The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced last week that Michigan’s new standards limiting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in public drinking water supplies are being met by most of the state. 

PFAS are a group of emerging and potentially harmful contaminants used in thousands of applications globally including firefighting foam, food packaging and many other consumer products.

The new standards were adopted last August and are among the most stringent and comprehensive PFAS standards in the nation.

The standards include provisions for reducing exposure to seven PFAS compounds in drinking water. The provisions include establishing drinking water standards, sampling requirements, public notification requirements and laboratory certification criteria.

According to a press release, through established Michigan PFAS Action Response Team partnerships, EGLE is working closely with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and local health departments to establish short-term measures on a case-by-case basis, to address the health and safety of the consumers of water for supplies that have not met the standard.

Before the new standards were adopted and during the public comment period in 2019, CMF’s Public Policy Committee passed a resolution recommending the adoption of the standards to protect and improve the health of people and their communities against exposure to PFAS contaminants. As a result, CMF staff responded to the state’s requests for public comment on PFAS standards.

The Green and Blue Network (GBN), a CMF affinity group, has been deeply engaged around the environmental and public health issues related to PFAS contamination both in working with CMF and hosting several learning opportunities for members. The GBN helped to inform CMF’s 2019 resolution and public comments on the rules.

“CMF’s Green and Blue Network (GBN) is pleased to see the state of Michigan become a national leader in adopting drinking water standards for PFAS. Michigan has been at the epicenter for testing of contamination. It became clear to the GBN back in 2019 that it was necessary for the state to adopt standards for the protection and improved health of people. That’s why the network sprung into action and encouraged CMF to produce a policy statement to support the state in creating these standards. Freshwater defines the state of Michigan and keeping it clean and safe is essential for our health, environment, and economy of the state,” GBN co-chairs John Erb, chairman of the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation and Tim Eder, program officer at the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, said.

Erb and Eder said that Michigan’s philanthropic community can get involved by responding to community needs in a variety of ways, including assisting with local organizing efforts, educating elected officials about the problem and listening to neighbors who are facing contamination to understand their needs.

Last month, the GBN held a conversation on World Water Day with Liesl Clark, director of EGLE, about the state’s most pressing environment and public health concerns. We invite you to watch the recording and stay tuned as CMF will continue to work with the GBN to identify learning opportunities for CMF members on the impact of PFAS.

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