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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today announced the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $3,452,972 to the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) for a PFAS Compounds Remediation Project, as requested by Congresswoman Dingell in the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations process.

“We know the urgent threat of PFAS too well in Michigan, and this is a problem so many of our communities are facing and working hard to remediate,” Dingell said. “I’m proud to have secured this funding for the Great Lakes Water Authority to establish a project to rapidly respond to, treat, and dispose of PFAS in our local water systems. I will continue to fight in Congress for funds and regulations to end the spread of dangerous forever chemicals.”

“We would like to thank Congresswoman Dingell for her efforts to secure this funding. The PFAS family of forever compounds continue to be an area of concern for water utilities that receive them in their waste streams,” said Suzanne R. Coffey, Chief Executive Officer, Great Lakes Water Authority. “GLWA has worked diligently to identify point sources that contribute these chemicals to mitigate and remove them from our system. This funding will allow us to continue to expand and optimize those efforts." 

GLWA provides wastewater treatment services to approximately 28% of Michigan’s population, serving 79 communities located in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. This funding will enable GLWA to establish a demonstration project for the rapid response, remediation, treatment, and disposal of PFAS compound contamination impacts in the Oakwood Sewer District, and to identify and eliminate Emerging Contaminants (i.e., PFAS Compounds) that have been discharged within its system. The project will benefit all communities served by eliminating contaminants from the system and local waterways, and will also benefit communities where PFOA or PFAS contaminants of unknown origin are discovered.