City of Bay City

Safe Municipal Water - Our Primary Mission

Providing safe tap water to nearly 100,000 customers who depend on us daily remains the top priority for staff, maintenance crews, and managers at the Bay Area Water Treatment Plant (BAWTP), alongside water systems that distribute water throughout Bay County. This Annual Water Quality Report contains valuable information for anyone receiving water from a public hydrant in our service area. The report includes water quality data from the Bay Area Water Plant and distribution system results for calendar year 2017, unless otherwise noted.

Is your water safe? Municipal water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. Eliminating all contaminants would be prohibitively expensive and in most cases wouldn't enhance public health protection. To ensure tap water safety, the EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. FDA regulations set similar limits for bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection.

We're pleased to report that in 2017, there were no violations or exceedances related to your municipal water, and all EPA and MDEQ requirements and regulations were fully met. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Source Water Information

Municipal water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land surfaces or through soil, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive material, and can pick up substances from animal or human activities. Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria) from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) either naturally-occurring or from urban runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants, either naturally-occurring or from oil/gas production and mining activities

Source Water Assessment

Delivering quality water starts with obtaining superior raw water purchased from the Saginaw-Midland Municipal Water Supply Company (jointly owned by Saginaw and Midland). The Saginaw-Midland System's Whitestone Point facility near AuGres draws raw water from Lake Huron, a more consistent and superior source compared to the previously used Saginaw Bay. Raw water travels approximately 55 miles to the Bay Area Water Treatment Plant for processing.

The MDEQ completed Source Water Assessments of all 59 Michigan public water supplies drawing from surface water sources. Using a seven-tiered susceptibility scale from "very low" to "very high" based on geologic sensitivity, water chemistry, and contamination sources, the MDEQ rated the Saginaw-Midland source as "Moderately Low" - the best possible rating for a surface water source. Anyone interested in viewing the assessment can call the plant at (989) 439-7245. Additional information about the MDEQ program is available at http://www.michigan.gov/deq/ under Water, Drinking Water, and Source Water Assessment.

Cryptosporidium Information

Cryptosporidium is a microbial parasite found in surface waters nationwide. Although filtration removes Cryptosporidium, conventional methods cannot guarantee 100% elimination. From October 2015 to September 2017, the Bay Area Water Treatment Plant conducted monthly source water testing for Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Of 24 monthly untreated source water samples, none tested positive for Giardia, and only one sample (from 2016) showed any Cryptosporidium - just one oocyst in a 10L sample. The membrane filters' pore size effectively blocks Cryptosporidium, virtually eliminating any possibility of it passing through treatment into tap water. Testing results placed our system in the lowest risk category (Bin 1), requiring no additional Cryptosporidium treatment.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

PFAS are chemicals resistant to heat, water, and oil that have been used in industrial applications and consumer products including carpeting, waterproof clothing, upholstery, food packaging, firefighting foams, and metal plating for many years. The EPA has identified PFAS as an emerging contaminant nationally.

These persistent chemicals don't break down in the environment and can bioaccumulate in the blood and organs over time. Studies of PFAS-exposed populations have shown links to increased cholesterol, hormonal and immune system changes, reduced fertility, and higher risk of certain cancers.

The EPA hasn't established enforceable drinking water standards (maximum contaminant levels) for PFAS, but has set lifetime health advisory (LHA) levels for two compounds: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The LHA level is 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for each compound individually or combined.

Low levels of PFAS were detected in samples from the Saginaw-Midland Corporation's raw water intake at Whitestone Point. For questions about PFAS in your water, contact the State of Michigan Environmental Assistance Center at 800-662-9278 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM) or the Bay Area Water Treatment Plant at (989) 439-7245.

1. When is a building permit required? Construction projects costing over $500 require a building permit. Permits are necessary for these construction types: additions, new homes, decks, system relocations, site development, and swimming pools.
2. Where can I obtain a building permit? Building permit applications are available at the Madison Plan Commission office in City Hall, 101 West Main Street, Madison, IN 47250, or by calling 812-265-8324.