Historical Compliance Records MI

Otsego

EPA ID: MI0005060 ยท 4,120 people served ยท 3 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Otsego (MI0005060): 1 EPA violation in the last five years. Over the tracked period, Otsego logged 1 EPA violation - each has been remedied, and the system now supplies 4,120 people in good standing.

Data: EPA SDWIS

A ยท 99
Avg Safety Score
4,120
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
1
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
Zone 3
Radon Risk ยท Low
1
Contaminants Flagged
$201K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Otsego Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade A

Service Area Demographics

$75,250
Median Household Income
28,071
Service Area Population
8%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
65%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Otsego serves a community with a median household income of $75,250 and an estimated 28,071 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.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Otsego's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

51 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
19 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 73% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Otsego compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 5 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

City of Algonac
4,110 people
A 0 violations
Sparta
4,140 people
B 2 violations
City of Linden
4,150 people
C 3 violations
Lowell
4,150 people
B 0 violations
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $250
Water Filtration $150
Total Estimated Cost $1,600

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,600 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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

Otsego (EPA ID: MI0005060) is a community water system in Michigan that serves approximately 4,120 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: A (99/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 3 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 current noncompliance in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot. The 1 record in the 2021-2026 window are classified as resolved or archived, not current.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 1 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 0 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 11, 2024 Stage 1 DBP Rule Non-health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No

Lead & Copper

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

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0 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 3 (Low Risk)

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 Otsego (MI0005060) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Otsego water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Otsego; its 1 accepted 2021-2026 record are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does Otsego serve?

Otsego serves approximately 4,120 people across 3 ZIP codes in Michigan.

Where does Otsego get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
174
Detections
7
Latest sample
9/15/2025
Highest analyte
PFBS: 13 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBS 13 ppt โ€” โ€”
6:2 FTS 12 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFOA 4 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL
PFPeA 3.9 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxA 3.5 ppt โ€” โ€”

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 Otsego safe to drink?
Otsego earns a A safety grade with 1 violation in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Otsego's water?
Detected contaminants include Stage 1 DBP Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Otsego serve?
Otsego serves approximately 4,120 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Otsego's water source?
Otsego draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Otsego's service area?
The Otsego service area has a median household income of $75,250. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Otsego get its water?
Otsego's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Otsego (MI): 1 EPA Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mi0005060/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-mi0005060,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Otsego (MI): 1 EPA Violation}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mi0005060/}
}

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Otsego (EPA ID: MI0005060) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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