The Lowell City Landfill was in operation from 1958 to 1983. Due to environmental contamination observed following the closing of the property, the city began an investigation of it in 2019. Nearby monitoring wells were sampled for PFAS in July of 2023.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance, commonly referred to as PFAS, is a large group of human-made substances used in manufacturing, firefighting foam and consumer products. Often called the “forever chemical,” it’s been determined that it can pose health risks, including cancer.
Some of the monitoring wells surrounding the former Lowell City Landfill were found to have elevated PFAS compounds in the groundwater. Based on these levels, the City of Lowell agreed to sample nearby drinking water wells. This sampling started in November of 2023 and was overseen by The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
MPART will hold a community meeting on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Lowell City Hall to go over results from that investigation. Representatives from MPART and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will be there to provide an overview of their PFAS investigation, including data gathered, next steps, and possible health effects related to PFAS exposure.
