Water Protection Activities in Washtenaw County

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Activity #10 Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act (Act 399) The Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act sets safe drinking water standards and requires all community water suppliers to generate an annual water quality summary or Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for their customers. The report follows guidelines set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). The purpose of the Consumer Confidence report is to provide residents with current and accurate information, allowing them to make informed decisions about their drinking water. The report lists the parameters tested and indicate how well the water supplier is doing in meeting those standards. The water is tested for many different contaminants such as lead, sodium and arsenic. The water must meet the standards established for the particular samples being analyzed or notice to the users must be given. In some cases a “Boil Water Advisory” is issued until the water supply returns to compliance. The level and frequency of exceeding a standard dictates what action is necessary. The presence of these contaminants does not necessarily pose a health risk. Contaminants can enter water from a variety of sources. As water travels over the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals, and in some cases, radioactive materials. Water can also pick up substances resulting from animal or human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: ● Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. ● Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring, or result from urban storm water runoff and residential uses. 12 ● Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production and can also come from gas stations, septic systems, and urban or agricultural runoff (i.e., pesticides and herbicides). ● Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. The Safe Drinking Water Act classifies different kinds of drinking water service providers as well as sets the reporting standards for service providers based on their water usage. ● Type I Community Water Systems – Large municipal service providers must annually produce a Consumer Confidence report. ● Type II Community Systems – Systems servicing more than 25 units must also meet requirement to produce an annual Consumer Confidence report. ● Type III Onsite Water Supplies – Individual Wells – sites serving less than 25 units or individual residential wells are not required to produce annual reports that outline the water quality.
2.3 Groundwater Challenges and Response Groundwater can become contaminated from a variety of sources including point source pollution, nonpoint source pollution, and naturally occurring sources. Point source pollution is pollution where the source can be determined. Wastewater treatment plants, landfills, and gas stations are common examples of point source pollution. Point sources are often legally permitted to discharge a certain amount of a substance; however, there are also illicit pollutant discharges from non-permitted sources. In contrast, nonpoint source pollution is pollution where the source cannot be easily identified or located. Like nonpoint source contaminants, naturally occurring substances, including arsenic, heavy metals, tannins, hardness, and odor, often do not have an easily identifiable source. Naturally Occurring and Nonpoint Source Pollution Nonpoint source pollution is a little more difficult to regulate than point source pollution. In the case of point source pollution, the disposal of substances can be regulated by permitting procedures. However, when the polluter cannot be identified, or when the problem results from the behaviors and activities of residents, control becomes difficult to administer. Arsenic, nitrates, and VOCs are commonly occurring groundwater issues. ● Challenge # 1 – Arsenic ● Challenge # 2 – Volatile Organic Compounds ● Challenge # 3 – Nitrates 13 Point Source Pollution Point source pollution poses a relatively serious threat to Washtenaw County’s groundwater resources. Many of the significant point source problems in Washtenaw County are historical and require environmental cleanup and remediation. Environmental contamination sites - like Armen Cleaners, Landfills, Part 201 Listed sites, LUST sites, and Gelman Sciences Inc. (Pall Life Sciences), are examples of point source problems that present a threat to Washtenaw County’s Groundwater. ● Challenge # 4 – Part 201 Listed Sites ● Challenge # 5 – Landfills ● Challenge # 6 – Leaking Underground Storage Tanks ● Challenge # 7 – Gelman Sciences 1,4-dioxane (Pall Life Science) ● Challenge # 8 – Ground Water Quantity
Page 1 and 2: Water Protection Activities in Wash
Page 3 and 4: Acknowledgements Water Protection A
Page 5 and 6: Executive Summary Introduction The
Page 7 and 8: Local Water Quality Information The
Page 9 and 10: TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page # Se
Page 11 and 12: MAPS, FIGURES, AND TABLES Map # Tit
Page 13 and 14: 1.0 Introduction Background In Sept
Page 15 and 16: 2.0 Groundwater Groundwater is a vi
Page 17 and 18: 2.1 Conditions and Trends The prima
Page 19 and 20: 2.2 Groundwater Protection Activiti
Page 21 and 22: Activity #5 Wellhead Protection Cle
Page 23: Activity #8 Groundwater Withdrawal
Page 27 and 28: Map 5: Groundwater Arsenic Distribu
Page 29 and 30: Map 6: Groundwater Nitrate Distribu
Page 31 and 32: Challenge # 4: Part 201 Sites Part
Page 33 and 34: Challenge # 5: Landfills The rules
Page 35 and 36: Challenge # 6: Leaking Underground
Page 37 and 38: Gelman Sciences Inc. 1,4-dioxane Re
Page 39 and 40: 2.4 Groundwater Organizations Leade
Page 41 and 42: 3.0 Surface Water Surface water is
Page 43 and 44: Table 2: Michigan’s Designated Us
Page 45 and 46: Table 3: Total Maximum Daily Load S
Page 47 and 48: ● CWA Section 319 Grants - Sectio
Page 49 and 50: Activity #12 Michigan Drain Code Mo
Page 51 and 52: Activity #13 Inland Lake Level Act
Page 53 and 54: Table 4: BMP Examples (Continued) P
Page 55 and 56: Public Beaches Tested in Washtenaw
Page 57 and 58: 3.3 Challenges and Responses Surfac
Page 59 and 60: The Rules of the Washtenaw County D
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Page 63 and 64: The Community Partners for Clean St
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Page 67 and 68: Watershed Management Plans outline
Page 69 and 70: Challenge # 15 Point Source Dischar
Page 71 and 72: Challenge # 16 Community Wastewater
Page 73 and 74: ● Home Toxics Reduction Program
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3.5 Local Tools There are many ordi
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APPENDIX A: Local Unit of Governmen
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NPDES Poi int Source Disccharge Per
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CCR Table continued 71
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A2: Augusta Township Challenging gr
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A4: Dexter Township As determined f
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A6: Lima Township Obtaining adequat
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A8: Lyndon Township The geology of
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A10: Northfield Township Aquifers y
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A12: Salem Township Dry holes have
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APPENDIX B: Watershed Plans and Bes
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B2 - Plan 2: Huron Chain of Lakes W
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B3 Map: 133 B4 Map:
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B5 - Plan 5: Middle One Rouge River
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B6 - Plan 6: Lower One Rouge River
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B8 - Plan 8: Stony Creek Watershed
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B9: Comprehensive Best Management P
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Watershed Plan BMP Title BMP Descri
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APPENDIX C: Acronyms and Abbreviati
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printed on recycled paper July 2008
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Water Protection Activities in Washtenaw County

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