Environmental Industry Updates
The Latest News on Scientific and Regulatory Updates from Merit Laboratories
The Department of Defense (DoD) conducts sampling of drinking water off-base to ensure it identifies potential impacts of PFAS resulting from DoD activities. Off-base drinking water includes non-DoD drinking water systems and private wells located outside the installation boundary. The DoD provides final test results of off-base drinking water in accordance with Section 345 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022.
Years of underinvestment in Michigan’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges, dams, schools, transit, water and sewer systems, railways and energy systems, have left the state in a precarious position, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2018 Report Card for Michigan's Infrastructure and the 21st Century Infrastructure Commission.
PFAS, the “forever chemicals,” have the ability to migrate into the air, dust, food, soil and water. They are used in many common products like weatherproof clothing, non-stick cookware, and firefighting foam. PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they are persistent and bioaccumulate. Persistent means they do not break down in the environment and bioaccumulate refers to the process of building up over time in the blood and organs.
The State of Michigan strengthened its lead and copper rules for drinking water in June 2018, making it the strictest in the United States. As a result, sample collection methodology underwent some significant changes that must be adhered to by Community and Non-Community Water Supplies for lead and copper in drinking water.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is the recipient of a $1-million grant to investigate the relationship between drinking water contaminated with PFAS and health outcomes. The grant was awarded by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
The State of Michigan has started posting PFAS testing results from the statewide drinking water initiative for schools using well water. The state has created a database of PFAS results for public review. The school drinking water results are posted here. The second part of the statewide initiative involves PFAS testing of public water supplies and these results are posted here.
The State of Michigan has strengthened its lead and copper rules for drinking water. The changes were filed on June 14, 2018, and are now part of the official state statute. These changes wrap-up a year-long administrative process between the MDEQ and the governor’s office. With these changes, Michigan now has the strictest lead in drinking water rules in the country. The highlights of the changes to the lead in drinking water rules, include:
