Two Water Stories in One City
Grand Rapids has a split water quality story. The city’s municipal drinking water — sourced from Lake Michigan via a 30-mile pipeline — is generally excellent. But the groundwater surrounding the city, which thousands of suburban and rural residents depend on through private wells, has been devastated by one of the most significant PFAS contamination events in the country.
Understanding both stories is essential for anyone living in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area.
City Water: Lake Michigan Supply
The City of Grand Rapids draws its drinking water from Lake Michigan at a point about 30 miles west of the city, near the shore community of Lake Michigan Beach. The water is treated at the Lake Michigan Filtration Plant, which uses conventional treatment — coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and chlorine disinfection — along with UV treatment and fluoride addition.
Lake Michigan is one of the Great Lakes and one of the largest freshwater bodies on Earth. As a drinking water source, it offers several advantages: massive dilution capacity, relatively stable quality, and distance from the most intensive agricultural and industrial land uses.
Grand Rapids’ treated water consistently meets all EPA standards. Disinfection byproduct levels are well within regulatory limits, lead and copper testing meets action levels, and the water generally has good taste characteristics.
The one persistent concern is lead in household plumbing. Grand Rapids has older housing stock — particularly in neighborhoods like Heritage Hill, Eastown, and the West Side — with lead service lines and lead solder. The city uses corrosion control treatment and has been inventorying lead service lines under the EPA’s revised Lead and Copper Rule.
Wolverine World Wide: The PFAS Disaster
The groundwater PFAS story centers on Wolverine World Wide — the Rockford, Michigan-based shoe manufacturer that made Hush Puppies and other brands. For decades, Wolverine used 3M’s Scotchgard (containing PFOS and related PFAS compounds) to waterproof leather at its tannery operations.
Wolverine disposed of PFAS-laden waste at multiple sites around Kent County:
- House Street disposal site in Belmont — where tannery waste was dumped, contaminating groundwater with PFOS at levels exceeding 1,000,000 ppt (one million parts per trillion) in some monitoring wells
- Former tannery site in Rockford — additional contamination from decades of industrial operations
- Other disposal locations identified through investigation across the region
The contamination was discovered in 2017 when concerned residents, prompted by growing national awareness of PFAS, had their well water tested. The results were shocking — some private wells showed PFOS levels hundreds of times above the EPA’s health advisory level.
Thousands of residents in Plainfield Township, Algoma Township, and surrounding communities had been drinking PFAS-contaminated well water for years — in some cases, decades — without any knowledge or warning.
The Response and Ongoing Cleanup
The discovery triggered a massive response:
- Michigan DEQ (now EGLE) launched investigations at Wolverine disposal sites and established PFAS action levels for drinking water
- Wolverine World Wide agreed to provide bottled water and whole-house filtration systems to affected residents, and to connect some homes to municipal water
- Class-action lawsuits resulted in settlements, though many residents argue the compensation doesn’t cover health monitoring and long-term impacts
- Michigan — already reeling from the Flint water crisis — set some of the strictest PFAS standards in the country — Maximum Contaminant Levels of 8 ppt for PFOS and 8 ppt for PFOA, adopted in 2020, well ahead of the EPA’s 2024 federal rule
The cleanup of contaminated sites is ongoing but will take years. PFAS in groundwater doesn’t break down naturally, and the plumes continue to migrate through the aquifer.
Blood Testing and Health Concerns
Health studies of affected residents have found elevated PFAS levels in blood serum. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) conducted exposure assessments in the most contaminated areas, and many residents showed PFOS blood levels significantly above national averages.
The health implications of chronic PFAS exposure are still being studied, but the scientific literature has associated elevated PFAS with:
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Thyroid disease
- Kidney and testicular cancer
- Immune system effects (reduced vaccine response)
- Reproductive and developmental effects
The Grand Rapids area has become an important site for PFAS health research, with ongoing studies tracking exposed populations.
Beyond Wolverine: Other PFAS Sources
While Wolverine is the highest-profile PFAS source in the Grand Rapids area, it’s not the only one. Michigan EGLE has identified PFAS contamination at dozens of sites across the state, including:
- Gerald R. Ford International Airport — AFFF use in fire training
- Military facilities — the Michigan Air National Guard has PFAS contamination at multiple installations
- Industrial sites — metal plating, paper manufacturing, and other industrial operations that used PFAS-containing products
- Landfills — consumer products containing PFAS leach into groundwater from landfill sites
Michigan has been one of the most proactive states in the country on PFAS investigation and regulation — driven in large part by the Grand Rapids-area contamination.
What Residents Can Do
- If you’re on Grand Rapids city water, your water is sourced from Lake Michigan and meets all standards. Review the annual Water Quality Report for current data
- If you’re on a private well in Kent County or surrounding areas, get your water tested for PFAS. Michigan EGLE offers resources for PFAS testing. Don’t assume your well is clean because it’s deep or far from known contamination sites — PFAS plumes can travel
- If PFAS is detected above Michigan’s MCLs, contact Michigan EGLE for guidance on filtration systems. NSF P473-certified filters (including granular activated carbon and reverse osmosis) can effectively reduce PFAS
- For older homes on city water, flush the tap before drinking and consider lead testing — lead service lines remain a concern in many Michigan cities
- Stay informed about cleanup progress at Wolverine sites through Michigan EGLE’s PFAS response page
If you’re concerned about your water quality, a certified water treatment professional can test your water and recommend solutions for the specific contaminants in your area.
Sources
- City of Grand Rapids, Annual Water Quality Reports
- Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), PFAS Response
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, PFAS Exposure Assessments
- EPA SDWIS, Grand Rapids water system compliance records
- Wolverine World Wide PFAS Settlement Documents
- Environmental Working Group, PFAS Contamination Map