Arsenic Contamination

Arsenic in Michigan Drinking Water

Ranked by arsenic violation count · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

135

Cities Tested

135

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

3.5 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

351

Health Violations

Analysis

Arsenic in Michigan: what the data shows

Michigan has 135 cities with arsenic-related violations on record. Arsenic contamination is a federal MCL violation at levels above 10 µg/L (10 ppb). The state has 135 cities with at least one arsenic violation. Arsenic enters drinking water primarily through erosion of natural deposits, particularly in western states with arsenite-bearing geology. Industrial sources include mining runoff, glass manufacturing, and semiconductor production. Groundwater systems are significantly more likely to have arsenic issues than surface water systems. Long-term arsenic exposure above the MCL increases the risk of bladder, lung, and skin cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Reverse osmosis and specialized arsenic-removal media are the most effective point-of-use treatment options.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 µg/L EPA MCL

Michigan

100%

135 of 135 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

5489 of 5489 cities

City Map

Arsenic data across Michigan

Each dot is a city with arsenic violation data. Cities with at least one arsenic-related violation are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by arsenic level in Michigan

Highest Arsenic levels (violations)

All Cities

All Michigan cities ranked by arsenic level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Farmington Hills	27 violations	Yes	86	F
2	Fowlerville	23 violations	Yes	36	D
3	Grand Blanc	22 violations	Yes	26	F
4	Flint	20 violations	Yes	29	D
5	Adrian	13 violations	Yes	46	F
6	Ruskin	13 violations	Yes	70	D+
7	Southfield	12 violations	Yes	40	F
8	Cedar Springs	12 violations	Yes	31	C-
9	Owosso	11 violations	Yes	15	C+
10	Kalamazoo	10 violations	Yes	37	F
11	Lapeer	10 violations	Yes	22	F
12	Holly	8 violations	Yes	9	C-
13	Linden	8 violations	Yes	7	D
14	Addison	8 violations	Yes	5	C+
15	Keego Harbor	7 violations	Yes	13	D
16	Evart	7 violations	Yes	7	C+
17	Capac	7 violations	Yes	1	B+
18	Otisville	7 violations	Yes	1	D+
19	Jackson	6 violations	Yes	13	D
20	Royal Oak	6 violations	Yes	9	B
21	Brighton	6 violations	Yes	25	F
22	Oxford	6 violations	Yes	19	B
23	Sandusky	6 violations	Yes	1	A
24	Ovid	6 violations	Yes	1	A-
25	Waterford	5 violations	Yes	11	B
26	Troy	5 violations	Yes	10	B-
27	West Bloomfield	5 violations	Yes	21	F
28	Chelsea	5 violations	Yes	10	B
29	Caro	5 violations	Yes	1	A-
30	Clinton	5 violations	Yes	5	C
31	Whitmore Lake	5 violations	Yes	12	D
32	Clinton Township	4 violations	Yes	1	B+
33	Burton	4 violations	Yes	2	A
34	Fenton	4 violations	Yes	5	D
35	South Lyon	4 violations	Yes	1	B
36	Belding	4 violations	Yes	12	B-
37	Dover	4 violations	Yes	17	B
38	Cass City	4 violations	Yes	4	A-
39	West Branch	4 violations	Yes	2	A-
40	Montrose	4 violations	Yes	0	B+
41	Warsaw	4 violations	Yes	7	C+
42	Auburn Hills	3 violations	Yes	1	B+
43	Milford	3 violations	Yes	20	D
44	Harbor Springs	3 violations	Yes	27	D
45	Richmond	3 violations	Yes	4	C+
46	White Lake	3 violations	Yes	1	B-
47	Middleville	3 violations	Yes	11	B-
48	Baraga	3 violations	Yes	3	B-
49	Durand	3 violations	Yes	6	A-
50	Hartford	3 violations	Yes	7	B+
51	Mattawan	3 violations	Yes	6	B+
52	Reading	3 violations	Yes	2	A
53	Concord	3 violations	Yes	5	A-
54	Dover	3 violations	Yes	7	A
55	Sunfield	3 violations	Yes	2	A
56	Mt Clemens	3 violations	Yes	16	D
57	Carsonville	3 violations	Yes	2	A
58	Novi	2 violations	Yes	9	C
59	Birmingham	2 violations	Yes	17	F
60	Ishpeming	2 violations	Yes	17	B
61	Constantine	2 violations	Yes	13	B
62	Armada	2 violations	Yes	2	A-
63	Homosassa Springs	2 violations	Yes	3	B
64	Ruskin	2 violations	Yes	6	A
65	Barnegat Twp.-1533	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
66	Millington	2 violations	Yes	1	A
67	Dryden	2 violations	Yes	1	A
68	Tucson	2 violations	Yes	1	B-
69	Indiantown	2 violations	Yes	47	D+
70	Bancroft	2 violations	Yes	5	B
