MENOMINEE—The City of Menominee’s PFAS levels in wastewater meet the state’s quality standards but might indicate some industrial use of the so-called “forever chemicals” in the area, the EagleHerald has learned.

Infrastructure Alternatives reported the city’s March test results for PFAS in wastewater at the April 14 Water and Wastewater Utility Board.

“We passed all our tests,” said Mike Borths of Infrastructure Alternatives. The city brought in 24,543,000 gallons of wastewater to be treated and sent out 22,715,000 gallons, the company said.

The amount of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—or PFAS—discharged in city wastewater was 7.2 nanograms per liter, or parts per trillion, for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and 39 nanograms per liter, or parts per trillion, for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), said Mike Thorsen, project manager at Infrastructure Alternatives, the company that handles the city’s water and wastewater services. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) said nanograms per liter or parts per trillion are equivalent measures.