01The verdict: is Bad Axe water safe?
Bad Axe's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (92.5/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 3,129 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
Chlorate is over its legal limit
Measured at 229.0 µg/L against the EPA Lifetime HA of 210 µg/L. The ledger below shows how far over — and which filter removes it.
See the measurement ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 3.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓1 violation in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Bad Axe's drinking water received a grade of A (92.5 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 3,129 residents using purchased surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 3.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 8 violations on record, including 3 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
Bad Axe ranks #59 out of 513 cities in Michigan for water quality, placing it above average in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. Hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) was detected at 0.14 µg/L in UCMR 3 testing. While below California's 10 µg/L limit and with no federal MCL set, residents sensitive to this contaminant may consider reverse osmosis filtration. As a small community water system, Bad Axe may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Bad Axe's water
Every contaminant flagged in Bad Axe, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 3.0 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Michigan
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Michigan
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Bad Axe's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 8 violations on record, including 3 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
9 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 10 ppb since 1992. Latest reading: 3 ppb (2024) — 20% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Bad Axe's water comes from
Bad Axe's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Purchased Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Wholesale supplier
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
2 systems
2 water systems (1 wholesaler), operated under local government ownership.
3,129 people
Residents served across Bad Axe's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 3,129 people through 2 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAD AXE | MI0000340 | 3,129 | Purchased Surface Water |
| HURON REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY | MI0003317 | — | Surface Water |
Water bodies near Bad Axe
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Bad Axe's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Bad Axe's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Industrial discharge
3 facilities within 10 miles reported 0 lb released to surface water in the latest EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Proximity doesn't equal tap contamination — treatment and hydrology decide — but it's pressure on the watershed.
Flood & storm history
4 federal disaster declarations on record for Huron County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Bad Axe compares
Scores for nearby Michigan cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Michigan average (70/100)
Bad Axe scores 92.5/100 — above the Michigan average of 70/100. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities. Full Michigan rankings →
84.1 / 100BGrand Rapids, MI
70.2 / 100DAnn Arbor, MI
51.5 / 100CLansing, MI
57.3 / 100FKalamazoo, MI
35 / 100DFlint, MI
45.8 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Bad Axe's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Bad Axe's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Bad Axe alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Bad Axe, MI tap water safe to drink?
Bad Axe's water quality earned a grade of A (92.5/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #59 out of 513 cities tested in Michigan.
What contaminants are in Bad Axe's water?
Lead was measured at 3.0 ppb (90th percentile). 8 violations are on record.
How is Bad Axe's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Bad Axe?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Bad Axe's water come from?
Bad Axe's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 2 water systems serving approximately 3,129 residents.
What health violations has Bad Axe's water system had?
Bad Axe has 3 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in April 2023. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 1 violation remains unresolved.
How does Bad Axe's water compare to other cities?
Bad Axe ranks #59 out of 513 cities in Michigan (better than 88% of state cities) and #1206 out of 15382 cities nationally (92th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.