The state is retesting drinking water in several Southeast Michigan communities this week. That's after a recent test in the River Raisin watershed found extremely high levels of PFAS. This was at the intake area at the Deerfield water filtration plant.
Scott Dean is with Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. He says it's the highest level they've seen so far in that watershed, and they alerted the treatment plant right away.
"Because obviously we want to make sure they're watching their system carefully, operating their plant as best they can and watching for any kind of breakthroughs,” Dean says. “Because when levels do get extremely high, certain systems can sometimes start to…suffer breakthrough. So, it does bear careful operation of these plants as you guard against these chemicals."
Baker says so far, all the finished drinking water — that is, the water that's been treated — has tested at safe levels. The state will also be retesting drinking water in Adrian, Blissfield, Frenchtown and Monroe.
Copyright 2019 Michigan Radio
