01The verdict: is Kalkaska water safe?
Kalkaska's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A- (88.1/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,020 residents using groundwater (wells).
1 unresolved violation on record
EPA records show an open compliance item for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Top half in Michigan
Kalkaska ranks #166 of 513 graded Michigan cities.
See the comparison ↓Check back after the next refresh
EPA data updates on a rolling basis; we fold in new samples and violations every month.
Get alerts ↓Kalkaska's drinking water received a grade of A- (88.1 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,020 residents using groundwater.
Lead data is not currently available for this system. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 3 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
Kalkaska ranks #166 out of 513 cities in Michigan for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state. Kalkaska relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff. As a small community water system, Kalkaska may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Kalkaska's water
Every contaminant flagged in Kalkaska, 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.
No contaminants were measured above screening thresholds in the most recent EPA sampling data for this system. The full testing table below lists everything checked.
Full contaminants report
No contaminant data available for this city.
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
03Kalkaska'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 3 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
8 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.
04Where Kalkaska's water comes from
Kalkaska's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.
Groundwater
Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.
Local treatment
Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
2,020 people
Residents served across Kalkaska's service area.
Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals. Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 2,020 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| KALKASKA, VILLAGE OF | MI0003560 | 2,020 | Groundwater |
Water bodies near Kalkaska
These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.
05Pressure on Kalkaska'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
2 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
1 federal disaster declaration on record for Kalkaska County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Kalkaska compares
Scores for nearby Michigan cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Michigan average (70/100)
Kalkaska scores 88.1/100 — above the Michigan average of 70/100. It outscores 8 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 Kalkaska's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Kalkaska'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 Kalkaska alerts
We refresh EPA data monthly and surface new violations, advisories, and boil-water notices for your county on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Kalkaska, MI tap water safe to drink?
Kalkaska's water quality earned a grade of A- (88.1/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #166 out of 513 cities tested in Michigan.
What contaminants are in Kalkaska's water?
3 violations are on record.
How is Kalkaska'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 Kalkaska?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Kalkaska's water come from?
Kalkaska's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 2,020 residents.
Is Kalkaska's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Kalkaska uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 3 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
How does Kalkaska's water compare to other cities?
Kalkaska ranks #166 out of 513 cities in Michigan (better than 68% of state cities) and #3619 out of 15382 cities nationally (77th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Kalkaska's small water system affect quality?
Kalkaska's system serves approximately 2,020 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 3 violations on record.