Washington Township

Municipal water, including bottled varieties, can reasonably be expected to contain small amounts of certain impurities. The presence of these substances doesn't necessarily pose health risks. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Sources of tap water (both from faucets and bottles) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land surfaces or through soil, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive materials, while also collecting substances from animal or human activities.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals occurring naturally or resulting from urban runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater, oil/gas production, farming, or mining
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, stormwater runoff, and residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants including synthetic and volatile organics from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that may be naturally occurring or result from oil/gas production and mining

The EPA prescribes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA regulations establish similar limits for bottled water, both ensuring public health protection.

Some populations may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than others. Immunocompromised individuals (cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or immune disorders, elderly persons, and infants) may be particularly susceptible to infections. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers. Guidelines for reducing infection risks from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead primarily enters drinking water through service line materials and home plumbing components. Washington Township provides quality water but cannot control plumbing material variety. To minimize lead exposure, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. For concerns about lead, consider water testing. More information is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Your water comes from the lower Lake Huron watershed, which includes several seasonal streams draining into Lake Huron. A 2004 source water assessment by Michigan environmental agencies rated this intake as having "moderately low" susceptibility to contaminants. The Lake Huron treatment plant has historically provided effective treatment meeting standards. In 2015, GLWA received a grant to develop a protection program for this intake, covering government roles, protection area delineation, potential source identification, management approaches, contingency plans, new source siting, and public education. For more information, contact the water department at (586) 786-0010.

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