Contaminated water near airport may have been caused by toxic firefighting foam

After the discovery of contaminated water in the Belmont and Rockford areas, toxic chemicals have now been discovered in private wells near the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. 

Ground Water Systems tested 20 wells at homes in the Cascade area. Many residents requested testing after airport officials revealed that first responders have been using toxic firefighting foam for more than two decades.

The toxic chemicals, per-and-poly floral alkyl substances, are commonly called PFAS, and are the same same chemicals that have made it into a number of private wells in Plainfield Township.  

While the use of PFAS dates back to the mid-20^th century, according to the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council, awareness of the potential health effects of PFAS weren’t discovered until the early 2000’s. Those effects include liver and kidney cancers.  

So far, a total of 4 private wells near the airport have tested positive for the chemical.