Groundwater Education

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Groundwater in Allegan County

Allegan County relies on groundwater for 90% of its drinking water supply. This includes private residential wells, irrigation, and municipal supplies. As Allegan County works to meet the needs of future growth and development, it must also ensure that the drinking water supply can be sustained for generations to come. Whether you utilize a private residential well or are a part of a municipal supply, there are steps everyone can take to conserve and preserve the quality of groundwater in Allegan County.

What you should be looking for in your water

Per minimum program requirements set by the state, all newly constructed residential wells in Allegan are required to be tested for:

Bacteria (Coliform and E. Coli)
Nitrates- form of nitrogen found in the environment. Nitrates can come from natural and human made sources but high levels of nitrates in drinking water often come from fertilizers, livestock waste, and/or failing septic systems.

ACHD sanitarians may require additional testing for new wells based on proximity to historical plumes of contamination identified by EGLE or the state. The most common additional tests include those for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and/or heavy metals. Decisions for additional testing are made on a permit-by-permit basis by the sanitarian.

Some residents may be contacted by MDHHS for additional water testing for new and/or emerging contaminants, including newly identified PFAS sites. These residents will be contacted individually by the state and will receive guidance for testing.

Any residents with drinking water concerns can contact MDHHS through their Drinking Water Hotline (844-934-1315) or EGLE through their online system: Report a Drinking Water Concern

Drinking water testing

Routine water samples for nitrate and bacteria testing (and most additional tests required by ACHD like VOCs and heavy metals) can be conducted at local labs. EGLE keeps a list of certified labs: Laboratory certification program

This pdf has location, contact information, and tests available listed for labs: Chemistry-Laboratories.pdf

Resources

Groundwater Basics

Drinking Water Resources

Educational Documents

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Expand/Contract Questions and Answers

Does the Allegan County Health Department (ACHD) offer water sampling?
Currently, ACHD does not offer water sampling services to the general public. You can visit the link below or call the Department of Environment Great Lakes & Energy at 517-335-8184 for additional information.

Drinking Water Laboratory
How often should I sample my private residential well, and what should I sample for?
For a private residential well, the most common contaminants are coliform bacteria, nitrate, nitrite, fluoride, chloride, sulfate, sodium, hardness, and metals like aluminum, antimony, arsenic, boron, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, iron, manganese, mercury, selenium, uranium, and zinc. The Centers for Disease Control recommends testing your well water annually for total coliform bacteria, nitrates & pH. You can always contact the ACHD for assistance in interpreting sample results.
What should I do if my water test indicates a parameter out of the normal range?
Most often, homeowners/residents will be contacted by ACHD staff when routine tests (bacteria/nitrates) come back positive or above the MCL – likely with a disproval of their water supply.

-Samples that come back positive for bacteria (Coliform/E. Coli) – contact well driller to rechlorinate and resample.

-Samples with nitrates over 10 mg/L – included on this fact sheet (Nitrate and Nitrite in Drinking Water for Well Owners)

-Recommended to not drink, cook, or prepare infant formula with the water until the issue is remedied.

-Install a reverse osmosis, ion exchange, or distillation filtration system.

-Drill a new well.

-Can contact ACHD sanitarians with additional questions or concerns.

For samples outside of regular sampling requirements (PFAS and Long term Groundwater Monitoring), residents will likely receive additional guidance from state contacts responsible for conducting the testing.
Where can I find more information about my drinking water?
If you receive a monthly bill for your water, you are likely connected to a municipal water supply. If desired, you can contact the municipality listed on the bill for more water quality information. If you do not receive a monthly bill for your water, you are likely connected to a private residential well. For information on your well depth & construction, you can visit Wellogic Home. For any additional information, you can submit a request for Environmental Health records on the ACHD website at Request for Access to Environmental Health Records
Who regulates groundwater in Allegan County?
- The State/Legislature – pass laws and regulations that are enforced at the local level. This includes the Safe Drinking Water Act (regulates public water supplies) and Part 127 (regulates private water supplies like new residential wells).
- Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) – regulates/oversees source water protection, as well as the certification, training, and registration of well drilling contractors.
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Environmental Health Bureau (MDHHS EHB) – Determines the level of risk to health due to certain chemicals and provides information/resources/education related to health issues linked with groundwater contaminants. They work with LHDs and EGLE to identify locations with potential contamination and provide free water testing and sampling services to residents. This includes emergency response sampling efforts, Lead and Copper sampling, testing of school water supplies, and PFAS sampling. MDHHS often works directly with residents to coordinate sampling efforts and will reach out to homeowners/residents if they qualify for sampling.
- County/Local Health Departments – regulates non community water supplies (Type II wells) and residential wells. LHDs issue permits for and inspect newly constructed wells, offer sampling/water testing for contaminants, and investigate complaints and/or potential contamination sources that threaten the groundwater.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – sets and regulates maximum contamination levels (MCLs) for contaminants in water supplies, including those for nitrates, VOCs, and heavy metals.