The MDEQ has been directed by the governor to begin the process of creating PFAS drinking water standards. The MDEQ will file a Request for Rulemaking to establish maximum contaminant levels (MCLs).
As part of the governor’s direction, the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) will form a science advisory workgroup to review health-based drinking water standards to support the rulemaking process and make recommendations by July 1. The governor has called for completion of the proposed drinking water regulations by October 1, 2019. The establishment of enforceable MCLs for PFAS compounds will require compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Michigan may look to the lead taken by the State of New Jersey for PFAS standards. The NJ Department of Environmental Protection established a standard of 13 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFNA and is considering a standard of 14 ppt for PFOA and 13 ppt for PFOS. In January 2018, Michigan established a drinking water criterion of 70 ppt combined for PFOA and PFOS, which is part of the Part 201 generic cleanup criteria.
MPART is a multi-agency team representing heath, environment and other branches of state government to investigate sources and locations of PFAS contamination in the state, to take action to protect people's drinking water, and to keep the public informed about PFAS.
Merit is Michigan’s PFAS environmental laboratory, analyzing soil, wastewater, groundwater, drinking water, and other sample matrices at our laboratory in East Lansing, Michigan. Merit is certified for the analysis of PFAS by ISO/IEC 17025. Analytical method certification for PFAS includes drinking water by EPA 537 rev. 1.1 and wastewater | groundwater | surface water by ASTM D7979 with Isotopic Dilution. Please contact Merit Laboratories for assistance on your PFAS testing needs.