Water Protection Activities in Washtenaw County

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Forward This report represents a first step in developing a periodic report on water and water quality in Washtenaw County. The intent of this document is to provide information of general interest to the public. While not intended to be a comprehensive technical report, much of the information and many links to the information contained here will aid readers in determining where their drinking water comes from, what steps are being taken to assure it’s safe, what major bodies of water are in their area, what threats to water quality exist, how they are being addressed and recommended next steps. This report does not include all of the activities, organizations and programs that play a vital role in the protection and enjoyment of water resources of Washtenaw County. It is a foundation that will be improved upon, both in content and format in future iterations. We encourage you to contact us with your comments, suggestions, additions or deletions so that future reports will be more comprehensive. iv
Executive Summary Introduction The intent of the Washtenaw County Water Protection Activities in Washtenaw County Report (WPA) is to provide a single source of information for individuals interested in potential sources of contamination to groundwater and surface water in the County, and to highlight the protection activities designed to address those concerns. The report further identifies sources of drinking water and the underlying geology that affects those sources. The report is the product of collaboration between the Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner’s Office and the Planning and Environment Department. The protective actions identified in the report feature programs administered or most frequently referenced by the two offices. It is recognized this is not an exhaustive listing of all of the actions being taken to protect, preserve or restore water quality in the County. Groundwater Historic information regarding the quantity and quality of groundwater was gathered primarily from databases maintained by Washtenaw County Planning and Environment (WCPE), and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). Those records were utilized to determine that generally the groundwater in the area is plentiful, of a high quality, and serves as the source of drinking water for over 50% of the residents and businesses in the County. The programs in place to address groundwater protection have been highly successful. However, there are still challenges to the County’s groundwater, including: v Arsenic Naturally occurring arsenic exceeding drinking water standards has been detected in approximately 10% of the individual drinking water wells tested in the County. To address this issue, WCPE now requires testing of all new wells, replacement wells, and residential wells at time of property transfer. Treatment or replacement of the wells are options to address this issue. Quantity Individuals in some parts of southeast Washtenaw County have had difficulty in obtaining a reliable, high-quality drinking water well. The combination of hydrogen sulfide and lowyielding upper aquifer formations have been particularly challenging in Augusta Township. To address this need, municipal water was extended to approximately 30 miles of the Township in the mid 1990’s. Well testing occurs in the southeast portion of the County and in ten other isolated locations throughout the County to assure adequate water can be obtained before issuing a construction permit for new homes. Additional storage is often installed in homes to compensate for low producing wells. 1,4-dioxane The groundwater in areas of Scio Township and the City of Ann Arbor is contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a suspected carcinogen. The contamination plume, which is currently estimated as three miles long and one mile wide, is the result of manufacturing practices by Gelman Sciences (now Pall Life Sciences) from 1968 - 1986. The risks, methods and degree of remediation of the contamination have sparked scientific debate, public activism, government resolutions, and lawsuits. Due to the nature of the contaminant and the complex geology in the area, the problem will likely continue for years to come.
Page 1 and 2: Water Protection Activities in Wash
Page 3: Acknowledgements Water Protection A
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 and 24: Activity #8 Groundwater Withdrawal
Page 25 and 26: 2.3 Groundwater Challenges and Resp
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
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Public Beaches Tested in Washtenaw
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3.3 Challenges and Responses Surfac
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The Rules of the Washtenaw County D
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Rain gardens have been installed on
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The Community Partners for Clean St
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Most, if not all, of the local unit
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Watershed Management Plans outline
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Challenge # 15 Point Source Dischar
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Challenge # 16 Community Wastewater
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● 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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Page Intentionally Left Blank 69
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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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A14: Scio Township The glacial geol
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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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