Grand Haven

The City of Grand Haven is proud to present this year's Municipal Water Quality Report. This document aims to inform residents about the quality of water delivered to your homes daily. Our ongoing mission is to provide reliable, safe municipal water. We remain committed to ensuring high-quality water standards.

Water is collected through submerged intakes located several feet below Lake Michigan's bottom and undergoes pre-filtering as it enters our treatment facility. The natural sand above these intakes provides an initial filtration barrier that enhances our direct filtration process. We're pleased to confirm that your water meets all Federal and State of Michigan health standards.

The Northwest Ottawa Water System (NOWS) treatment plant and the City of Grand Haven regularly monitor various dissolved minerals and organic compounds in your water as required by state and federal regulations. This report provides comprehensive information about your water quality, with tables showing monitoring results from January 1 through December 31, 2017.

We invite public participation in decisions that may affect water quality. Community members are welcome to attend the quarterly NOWS Management Committee meetings held at Grand Haven City Hall Council Chambers. Contact the City for the latest meeting schedule.

All water sources, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. Remember that the presence of these substances doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. You can also view this report online at: www.grandhaven.org/departments/waterfiltration/

Some individuals may be more vulnerable to contaminants than the general population. Immunocompromised persons—such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders, some elderly individuals, and infants—may be particularly at risk. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to reduce infection risks are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive material, and can pick up substances from animal or human activity. Contaminants potentially present in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants, including viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife.
• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can occur naturally or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming.
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from oil/gas production and mining.

To ensure tap water safety, EPA regulations limit certain contaminants in public water systems. FDA regulations establish similar limits for bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection.

Source Water Assessment: The State conducted an assessment of our Lake Michigan source water in 2003-2004 to determine contamination susceptibility. The rating uses a six-tiered scale from "very-low" to "high" based on geologic sensitivity, water chemistry, and contamination sources. Our source water received a "moderate" susceptibility rating. For a copy of this report, contact the Water Facilities Manager at 847-3487.

Health Effects of Lead: Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. While NOWS provides quality water, we cannot control plumbing component materials. When water sits unused for several hours, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using for drinking or cooking to minimize lead exposure. If concerned, consider water testing. Information about lead in water, testing methods, and exposure reduction is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) or http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE): This gasoline additive has contaminated some water supplies nationwide. Our water does not contain MTBE.

The CDC provides vital information about water safety, potential contaminants, and health implications of municipal water. They offer guidance on preventing waterborne illnesses and recommendations for vulnerable populations. Grand Haven residents can access resources about local water quality concerns and appropriate protective measures through the CDC website.