71	Byron	2 violations	Yes	7	A-
72	Ann Arbor	1 violations	Yes	39	D+
73	Monroe	1 violations	Yes	6	C
74	Rochester Hills	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
75	Pontiac	1 violations	Yes	2	A
76	Battle Creek	1 violations	Yes	15	F
77	Midland	1 violations	Yes	3	B+
78	Mount Pleasant	1 violations	Yes	1	B
79	Grandville	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
80	Clarkston	1 violations	Yes	10	B+
81	Coldwater	1 violations	Yes	27	F
82	Rockford	1 violations	Yes	6	C
83	Petoskey	1 violations	Yes	5	B-
84	Suttons Bay	1 violations	Yes	4	B+
85	Bloomfield Hills	1 violations	Yes	11	F
86	Freeland	1 violations	Yes	26	F
87	Manistee	1 violations	Yes	3	A-
88	Three Rivers	1 violations	Yes	16	B+
89	Hastings	1 violations	Yes	5	B-
90	Berrien Springs	1 violations	Yes	7	C+
91	Lowell	1 violations	Yes	25	B
92	Plainwell	1 violations	Yes	8	B-
93	Caledonia	1 violations	Yes	2	B-
94	Gladstone	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
95	Gladwin	1 violations	Yes	16	C-
96	Paw Paw	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
97	Bad Axe	1 violations	Yes	3	A
98	Centreville	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
99	Watervliet	1 violations	Yes	2	B
100	Fennville	1 violations	Yes	8	B+
101	Galesburg	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
102	Watersmeet	1 violations	Yes	9	B+
103	Orchard Lake	1 violations	Yes	4	C
104	Frostproof	1 violations	Yes	9	D+
105	Mamakating (T)	1 violations	Yes	3	B
106	Sebring	1 violations	Yes	33	C
107	Cassopolis	1 violations	Yes	12	B
108	Quincy	1 violations	Yes	25	D
109	Decatur	1 violations	Yes	1	A
110	Versailles	1 violations	Yes	20	A-
111	Versailles	1 violations	Yes	20	A-
112	Scottville	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
113	Kingsley	1 violations	Yes	2	B-
114	Edwardsburg	1 violations	Yes	5	B+
115	Schoolcraft	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
116	Westland	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
117	Manton	1 violations	Yes	7	B
118	Colon	1 violations	Yes	0	B
119	Fowler	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
120	Athens	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
121	Mayville	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
122	Farwell	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
123	Onsted	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
124	Augusta	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
125	Ubly	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
126	Pentwater	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
127	Lyons	1 violations	Yes	2	C+
128	Martin	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
129	Gobles	1 violations	Yes	0	A
130	Tekonsha	1 violations	Yes	9	A
131	Tampa	1 violations	Yes	5	A-
132	Davenport	1 violations	Yes	5	C+
133	Mcbain	1 violations	Yes	0	A
134	New Lothrop	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
135	Shelbyville	1 violations	Yes	2	A-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about arsenic in Michigan

Is arsenic in Michigan tap water a concern?

Yes — 135 cities in Michigan have arsenic-related violations on record. The EPA MCL for arsenic is 10 µg/L. Even at levels below the MCL, long-term arsenic exposure has been linked to cancer and cardiovascular disease.

How can I remove arsenic from my drinking water in Michigan?

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most effective at removing arsenic, typically reducing it by 90% or more. Specialized arsenic-removal media (such as iron-based adsorption filters) are also highly effective. Standard carbon filters and pitcher filters do NOT effectively remove arsenic. If your water comes from a private well, have it tested for arsenic.

Where does arsenic in Michigan water come from?

Arsenic enters drinking water primarily through natural erosion of arsenic-bearing rock formations. It is most common in groundwater systems in the western United States, parts of the Midwest, and New England. Industrial sources include mining, smelting, and agricultural pesticide residues. Groundwater sources are far more likely to contain arsenic than surface water.

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