Michigan LCV: New PFAS standards for groundwater will protect public health
LANSING – The Michigan League of Conservation Voters today issued the following statement after the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy announced new groundwater standards and cleanup criteria for PFAS ( per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) chemicals found in groundwater used for drinking water.
“Toxic contamination in our groundwater is a danger, not just to those on wells but to residents in more urban settings that are exposed through leaking basement walls and vapor in the air. PFAS is a toxic threat to our health, our rivers and lakes,” said Lisa Wozniak, executive director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “We have some of the strongest standards for PFAS in the country, but now we must focus on testing for and cleaning up these toxic chemicals in our groundwater. We look forward to working with EGLE and state officials as we strive to ensure all Michiganders have clean water that is free from toxic contaminants.”
The new groundwater standards and cleanup criteria stem from Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) that were adopted in August. Together, these standards make up some of the most comprehensive and strongest protections from PFAS in the nation.
According to a press release from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the new standards and cleanup criteria are as follows:
| PFAS | CAS Registry Number | Drinking Water MCL | Generic Cleanup Criteria |
| ppt | ppb | ||
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) | 375-95-1 | 6 | 0.006 |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) | 355-46-4 | 51 | 0.051 |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) | 307-24-4 | 400,000 | 400 |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) | 375-73-5 | 420 | 0.420 |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) | 13252-13-6 | 370 | 0.370 |