Terrified and furious: Forest Hills residents react to PFAS found in their water
Terrified and furious: Forest Hills residents react to PFAS detected in their drinking water
Third contamination site identified in Cascade Township
Some Forest Hills residents are voicing concern after learning their tap water contains elevated PFAS levels—man-made chemicals linked to potential health risks with long-term exposure.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) confirmed Aspenwood Drive in Forest Hills as the latest area under investigation for PFAS contamination. The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) posted Aspenwood as an “Area of Interest” on December 2 on the state’s PFAS response website.
Aspenwood marks the third Area of Interest in Cascade Township. The Hillsboro area was identified in September 2023, and Irene in November 2023. Public meetings and outreach have already been held for residents in those locations.
How the contamination was discovered
The investigation began after EGLE received residential drinking water test results in June 2025 showing PFAS exceedances during independent testing tied to a property transaction. The test recorded PFOA at 16 parts per trillion, above the state criterion of 8 ppt.
The issue came to light through a point-of-sale test during a home sale. That initial high reading prompted EGLE’s inquiry, which revealed that nearly all homes in the neighborhood tested high for PFAS, with about two of 13 homes testing below the concern threshold, according to Ashley Schaefer, a Forest Hills neighbor and realtor in the affected area.
Resident reactions
Ashley Schaefer says she and her neighbors learned about the contamination in November when EGLE contacted them to test PFAS levels in the neighborhood. She had known about PFAS since 2016–2017 after contamination was found in Rockford, but did not expect it in her own community.
“We are both terrified and really angry,” Schaefer said.
PFAS are synthetic “forever chemicals” that persist in the environment. MPART notes that studies suggest PFAS may reduce a woman’s fertility, raise the risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy, increase thyroid disease risk, elevate cholesterol levels, alter immune response, and heighten the risk of certain cancers.
For Schaefer, discovering PFAS in drinking water is deeply frustrating.
“Water is a daily, essential resource we rely on for nearly everything. To be exposed to something harmful without knowledge or consent is extremely frustrating,” she said.
The neighborhood, largely developed in the 1970s, features wells that are now around 60 years old and may be inadequate for current water use, Schaefer added.
As a parent, she worries about the health of her family.
“You think about developmental impacts on our families; it really keeps us up at night,” she said.
What residents are asking about next steps
Neighbors want practical guidance on what they should do next.
“What more can I do? Do I need to boil water? Should I install a whole-house system? How do I tell neighbors? How do we protect the neighborhood?” Schaefer asked.
She and her family installed a reverse osmosis system, which she considers the best option to reduce PFAS, though it does not remove all occurrences.
“A reverse osmosis system is the best, easiest option to remediate PFAS. It doesn’t eliminate it completely—PFAS is ubiquitous—but it lowers levels to what’s considered allowable,” she explained.
Impact on home values
As a Realtor, Schaefer addressed concerns about property values. She stated that PFAS contamination typically does not directly reduce home values because the issue is widespread across the area and is remediable.
State investigation and current status
EGLE notes no single source identified in the immediate residential area, though potential sources across the broader area are under review. The agency indicates multiple PFAS sources may contribute to groundwater contamination in each area of interest due to PFAS’s widespread presence in consumer, commercial, and industrial products over time. Groundwater flow direction remains uncertain but is estimated to be southwest toward the Thornapple River.
Three rounds of sampling have occurred, with access sought at more than 50 properties and 36 locations sampled. PFAS exceedances have been found at 17 locations, with 16 additional locations showing PFAS below state criteria.
EGLE continues to expand sampling based on results, reviewing well logs, depths, groundwater flow, and geology to identify other potentially at-risk wells. Access letters have been issued to over 60 additional locations.
Resources and testing options
The state offers to sample all properties using drinking water wells within the three Areas of Interest. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) provides point-of-use filters certified to remove PFAS to homes with detectable PFAS at no cost, with installation assistance reported as efficient and helpful. Residents in Irene, Hillsboro, Aspenwood, and other PFAS sampling areas are eligible for state-funded sampling, and EGLE will contact eligible participants.
For residents concerned about PFAS, Schaefer recommends testing even if you are not in an active investigation area.
“If you have a well and you’re not in a tested neighborhood, assume you have PFAS. Don’t wait six months or a year for the state to catch up—act now to protect your family,” she advised.
EGLE also advises private well owners outside state-funded areas to test using guidance available on the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team site.
Long‑term solutions
The state is pursuing permanent solutions. EGLE is funding a municipal water extension in the Irene area, with design complete and construction expected to begin in spring 2026. For the larger Hillsboro area, EGLE is coordinating with Grand Rapids Water Department and seeking funding to support a municipal water extension.
Schaefer hopes the ultimate fix is a connection to municipal water, which is available locally but not yet accessible to private wells.
“Connecting to municipal water would be the best outcome for safety, for our neighbors and our children,” she said.
Despite ongoing investigations, Schaefer remains concerned about the future.
“I don’t know if we’ll ever pinpoint the exact source of the PFAS,” she admitted.
For home sampling guidance, visit the Michigan PFAS Response Team’s sampling page.
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