West Bloomfield Township

NOTICE: This is a vital report on water quality and safety for West Bloomfield residents. The West Bloomfield Township Water Utilities Department proudly presents this comprehensive information about your municipal water supply.

The 2017 Annual Consumer Confidence Report highlights our water sources, testing results, and essential health information. Our department will promptly notify you of any concerns regarding your water quality, as we consistently meet or exceed standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).

In 2017, West Bloomfield Township purchased over 2 billion gallons (2,066,225,592 gallons) of treated water from The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA). The water system utilizes water drawn from several Detroit River intakes and is processed at four large treatment facilities. A fifth plant in St. Clair County uses surface water from Lake Huron.

West Bloomfield's water comes from the Lake Huron watershed, which includes numerous seasonal streams that flow into the lake. A 2004 source water assessment conducted by MDEQ, the U.S. Geological Survey, Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, and Michigan Public Health Agency rated this source as having "moderately low susceptibility" to potential contaminants.

In 2015, GLWA received a grant to develop a Source Water Protection Program for the Lake Huron Water Treatment Plant Intake, covering seven essential elements including roles of government units, protection area delineation, contamination source identification, management methods, contingency plans, new source siting, and public education.

Treatment Process:
Our facilities operate 24/7 with a multi-step process:

• Initial disinfection with chlorine to eliminate harmful organisms
• Addition of Alum to remove turbidity-causing particles
• Fluoride addition to protect against tooth decay
• Sand bed filtration to remove additional debris and chlorine-resistant bacteria
• Final treatment with phosphoric acid and chlorine to control lead from household plumbing and maintain disinfection

Water is thoroughly tested before treatment, during various processing stages, and throughout the distribution system. Hundreds of samples undergo weekly testing in certified laboratories by qualified professionals. GLWA's water consistently ranks among the top 10 in the region for both quality and value.

Public Participation Opportunities:
The Board of Trustees meets two Mondays each month, with additional public hearings available. For schedules or information on township activities, contact the Township Clerk's office at (248) 451-4848. We welcome your feedback about this report - please direct comments or questions to Justin Taylor, management superintendent, at (248) 451-4843.

Additional Information:
GLWA voluntarily tests for numerous additional substances beyond requirements to ensure water safety and quality. For a more comprehensive report, visit www.glwater.org or contact Mary Lynn Semegen at (313) 926-8102 or mary.semegen@glwater.org.

Community Water Rate Information:
West Bloomfield Township's water rate increases are primarily driven by annual suburban community allocations from GLWA, plus operational costs for maintaining our infrastructure. A significant factor in GLWA's calculation is our Peak Hour Demand - when our community uses water during GLWA's highest production periods (typically 5-7 a.m.).

To minimize annual rate increases, we strongly recommend avoiding lawn sprinkling between 5-7 a.m. daily. Significant irrigation occurs in West Bloomfield from May through October, and your cooperation in avoiding these peak hours helps control rising water costs.

All water sources, including bottled water, may reasonably contain small amounts of some contaminants. The EPA regulates tap water contaminant limits, while FDA regulations establish bottled water standards, both designed to provide the same public health protection.

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or underground, it dissolves natural minerals and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activity.

Potential contaminant sources include:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria) from sewage treatment, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) from natural sources, urban runoff, sewage, industrial discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics

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