Industrial users of Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant
Kalamazoo, Michigan · 35 industrial users on record · 18 sampled for PFAS · 7 above 12 ng/L PFOS
Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant in Kalamazoo treats 27.1 MGD and receives process wastewater from 35 industrial users on record in its pretreatment programme, led by metal finishing and plating (8) and automotive, metal and equipment manufacturing (6). 9 are categorical users under federal pretreatment standards. 18 of them have been sampled for PFAS (21 samples, 2023–2024); 7 had a sample with PFOS above the 12 ng/L screening level.
- Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant: permit, flow and compliance
- PFAS sources at all Michigan plants
- All treatment plants in Michigan
- What is a significant industrial user?
PFAS sampling of the plant's industrial users
- Users sampled
- 18
- Above 12 ng/L PFOS
- 7
- Highest PFOS sample
- 400 ng/L
- Latest sample
- Jun 2024
12 ng/L is Michigan’s surface water quality value for PFOS and the screening criterion of the initiative; 170 ng/L is the value for PFOA since July 2022. Both apply to what a treatment plant discharges to a river or lake, not to what a factory sends to the sewer. An industrial user above the level has not broken a limit: it is a source the receiving plant has to follow up with sampling, a reduction plan or pretreatment.
5 of 35 industrial users
| # | Industrial user | Industry | Type | Highest PFOS | Latest PFOS | Samples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Autumn Hills RDF (WM) · Zeeland Township | Landfills and waste management | Categorical | 400 ng/L33× · Nov 2023 | 160 ng/LMar 2024 | 2 |
| 2 | Northern Oaks RDF Landfill (WM) · Harrison | Landfills and waste management | Categorical | 280 ng/L23× · Nov 2023 | 220 ng/LJun 2024 | 2 |
| 3 | WKW Extrusion - Erbsloeh Aluminum Solutions · Portage | Metal finishing and plating | Categorical | 185 ng/L15× · Aug 2023 | 185 ng/LAug 2023 | 1 |
| 4 | Graphic Packaging Int-Mill - 1500 North Pitcher Street · Kalamazoo | Paper and packaging | Categorical | 150 ng/L13× · Oct 2023 | 150 ng/LOct 2023 | 1 |
| 5 | Cork Street Landfill (MDS/MDS2) · Kalamazoo | Contaminated sites and remediation | — | 94 ng/L7.8× · Oct 2023 | 94 ng/LOct 2023 | 2 |
Industrial users by industry
| Industry | Industrial users |
|---|---|
| Metal finishing and plating | 8 |
| Automotive, metal and equipment manufacturing | 6 |
| Chemicals, plastics and petroleum | 5 |
| Landfills and waste management | 4 |
| Contaminated sites and remediation | 3 |
| Laundries | 3 |
The largest groups, from each user's NAICS code.
Industrial users of Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant: questions
Which industries discharge to Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant?
35 industrial users on record discharge process wastewater to Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant in Kalamazoo, most of them in metal finishing and plating (8), automotive, metal and equipment manufacturing (6), chemicals, plastics and petroleum (5). 9 are categorical users, subject to federal pretreatment standards for their industry.
Has PFAS been found in wastewater sent to Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant?
18 of the plant’s industrial users have been sampled for PFAS, 21 samples in 2023–2024. 7 had at least one sample with PFOS above the 12 ng/L screening level; the highest was 400 ng/L. The level is a surface water quality value, so a sample above it marks a source the plant has to follow up, not a violation by the company.
What is an industrial pretreatment programme?
Under the Clean Water Act a treatment plant that receives industrial wastewater has to control it at the source: it permits its significant industrial users, sets local limits, inspects and samples them, and reports to the state each year. The aim is to stop pollutants that pass through or disrupt the plant, or end up in its biosolids.
How do I get the full list of industrial users for Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant?
This page shows the first 5 of 35. The full list, with each user’s discharge flow, federal category, PFAS sampling history, source documents and contacts, is available with a free Klarifi account.
Industrial users: PFAS sampling reports that treatment plants file with EGLE under the IPP PFAS Initiative (MiEnviro Portal), extracted by Klarifi. Values are as reported by the receiving plant; a value shared by several compounds in one sample is read as the laboratory’s reporting limit and not counted as a detection. Spotted an error? Tell us and we correct it.
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