Michigan River Contaminated with 2000 Gallons of Liquid Waste from Packaging Plant

Kalamazoo, the Michigan river, took in 2000 gallons of leaked liquid waste that came from the nearby packaging plant.

According to city officials, the recent liquid waste spill in the Kalamazoo River was caused by the Graphic Packaging International plant.

Around 6:30 AM, city officials were informed of the spill. According to the report, the spill started at a storm sewer near East Patterson Street at 1500 North Pitcher Street.

Graphic Packaging International

The business confirmed to MLive on Friday that a minor incident concerning a sump was the cause of paper fiber and water overflowing into the city's stormwater system on Thursday.

Graphic Packaging's statement said that the spill happened on the company's property at 1810 Pitcher Street, close to a Kalamazoo River section that was the subject of a separate Superfund cleanup by Graphic Packaging. To take any necessary corrective action, the company, Graphic Packaging, is already collaborating with the city.

To determine how the release has affected the Kalamazoo River, staff from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Services have coordinated their efforts to align with Graphic Packaging International.

The city has confirmed that the stormwater ditch on the property, which drains into the North Limits Drain as well as the Kalamazoo River, was the source of the release. It was an internal sump that overflowed and spilled out through a roll-up door.

Impacts and Remediation Actions

The effects on the area, including the Kalamazoo River area between D Avenue Bridge and Paterson Street Bridge, are being evaluated by city staff. The city of Kalamazoo and Graphic Packaging International has started remediation efforts to lessen the environmental impact, according to city officials.

Currently, the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department and the City of Kalamazoo Department of Public Services are advising people to stay away from contact in the affected areas, which include the said affected areas.

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No Contact, No Fish Consumption

In this area, engaging in any surface-water activities, such as swimming, fishing, wading, canoeing, and kayaking is not allowed. Additionally, it is advised that everyone avoid these said areas and keep their pets and kids away until the area has been evaluated and remedied. If any contact is made with the release's contents, make sure to thoroughly clean and sanitize affected skin, shoes, and clothing to prevent spreading and tracking.

The public is being reminded by city officials that this section of the Kalamazoo River is currently under a no-fish-consumption advisory, according to announcements from the Eat Safe Fish Program. This warning will be in effect until additional research and sampling show that the risk has been reduced.

After receiving the sampling results, more details will be made available to the public.

The spill has been reported to the Kalamazoo District Office of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as well as the Kalamazoo County Environmental Health and Community Services, MLive reports.

US River Pollution Woes

Even though the Clean Water Act was passed to protect US rivers, human activity and climate change have severely damaged almost all of them. According to the Environmental Integrity Project, 50% of them are unfit for swimming, fishing, or drinking.

Although infrastructure receives the majority of funding, Biden invested in cleaning up waterways last year, as per Green Matters data.

Related article: Rising Cases of Water Contamination - Should We Preserve Water for Future Generations?