01The verdict: is Painesdale water safe?
Painesdale's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of B+ (82.8/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,010 residents using groundwater (wells).
2 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓2K people, 1 system
All figures on this page come from federal EPA compliance and testing data for the systems serving this city.
See the systems ↓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 ↓Painesdale's drinking water received a grade of B+ (82.8 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,010 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. 2 remain unresolved.
Painesdale ranks #309 out of 513 cities in Michigan for water quality, placing it below average in the state. Painesdale 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, Painesdale may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Painesdale's water
Every contaminant flagged in Painesdale, 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
03Painesdale'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. 2 remain unresolved.
7 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 Painesdale's water comes from
Painesdale'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.
2,010 people
Residents served across Painesdale'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 2,010 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADAMS TOWNSHIP | MI0000020 | 2,010 | Groundwater |
Water bodies near Painesdale
These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.
05Pressure on Painesdale'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.
Flood & storm history
4 federal disaster declarations on record for Houghton County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Painesdale compares
Scores for nearby Michigan cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Michigan average (70/100)
Painesdale scores 82.8/100 — above the Michigan average of 70/100. It outscores 5 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 Painesdale's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Painesdale'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 Painesdale 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 Painesdale, MI tap water safe to drink?
Painesdale's water quality earned a grade of B+ (82.8/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #309 out of 513 cities tested in Michigan.
What contaminants are in Painesdale's water?
3 violations are on record.
How is Painesdale'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 Painesdale?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Painesdale's water come from?
Painesdale's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 2,010 residents.
Is Painesdale's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Painesdale 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 Painesdale's water compare to other cities?
Painesdale ranks #309 out of 513 cities in Michigan (better than 40% of state cities) and #6706 out of 15382 cities nationally (56th percentile). The grade of B+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Painesdale's small water system affect quality?
Painesdale's system serves approximately 2,010 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.