The Gerald R. Ford International Airport announced this week that private residence well testing indicated drinking water is safe. Of the properties tested, results showed a “non-detect” level of PFAS.
“It’s good news.”
Tara Hernandez, Marketing and Communications Director for the Gerald R. Ford International Airport says they are very pleased with a recent report with results from drinking water and well testing.
“We basically have learned from our partners with the state of Michigan, through the DEQ, Michigan Department of Health and Human services and the Kent County Health Department, that the drinking water in that area is safe. And that’s exactly what we wanted to be able to tell residents. Obviously, the Airport is not the health expert in this, which is why we work with these partners.”
Hernandez says of the 44 property owners contacted for drinking water and well testing, 28 participated.
“We agreed to do off site testing. And of those 28 tested they all showed non-detectable levels.. And that’s exactly what we wanted to hear, is that the resident water is safe and we tested those 28 homes and its good news.”
Property owners have been informed of the non-detect results as have the state department of Environmental Quality and the Kent County Health Department. The tests were sparked by a firefighting foam that has been used on airport property over the years. Hernandez says tests did reveal some PFAS levels at a test site on airport property
“But for the groundwater flow, it was important for us, being a good neighbor, to make sure that ground water flow hadn’t gone anywhere to the residents especially those on well water, that are near the airport. So the affiliation comes from that firefighter foam, that we are required to use by FAA standards but we do this testing once a year now, back in the 90’s we were doing it more frequently, and so we wanted to make sure that damage from prior years had not gone into any residents.”
In a news release, officials from the Kent County Health Department say they applaud the Airport’s efforts and with it going above and beyond requirements and based on the data and results, they agree there is no need for additional residential testing at this time.”
