Health Forum event will spotlight water quality

Water safety will be the focus of the first Health Forum of West Michigan event of the academic year.

Sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for Health, Health Forum events are held the first Friday of each month and center on a health topic pertinent to the community.

"Water Quality and Safety" is set for Friday, October 5, from 8-9:30 a.m. in the DeVos Center, Loosemore Auditorium. A light breakfast precedes the event at 7:30 a.m. It is free and open to the public, RSVP online at gvsu.edu/vphealth.

Speakers will address water quality in groundwater, the Great Lakes and area rivers. Panelists are Erik DeLong, deputy city manager for Grand Rapids; Liz Kirkwood, executive director of For Love of Water; Eric Oswald, Department of Environmental Quality drinking water and municipal assistance division; Rick Rediske, professor of water resources, Annis Water Resources Institute; and Teresa Seidel, Department of Environmental Quality water resources division. Adam London, administrative health officer for Kent County Health Department, will serve as moderator.

Jean Nagelkerk, vice provost for Health, said the topic is particularly current as Michigan media has reported on issues with PFAS and the Line 5 pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac.

Health Forums are coordinated with community partners, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and the Michigan Center for Clinical Systems Improvement, and sponsorship is provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.