Concerns about Wolverine World Wide waste water pollution now extend to Pierson in Montcalm County.
Thursday night scientists from the Department of Environmental Quality told a crowd at the Pierson Village Hall they have found elevated levels of PFAS in groundwater wells at the Central Sanitary Landfill.
Wolverine World Wide dumped waste from their Rockford tannery in the landfill from 1984 until 2009. The company used chemicals containing PFAS to waterproof shoes. Wells near dumps Wolverine used in Kent County have elevated levels. Tests will determine if homes near the Pierson landfill are also polluted.
“We want to make sure the drinking water for residents closest to the landfill is safe,” DEQ geologist Kent Walters told the crowd.
“My baby was born at 5 pounds 12 ounces in November, says Nick Schultz, who lives near the landfill. “That is very light for a newborn baby. At six months he is still having trouble gaining weight. We are wondering if maybe his issues are linked to some problem with the water.”
The DEQ says elevated levels of PFAS can cause health problems ranging from high cholesterol to cancer.
Republic Services, the owner of the landfill, is paying for the residential well water tests. The company will provide bottled water to those residents while waiting for results, probably a few weeks at least.
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