Nitrate Contamination

Nitrate in Michigan Drinking Water

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

131

Cities Tested

131

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

3.0 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

344

Health Violations

Analysis

Nitrate in Michigan: what the data shows

Michigan has 131 cities with nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L (measured as nitrogen). The state has 131 cities with at least one nitrate violation. Nitrate is the most common groundwater contaminant in the United States. It enters water supplies primarily through agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural and agricultural communities face the highest risk. The primary acute health concern is methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome") in infants under six months. Emerging research also links chronic nitrate exposure to thyroid disease, certain cancers, and adverse birth outcomes. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation can remove nitrate from drinking water — standard carbon filters do not.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 mg/L EPA MCL

Michigan

100%

131 of 131 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

7727 of 7727 cities

City Map

Nitrate data across Michigan

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

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by nitrate level in Michigan

Highest Nitrate levels (violations)

All Cities

All Michigan cities ranked by nitrate level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Ruskin	26 violations	Yes	70	D+
2	Lowell	24 violations	Yes	25	B
3	Coldwater	19 violations	Yes	27	F
4	Farmington Hills	15 violations	Yes	86	F
5	Warsaw	13 violations	Yes	7	C+
6	Tucson	12 violations	Yes	1	B-
7	Dover	12 violations	Yes	17	B
8	Cassopolis	9 violations	Yes	12	B
9	Birmingham	8 violations	Yes	17	F
10	Lapeer	8 violations	Yes	22	F
11	Kalamazoo	6 violations	Yes	37	F
12	Bloomfield Hills	6 violations	Yes	11	F
13	Dover	6 violations	Yes	7	A
14	Milford	5 violations	Yes	20	D
15	Whitmore Lake	5 violations	Yes	12	D
16	Deerfield	5 violations	Yes	91	C
17	Clinton Township	4 violations	Yes	1	B+
18	Shelby Township	4 violations	Yes	6	D
19	Brighton	4 violations	Yes	25	F
20	Marquette	4 violations	Yes	4	F
21	Alpena	4 violations	Yes	14	C-
22	Ada	4 violations	Yes	20	B
23	Dundee	4 violations	Yes	5	A-
24	Blissfield	4 violations	Yes	6	A
25	Constantine	4 violations	Yes	13	B
26	Janesville	4 violations	Yes	5	A+
27	Davenport	4 violations	Yes	5	C+
28	Mt Clemens	4 violations	Yes	16	D
29	Keego Harbor	4 violations	Yes	13	D
30	West Bloomfield	3 violations	Yes	21	F
31	East Lansing	3 violations	Yes	12	F
32	Howell	3 violations	Yes	11	F
33	Freeland	3 violations	Yes	26	F
34	Buchanan	3 violations	Yes	6	B+
35	Caspian	3 violations	Yes	15	B
36	Quincy	3 violations	Yes	25	D
37	Brimley	3 violations	Yes	7	B
38	Ruskin	3 violations	Yes	6	A
39	Standish	3 violations	Yes	3	C-
40	Frostproof	3 violations	Yes	9	D+
41	Barnegat Twp.-1533	3 violations	Yes	1	A-
42	Manton	3 violations	Yes	7	B
43	Mamakating (T)	3 violations	Yes	3	B
44	Indiantown	3 violations	Yes	47	D+
45	Flint	2 violations	Yes	29	D
46	Traverse City	2 violations	Yes	12	D+
47	Grand Blanc	2 violations	Yes	26	F
48	Mt Pleasant	2 violations	Yes	0	C
49	Suttons Bay	2 violations	Yes	4	B+
50	Mount Pleasant	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
51	Hillsdale	2 violations	Yes	3	A-
52	Hastings	2 violations	Yes	5	B-
53	Harbor Springs	2 violations	Yes	27	D
54	Gwinn	2 violations	Yes	20	A-
55	Eaton Rapids	2 violations	Yes	3	B-
56	Fowlerville	2 violations	Yes	36	D
57	Boyne City	2 violations	Yes	2	B
58	Linden	2 violations	Yes	7	D
59	Gaylord	2 violations	Yes	8	B+
60	Middleville	2 violations	Yes	11	B-
61	Gladwin	2 violations	Yes	16	C-
62	Vicksburg	2 violations	Yes	6	B-
63	Crystal Falls	2 violations	Yes	7	B
64	Centreville	2 violations	Yes	9	A-
65	Armada	2 violations	Yes	2	A-
66	Montrose	2 violations	Yes	0	B+
67	Edwardsburg	2 violations	Yes	5	B+
68	Harrison	2 violations	Yes	2	A-
