Michigan Water Quality Report: 4,218 Violations Across 687 ZIPs
1,386 water systems · 687 ZIP codes · 4,218 violations · Updated
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified:
ZipCheckup tracks EPA drinking-water compliance for 1,386 public water systems serving 687 ZIP codes in Michigan. The state record shows 4,218 EPA violations, 340 health-based.
City Water Quality Map: Michigan
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Violation Trend
EPA violations across all water systems in Michigan.
Cities with Most Violations in Michigan
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Empire | 149 | 1 | 1,484 | Details → | |
| 2 | Glen Arbor | 149 | 1 | 634 | Details → | |
| 3 | Oxford | 69 | 4 | 27,965 | Details → | |
| 4 | Marshall | 60 | 2 | 14,954 | Details → | |
| 5 | Tekonsha | 59 | 1 | 1,951 | Details → | |
| 6 | Negaunee | 58 | 5 | 8,228 | Details → | |
| 7 | Carleton | 57 | 5 | 10,199 | Details → | |
| 8 | Fenton | 52 | 5 | 38,731 | Details → | |
| 9 | Newport | 51 | 2 | 13,746 | Details → | |
| 10 | Lake City | 51 | 1 | 7,540 | Details → |
Most Common Contaminants in Michigan
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 587 | 303 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 434 | 253 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 415 | 228 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 324 | 222 | Yes |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 310 | 189 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 126 | 81 | No |
| Barium | Inorganic | 115 | 47 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 103 | 80 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 66 | 59 | Yes |
| PFOA | PFAS | 48 | 40 | No |
Water Quality Overview
Michigan has 1,386 community water systems represented across 687 directly mapped ZIP records. The associated city records cover approximately 9,628,137 people. The available records contain 4,218 EPA violations, including 340 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 8% of all violations in Michigan. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health, as opposed to monitoring or reporting failures.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 340 | 8.1% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 3,878 | 91.9% |
| Total | 4,218 | 100% |
Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeding EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report - these do not necessarily mean unsafe water, but they mean the water was not properly verified.
Cities with Most Violations
The following cities in Michigan have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Empire | 149 | 1 | 1,484 |
| 2 | Glen Arbor | 149 | 1 | 634 |
| 3 | Oxford | 69 | 4 | 27,965 |
| 4 | Marshall | 60 | 2 | 14,954 |
| 5 | Tekonsha | 59 | 1 | 1,951 |
| 6 | Negaunee | 58 | 5 | 8,228 |
| 7 | Carleton | 57 | 5 | 10,199 |
| 8 | Fenton | 52 | 5 | 38,731 |
| 9 | Newport | 51 | 2 | 13,746 |
| 10 | Lake City | 51 | 1 | 7,540 |
Violation counts are cumulative across all water systems serving each city. Higher counts may reflect larger systems with more monitoring requirements, not necessarily worse water quality.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in Michigan:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 47 | 47 |
| 2022 | 45 | 45 |
| 2023 | 133 | 133 |
| 2024 | 264 | 264 |
| 2025 | 104 | 104 |
Violations have increased from 47 in 2021 to 104 in 2025. This trend warrants monitoring and may reflect expanded testing requirements rather than worsening quality.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across Michigan water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 587 | 303 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 434 | 253 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 415 | 228 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 324 | 222 | Yes |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 310 | 189 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 126 | 81 | No |
| Barium | Inorganic | 115 | 47 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 103 | 80 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 66 | 59 | Yes |
| PFOA | PFAS | 48 | 40 | No |
How to Check Your Water in Michigan
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water-system data including contaminant levels and violation history; the separate Home Safety Score is a multi-source index
Request your CCR - every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test - certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400)
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken 5,351 enforcement actions against water systems in Michigan. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Updated daily.
What are EPA violations?
Health-based violations mean a contaminant was detected above the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - the legal limit designed to protect human health. Michigan has 340 such violations across its water systems. Not all violations cause illness, but repeated exceedances increase risk, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grade A means few or no violations; Grade F indicates persistent or serious issues. Grades are calculated per ZIP code and aggregated at the city, county, and state level.
Wondering about your tap water?
Water quality varies by ZIP code. Enter yours to see contaminant data, violations, and filtration recommendations specific to your area.
Check Your ZIP Code Water Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in Michigan?
Michigan has 1,386 community water systems with 4,218 recorded EPA violations, including 340 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Michigan have?
Michigan has 4,218 total EPA violations across 687 ZIP codes. 340 are health-based violations that indicate contaminant levels potentially harmful to human health. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in Michigan has the worst water quality?
Empire, MI has the most EPA violations among major cities in Michigan with 149 recorded violations. Check individual ZIP codes for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in Michigan has the best water quality?
Several cities in Michigan maintain excellent EPA compliance. Check individual city reports for details.
What contaminants are found in Michigan drinking water?
Michigan water systems are monitored for over 90 EPA-regulated contaminants including lead, copper, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region - check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.