Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) reported Monday that a test of the drinking water well at Blair Elementary School had returned no signs of contamination. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) tested the well in response to last week’s news about a pollution plume near the elementary school.
 
The plume dates back to a 1995 fire at a scrap tire collection business called Carl’s Retreading. In trying to quell the flames, firefighters used a foam that included perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS have been linked to numerous human health concerns. The MDEQ confirmed last week that there are elevated levels of PFAS on the Carl’s Retreading site, prompting the question of whether the contamination has spread to neighboring properties.
 
The MDEQ’s test of the groundwater well at Blair Elementary showed PFAS levels as “non-detect,” which means there is no traceable amount of the contaminant in the school’s water supply. Neither the MDEQ nor the Grand Traverse County Health Department have recommended additional action from TCAPS at this time.
 
Blair Elementary School is one of at least 30 properties near the pollution plume that uses a well system for water. Homes connected to the municipal water system are not at risk for contamination. The MDEQ tested two sites for well contamination last week: Blair Elementary and one nearby residential property. Results from the residential test have not yet been announced publicly.