Michigan
Parchment
Your water system exceeds federal PFAS limits. We recommend taking action.
- Population served
- 193K
- Systems tested
- 1
- Compounds detected
- 29
- Above federal limits
- 2
Source: EPA UCMR 5 · Samples collected 2023–2026
What was found in Parchment’s water
2 PFAS compounds exceed federal drinking water limits in Parchment’s water supply.
KALAMAZOO
Serves 193K people · GW
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
About PFAS contamination in Parchment
## Summary Parchment's drinking water has received a D grade, meaning residents are being served water that contains PFAS chemicals at or above federal safety limits. The water system serving the city — operated by Kalamazoo — detected PFOS at 5.725 parts per trillion, which is 1.43 times the EPA's legal limit of 4 parts per trillion, and PFOA at exactly 4 parts per trillion, meeting but not exceeding its limit. The contamination has been traced to the former Crown Vantage paper mill, a legacy industrial source that triggered a state emergency declaration in 2018.
## What the data shows Testing of the Kalamazoo water system identified three PFAS compounds at measurable concentrations: PFOS at 5.725 ppt, PFOA at 4 ppt, and PFHxS at 3.675 ppt — the last of which falls below its federal limit of 10 ppt. An additional eleven PFAS compounds were detected but had no concentration reported, and no federal limits currently apply to them. PFOS is the only compound that clearly exceeds its EPA limit, doing so by nearly half again the allowable level.
## What residents should know Residents receiving water through the Kalamazoo system should consider using a certified water filter — NSF/ANSI Standard 58 reverse osmosis or Standard 53 activated carbon filters are effective at reducing PFAS levels. Parchment was connected to the Kalamazoo municipal system following the 2018 state emergency, so residents should contact Kalamazoo's water utility directly for the most current testing results and any remediation updates.
About this summary: Narrative text on this page was drafted by an AI model (claude-sonnet-4-6) from EPA UCMR 5 data and reviewed before publication. The numeric data above is reported by water utilities directly to the EPA. If you spot an error, email data@checkyourwater.org.
What Parchment residents can do
Parchment's water exceeds federal PFAS limits. We recommend residents take action:
- Install a reverse osmosis (RO) or activated-carbon water filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or 58 for PFAS reduction. RO systems remove the widest range of PFAS compounds.
- Do NOT boil your water to remove PFAS — boiling concentrates them.
- Request your most recent Consumer Confidence Report from your utility and ask when PFAS treatment will be installed.
- Contact your local elected officials and water utility board to demand a remediation timeline.
- Get independent water testing through services like Tap Score (mytapscore.com) if you want to verify your in-home levels.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about PFAS exposure — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or have young children.
Primary contamination source: Crown Vantage / paper mill legacy
Settlement information: State emergency triggered 2018; now on Kalamazoo water
How Parchment compares
Parchment is one of 1 community we track in Michigan where PFAS levels exceed federal limits.
Where this data comes from
- Testing program: EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle (UCMR 5)
- Testing period: 2023–2026
- Federal limits: EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) finalized April 2024
- Methodology: Read how we calculate grades
- Raw EPA data: EPA UCMR Occurrence Data
This data reflects EPA testing. Your water utility may have more recent results — contact them directly for the most current information.