State regulators flagged a former plating facility at 42200 Joy Road in Plymouth for PFAS contamination at more than double Michigan's groundwater limit.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) added the site to the state's PFAS investigation list on July 28 after a Baseline Environmental Assessment found 17 parts per trillion of PFOA in one groundwater monitoring well, according to the state's PFAS investigation page. Michigan's maximum contaminant level for PFOA is 8 parts per trillion.

That is more than double the legal threshold.

Groundwater at the site flows south and southwest. The South Branch of Tonquish Creek sits about a quarter-mile to the west.

EGLE, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and local health officials reviewed residential well logs near the site and identified two drinking water wells in the area. EGLE said the well owners will receive letters requesting access to sample their water.

The Joy Road site is one of six locations added to the state's PFAS list since June, Michigan News Source reported. Another Wayne County site, at 13305 Wayne Road in Livonia, was also among the six.

Statewide, the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) now tracks 353 confirmed PFAS sites and 40 Areas of Interest, putting nearly 400 locations on regulators' radar. MPART, formed in 2017, has sampled more than 7,000 drinking water wells across the state, according to EGLE.

PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals used in firefighting foam, nonstick cookware, stain repellents and industrial processes. They are called "forever chemicals" because they break down extremely slowly and can accumulate in people and the environment.

Health concerns linked to PFAS exposure include certain cancers, liver and thyroid problems, immune system effects and developmental issues. Michigan set maximum contaminant levels for seven PFAS compounds in August 2020, according to EGLE's PFAS FAQ page.

EGLE site lead Eric Larson is overseeing the Joy Road investigation. He can be reached at [email protected] or 586-255-6196.

Michigan's PFAS Awareness Week runs Sept. 21-25, 2026. Residents with questions can call EGLE's Environmental Assistance Center at 800-662-9278, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern.