Water System Report MI

Grand Rapids

EPA ID: MI0002790 ยท 306,901 people served ยท 16 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Grand Rapids (MI0002790): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Throughout five consecutive years of federal water monitoring, Grand Rapids recorded zero violations - solid performance for a utility serving 306,901 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 76
Avg Safety Score
306,901
People Served
16
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.00698 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$264K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Grand Rapids Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$71,324
Median Household Income
440,143
Service Area Population
28%
Disadvantaged Population
48th
Poverty Percentile
48th
Energy Burden Percentile
65%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Grand Rapids serves a community with a median household income of $71,324 and an estimated 440,143 residents across its service area. Approximately 65% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Grand Rapids's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
32th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
78th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 78th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

57 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
17 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 77% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 4 detections recorded.

State limits: PFOA: 0.008 ppt, PFOS: 0.016 ppt, PFNA: 0.006 ppt, PFHxS: 0.051 ppt, PFBS: 0.42 ppt, HFPO-DA: 0.37 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Michigan

Kalamazoo
192,992 people
D 1 violation
B 0 violations
City of Warren
134,056 people
A 0 violations
City of Sterling Heights
127,000 people
A 0 violations
Ann Arbor
123,851 people
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,394
Radon Mitigation $375
PFAS Treatment $63
Water Filtration $19
Total Estimated Cost $1,850

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,850 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Grand Rapids (EPA ID: MI0002790) is a community water system in Michigan that serves approximately 306,901 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 16 ZIP codes across 5 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (76/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 10 of 16 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.00698 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by MI or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Grand Rapids (MI0002790) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Grand Rapids water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Grand Rapids in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Grand Rapids serve?

Grand Rapids serves approximately 306,901 people across 16 ZIP codes in Michigan.

Where does Grand Rapids get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
116

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Grand Rapids safe to drink?
Grand Rapids earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Grand Rapids meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Grand Rapids serve?
Grand Rapids serves approximately 306,901 people with drinking water across 16 ZIP codes.
What is Grand Rapids's water source?
Grand Rapids draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Grand Rapids's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00698 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Grand Rapids's service area?
The Grand Rapids service area has a median household income of $71,324. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Grand Rapids get its water?
Grand Rapids's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Grand Rapids, MI: Serves 307K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mi0002790/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-mi0002790,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Grand Rapids, MI: Serves 307K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mi0002790/}
}
Home Water Systems Michigan Grand Rapids

Get safety alerts for Grand Rapids, Michigan

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool - no phone call required.