PARCHMENT, Mich. (WOOD) — Kalamazoo County officials have started to hand out bottled water to residents after finding the likely carcinogen PFAS in the water supply at levels up to 20 times higher than federal safety standards.
The Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department issued an advisory for Parchment residents to stop using the city water system immediately. It comes after Michigan Department of Environmental Quality drinking water specialist Eric Oswald says water samples came back at 1,300 parts per trillion and 1,400 ppt — well above the Environmental Protection Agency's threshold of 70 ppt.
Residents can pick up bottled water from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Parchment High School, located at 1916 E. G Avenue. Those who cannot get bottled water can arrange to have it delivered to their home by calling 269.567.7595 or 269.567.2517.