Kalamazoo’s Water: Multiple Threats Converging
Kalamazoo, Michigan sits in the southwestern part of the state, a mid-size city of about 73,000 surrounded by a metro area of roughly 340,000. The city’s water comes from groundwater wells tapping deep aquifers — not surface water — which has historically provided good protection against surface contamination. But what’s happening above ground and in shallow aquifers tells a different story.
The Enbridge Oil Spill
On July 25, 2010, an Enbridge Energy Partners pipeline ruptured near Marshall, Michigan, about 30 miles east of Kalamazoo. Over 1.1 million gallons of diluted bitumen (dilbit) — heavy tar sands crude oil from Alberta — poured into Talmadge Creek and the Kalamazoo River over approximately 17 hours before the rupture was detected.
It was the largest inland oil spill in U.S. history at the time. The dilbit — unlike conventional crude oil — partially sank to the river bottom, making cleanup extraordinarily difficult and expensive. The EPA’s cleanup took over four years and cost Enbridge more than $1.2 billion.
The spill contaminated roughly 40 miles of the Kalamazoo River with:
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) — carcinogenic compounds found in crude oil
- Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX) — volatile organic compounds
- Heavy metals — associated with bitumen
- Submerged oil residue — dilbit that sank and mixed with river sediment
While the spill didn’t directly contaminate Kalamazoo’s deep drinking water wells, it devastated the river ecosystem and raised serious concerns about shallow groundwater contamination along the affected corridor. Residents near the river reported health effects including headaches, nausea, and respiratory irritation from volatile compounds.
PFAS: Michigan’s Statewide Crisis
Michigan has been one of the states hardest hit by PFAS contamination, and Kalamazoo County is no exception. Sources of PFAS in the area include:
- Paper mills — Kalamazoo was historically known as “Paper City” for its concentration of paper manufacturing. Paper mills used PFAS-containing coatings and processing chemicals extensively.
- Industrial operations — various manufacturing facilities in the corridor used PFAS in production processes
- Wastewater treatment — municipal treatment plants concentrate PFAS from industrial and commercial discharges, then release it in effluent and biosolids
- Firefighting foam — AFFF use at local airports and fire training facilities
Michigan’s PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) has been investigating PFAS contamination across the state since 2017. The Kalamazoo area has been part of this assessment, with sampling of public water supplies, private wells, and surface water.
The City of Kalamazoo’s deep groundwater wells have generally shown PFAS levels below Michigan’s strict drinking water standards (which are among the tightest in the nation at 8 ppt for PFOA and 16 ppt for PFOS). But shallower private wells in the county are a different story — some have shown elevated PFAS levels requiring treatment or alternative water supplies.
Paper Mill Legacy
For over a century, paper manufacturing defined Kalamazoo’s economy. Companies like Kalamazoo Paper Company, Allied Paper, and Georgia-Pacific operated major facilities along the Kalamazoo River. The paper industry left a complex contamination legacy:
- PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) — used in carbonless copy paper manufacturing. The Allied Paper/Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River Superfund site is one of the largest PCB contamination sites in the country, stretching roughly 80 miles along the river.
- Dioxins and furans — byproducts of paper bleaching processes
- Heavy metals — used in dyes and coatings
- Fiber and organic loading — decades of discharge altered river sediment composition
The EPA’s Superfund cleanup of the Kalamazoo River PCB contamination has been ongoing since the site was listed in 1990. Remediation involves dredging contaminated sediment — millions of cubic yards of it — from the river and its floodplain.
Current Drinking Water Quality
Kalamazoo’s municipal water system draws from deep wells that provide significant natural protection against surface contamination. The city’s treated water consistently meets federal and state drinking water standards. The water utility conducts regular testing and publishes results in its annual Consumer Confidence Report.
The deeper concern is what happens over time:
- PFAS migration — these persistent chemicals can eventually migrate through soil and clay layers to reach deeper aquifers
- Cumulative contamination — the combination of industrial, agricultural, and military-related contamination in the region puts increasing pressure on groundwater resources
- Climate variability — changes in precipitation and recharge patterns can affect aquifer levels and water quality
What Kalamazoo Residents Can Do
If you’re on city water, Kalamazoo’s system is well-managed and compliant with drinking water standards. Review the annual CCR for specifics.
If you’re on a private well in Kalamazoo County — especially near the river corridor, former paper mills, or other industrial sites — get your water tested. Michigan’s EGLE (Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy) department offers guidance on testing for PFAS, VOCs, and other contaminants.
Residents near the Enbridge spill corridor should be aware of potential residual contamination in shallow groundwater, even years after cleanup. Well testing for petroleum-related compounds (BTEX, PAHs) is recommended.
If you’re concerned about your water quality, a certified water treatment professional can assess your specific situation and recommend appropriate filtration. Granular activated carbon and reverse osmosis are both effective against many of the contaminants found in the Kalamazoo area.
Sources: EPA Enbridge Oil Spill response records; EPA Superfund profile for Allied Paper/Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River; Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART); Michigan EGLE; USGS groundwater studies for southwest Michigan; City of Kalamazoo Water Division.