PARCHMENT, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — It’s been nearly a year since Parchment residents were notified that their water supply was contaminated with PFAS.
Since then, residents are now served by Kalamazoo’s municipal water, and state officials have announced that they will be conducting a PFAS exposure health assessment in both Parchment and Cooper Township.
The tests, which will begin later this fall, will include a survey, blood sample test, and water sample test from affected homes.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has also applied for a grant that would include Parchment and Cooper Township in a national multi-site PFAS survey through the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Parchment is also experiencing elevated levels of lead in its municipal water supply for the second time since 2018.
Tests of 32 different homes showed that 20 had levels above the 15ppb level, with the highest being measured at 330ppb.
Luckily, Parchment now receives water through the Kalamazoo municipal water system.
The high levels of lead were discovered after the water supply was switched which officials say was something they expected to see after flushing the system.
Plans are currently underway to replace all 285 lead lines in Parchment, which is estimated to be completed sometime in August.
(copy written by Will Kriss)
