WARREN (WWJ) — State environmental officials say the first round of samples taken from Bear Creek following last week’s chemical spill in Warren show no risk to humans.
Samples taken from the waterway and the former playing business responsible for the spill found chemicals, including metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE).
Samples taken downstream from the source of the release showed elevated levels of some chemicals, but “not at concentrations that would pose immediate risk to humans,” according to EGLE officials.
The spill could impact some wildlife in the stream, however. Of all chemicals analyzed in these first samples, “only total copper results showed concentrations above those established to protect aquatic life in the stream,” according to EGLE.
Officials are stressing there has been no impact to drinking water systems from the release, although all area water systems were alerted as a precaution. Additional testing is ongoing this week and officials are continuing to tell residents they should avoid contact with the creek water.
The samples were collected and analyzed by the EGLE, which will “use the sampling data to assess the impact to Bear Creek and the environment, and work with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to ensure the protection of human health.”
Officials believe the chemical release happened when a water line in the former Fini-Finish Metal Finishing plating shop broke causing “a significant volume of water to flood the shop,” located at 24657 Mound Road, just south of 10 Mile Road.
Chemicals associated with the plating shop then entered storm sewers that flow into Bear Creek, according to EGLE. Bear Creek flows into the Red Run Drain and then the Clinton River, which is a tributary to Lake St. Clair.
The EGLE samples were taken from a chemical drum inside the facility, from a catch basin on the facility’s property, and from creek locations between one and two miles downstream from the site. The chemicals identified in the downstream creek waters likely included those released from the facility, mixed with other water in this heavily urbanized stream, which had turned the water a vibrant blue.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) led the cleanup effort and turned the site over to EGLE over the weekend for follow-through.
An incident page with information from the EPA is available here. EGLE’s test data is available here for PFAS results and here for metals.