Title
Requisition No. REQ-0003399
Oakwood Sewer District PFAS/PFOS Assessment and Remediation Opportunities
O&M
Body
Agenda of: March 11, 2026
Item No.: 2026-083
Amount: $3,044,427.12
TO: The Honorable
Board of Directors
Great Lakes Water Authority
FROM: Suzanne R. Coffey, P.E.
Chief Executive Officer
Great Lakes Water Authority
DATE: February 27, 2026
RE: Requisition No. REQ-0003399
Oakwood Sewer District PFAS/PFOS Assessment and Remediation Opportunities
Vendor: EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, (MI) PLC
Status: New Contract/PO
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Navid Mehram, Chief Operating Officer - Wastewater Operating Services, the Board of Directors (Board) of the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), authorizes the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to enter into Requisition No. REQ-0003399, “Oakwood Sewer District PFAS/PFOS Assessment and Remediation Opportunities” with EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, (MI) PLC, at a cost not to exceed $3,044,427.12 for a duration of 785 days; and authorizes the CEO to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND
Since 2018, the State of Michigan has identified PFAS (Per- and Poly- Fluoroalkyl Substances, aka forever chemicals) as emerging contaminants and required GLWA to control, reduce or eliminate PFAS and minimize its impact on the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF). The Oakwood Sewer District is believed to be a potential PFAS contributor to the WRRF. The Oakwood Sewer District drains an estimated area of approximately 1,700 acres (2.65 square. miles) via three (3) main trunk lines to collect and convey domestic and non-domestic wastewater to the Oakwood Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) and Pumping Station which flows to the WRRF during dry and wet weather, and to the O’Brien Drain during wet weather CSO events. Non-domestic wastewater sources in the district include but are not limited to: World War II Ordinance Manufacturing, Petroleum Refining Operations, Petroleum Storage Operations, and Waste Oil Recovery Operations, all of which may have contributed PFAS Compounds to GLWA’s Sewerage System.
This district has had a history of PFAS contamination, from foaming incidents in the Melvindale Sewer Area to aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) and other forms of PFAS from the heavy industrial area that is tributary to the Oakwood Sewer District both present day and historically.
JUSTIFICATION
In consideration of the historical presence of PFAS compounds within the Oakwood Sewer District, GLWA selected this district to perform the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant-funded project to study the isolated sewer district to understand the fate and transport of PFAS in a sewer system. The project aims to collect samples during dry and wet weather events, including water flowing in the pipe, collecting sediment samples, and wiping along the sides of the pipes, and within the Oakwood CSO facility and Pump Station and O’Brien Drain. This project also aims to gain an understanding of PFAS in the system, and will develop, if necessary, plans for future mitigation if the sources of PFAS appear to be those which can be mitigated. Sources for PFAS can include industrial facilities, areas where there have been fires that have been extinguished with AFFF, or even from households.
FINANCIAL PLAN IMPACT
Summary: The PFAS contamination assessment was included as a part of the FY 2026 biennial budget and the current five-year financial plan. The project funding requires a local contribution of 20%, which comes to $608,885.42, and the remainder through an EPA Community Grant. There are sufficient funds in the financial plan to cover the value of the local contribution.
Funding Source: Operations and Maintenance Budget (5960)
Cost Center: Industrial Waste Control (892231)
Expense Type: Contractual Professional Services
Estimated Cost by Year and Related Forecast Variance:
Fiscal Year Amount
FY 2026 Budget $175,000.00
FY 2027 Financial Plan $175,000.00
FY 2028 Financial Plan $175,000.00
FY 2029 Financial Plan $175,000.00
Total Financial Plan $700,000.00
Maximum Requisitions $608,885.42
Forecast Variance (Negative/Positive) $91,114.58
COMMITTEE REVIEW
This item was presented to the Operations and Resources Committee at its meeting on March 11, 2026.
SHARED SERVICES IMPACT
This item does not impact the shared services agreement between GLWA and DWSD.