile radius, the area of greatest concern for significant PFAS contamination is roughly bounded by the south bank of Spring Brook Creek, the east bank of the Kalamazoo River, the north side Espanola Avenue and the west side of Riverview Avenue, including properties east of Riverview and west of Lindenwood and Solvel streets. Private well owners inside this area of concern will continue to receive alternative water until point-of-use filters can be installed
If you live inside the area where wells are more likely to have PFAS, shown inside the purple dashed line on the map, Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department is offering you a filtration system at no cost. The system has been tested and is certified by NSF, International to reduce PFOS and PFOA in drinking water by 96%. A plumber can install the system for you, also at no cost. The filtration system is a temporary solution at this time until a more permanent solution is identified.
If you live outside the area shown by the purple dashed line, and within the area shown by the green dashed line, you can get water delivered to your home. Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department will be in contact with you within the next two days to arrange bottled water service to be provided to you at no cost until a long-term water supply is secured or it is determined that your water supply is approved for use.
The Water Distribution Center is open Thursday of this week from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Haven Reformed Church. Residents with a private residential water well that are East of Kalamazoo River and within the 1.5 mile radius may continue to pick-up bottled water. There will be no water distribution on Saturday, September 1 at Haven Reformed Church.
Residents connected to the City of Parchment’s municipal water supply system will no longer be provided bottled water since the “Do Not Drink” order has been lifted. Normal consumption of drinking water for the customers of the Parchment municipal water system in both the City of Parchment and Cooper Township who have flushed their homes according to instruction may resume for all household purposes.
The PFAS investigation is continuing. It includes more testing in the area. More information and updates will be provided each day when the Kalamazoo County Health & Community Service’s Department (HCS )sends the 4:00 p.m. news release. Residents can also follow www.facebook.com/KalamazooCountyHCS/ or visit www.kalcounty.com/hcs/pfasresponse.php.
Parchment Water Hotline: 269-373-5346 during office hours.