69	Climax	2 violations	Yes	4	A
70	Farwell	2 violations	Yes	2	A-
71	Homosassa Springs	2 violations	Yes	3	B
72	Chassell	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
73	Buckley	2 violations	Yes	12	B
74	Southfield	1 violations	Yes	40	F
75	Jackson	1 violations	Yes	13	D
76	Rochester Hills	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
77	Novi	1 violations	Yes	9	C
78	Portage	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
79	Muskegon	1 violations	Yes	3	B
80	Owosso	1 violations	Yes	15	C+
81	Fenton	1 violations	Yes	5	D
82	South Lyon	1 violations	Yes	1	B
83	Spring Lake	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
84	Petoskey	1 violations	Yes	5	B-
85	South Haven	1 violations	Yes	26	B-
86	New Hudson	1 violations	Yes	1	B
87	Flushing	1 violations	Yes	3	C-
88	Three Rivers	1 violations	Yes	16	B+
89	Plainwell	1 violations	Yes	8	B-
90	Lexington	1 violations	Yes	4	B
91	Iron River	1 violations	Yes	25	B+
92	Cedar Springs	1 violations	Yes	31	C-
93	Mancelona	1 violations	Yes	3	B+
94	Newberry	1 violations	Yes	31	B
95	Watervliet	1 violations	Yes	2	B
96	Bellaire	1 violations	Yes	8	B
97	Croswell	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
98	Clinton	1 violations	Yes	5	C
99	Watersmeet	1 violations	Yes	9	B+
100	Morenci	1 violations	Yes	6	A-
101	Sebring	1 violations	Yes	33	C
102	Yale	1 violations	Yes	4	B-
103	Howard City	1 violations	Yes	1	A
104	Versailles	1 violations	Yes	20	A-
105	Versailles	1 violations	Yes	20	A-
106	Shepherd	1 violations	Yes	4	B-
107	Capac	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
108	Scottville	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
109	Sebewaing	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
110	Kingsley	1 violations	Yes	2	B-
111	Union City	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
112	Schoolcraft	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
113	Beaverton	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
114	Dollar Bay	1 violations	Yes	5	B+
115	Port Austin	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
116	Saranac	1 violations	Yes	3	A-
117	Lake Linden	1 violations	Yes	3	B-
118	Roscommon	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
119	Grant	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
120	Onaway	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
121	Lake City	1 violations	Yes	0	C+
122	Lyons	1 violations	Yes	2	C+
123	Northport	1 violations	Yes	6	A-
124	Grand Island	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
125	Maple Rapids	1 violations	Yes	1	B
126	Mcbain	1 violations	Yes	0	A
127	Haines City	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
128	Tampa	1 violations	Yes	5	A-
129	Mackinac Island	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
130	Shelbyville	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
131	Harrisville	1 violations	Yes	1	C+

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about nitrate in Michigan

Is nitrate in Michigan tap water dangerous?

Yes — 131 cities in Michigan have nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL is 10 mg/L. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants under six months, where it can cause methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome"). Adults face lower acute risk, but chronic exposure is linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.

How can I remove nitrate from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation are effective at removing nitrate. Standard carbon filters (including most pitcher and faucet-mount filters) do NOT remove nitrate. If you rely on a private well in an agricultural area, have your water tested annually for nitrate.

What causes high nitrate levels in Michigan water?

Nitrate contamination comes primarily from agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural communities near intensive farming are most at risk. Shallow wells are particularly vulnerable. Heavy rainfall can spike nitrate levels as it washes fertilizer into groundwater and surface water supplies.

More contaminants