For residents of the Burger and Goodwood neighborhoods in Cascade Township, water contamination became a growing concern in 2019 when the area was designated an official Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) area of interest. Located between the Gerald R. Ford International Airport and the Thornapple River, the neighborhood’s unique geology and proximity to known PFAS sources led to the detection of elevated PFAS levels in over 40 residential wells, with more than 60 percent showing some level of contamination.
In response, the City of Grand Rapids, in partnership with Cascade Township, launched a multi-phase project to connect affected residents to a clean, safe municipal water source. Within a very tight timeline, the Township managed an extension of the Grand Rapids water system to over 240 homes in Phase I. The design included several miles of water main and two sensitive creek crossings, including one through a Thornapple River bayou. Innovations in the design process reduced the excavation required and minimized environmental disruption.
Throughout the project, public meetings and transparent communication helped keep residents informed and involved, building trust and cooperation with community action groups and local leadership.
Phase II, launched in 2024, extended municipal water service to an additional 250 homes near the contamination plume. This phase included over three miles of new water main infrastructure, bringing lasting relief to residents who had relied on potentially unsafe wells.
Thanks to strategic design, strong partnerships, and a community-first approach, the Burger and Goodwood neighborhoods now have access to reliable, PFAS-free drinking water today and into the future.