Strontium Contamination

Strontium in Michigan Drinking Water

Ranked by max strontium detected (µg/L) · UCMR 3 data (2013–2015) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

132

Cities Tested

Over HRL

% Over HRL

185.6 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 6% vs national

vs National

351

Health Violations

Analysis

Strontium in Michigan: what the data shows

Michigan has 132 cities with strontium data from the EPA's UCMR 3 program (2013–2015). Strontium was detected above the 1,500 µg/L EPA health reference level in 0 of those cities. The state average max detected level is 185.6 µg/L. Strontium occurs naturally in groundwater, particularly in areas with limestone and dolomite geology. It can also enter water from industrial waste and mining operations. There is no federal MCL for strontium, but the EPA established a health reference level (HRL) of 1,500 µg/L. Long-term exposure to strontium above the HRL may affect bone health, particularly in children, by substituting for calcium in developing bones. Reverse osmosis and ion exchange systems are effective at removing strontium from drinking water.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 1,500 µg/L EPA HRL (no MCL)

Michigan

0 of 132 cities

← ▼ 6% below national rate (better)

National avg

250 of 4371 cities

City Map

Strontium data across Michigan

Each dot is a city with UCMR 3 strontium testing data. Cities where strontium exceeds the 1,500 µg/L EPA health reference level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by strontium level in Michigan

Highest Strontium levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All Michigan cities ranked by strontium level

#	City	Level	Over HRL?	Violations	Grade
1	Flint	1200.0 µg/L	No	29	D
2	Brighton	1000.0 µg/L	No	25	F
3	Clarkston	968.0 µg/L	No	10	B+
4	Jackson	740.0 µg/L	No	13	D
5	Waterford	702.9 µg/L	No	11	B
6	Holland	670.0 µg/L	No	20	B-
7	Three Oaks	655.1 µg/L	No	3	A-
8	Mount Pleasant	640.0 µg/L	No	1	B
9	Mt Pleasant	540.0 µg/L	No	0	C
10	East Lansing	512.9 µg/L	No	12	F
11	Adrian	480.0 µg/L	No	46	F
12	Okemos	472.0 µg/L	No	10	B-
13	Saline	424.5 µg/L	No	0	B+
14	Auburn Hills	377.1 µg/L	No	1	B+
15	South Lyon	350.0 µg/L	No	1	B
16	Monroe	300.0 µg/L	No	6	C
17	Manistee	276.4 µg/L	No	3	A-
18	Owosso	263.0 µg/L	No	15	C+
19	New Lothrop	256.7 µg/L	No	1	A-
20	Corunna	232.8 µg/L	No	0	A
21	Portage	230.3 µg/L	No	1	B+
22	Kalamazoo	220.0 µg/L	No	37	F
23	Lansing	210.0 µg/L	No	13	C-
24	Fenton	207.5 µg/L	No	5	D
25	Mount Clemens	187.0 µg/L	No	3	B+
26	Coldwater	180.0 µg/L	No	27	F
27	South Haven	180.0 µg/L	No	26	B-
28	Ann Arbor	170.0 µg/L	No	39	D+
29	Big Rapids	170.0 µg/L	No	3	B+
30	Grand Haven	164.0 µg/L	No	1	A-
31	Ionia	160.0 µg/L	No	3	A
32	Trenton	156.0 µg/L	No	1	A-
33	East Grand Rapids	155.0 µg/L	No	0	B+
34	Byron Center	144.0 µg/L	No	0	A+
35	Redford	143.0 µg/L	No	1	B
36	Norton Shores	143.0 µg/L	No	0	A
37	Bay City	141.9 µg/L	No	20	B
38	Battle Creek	137.7 µg/L	No	15	F
39	Grandville	136.3 µg/L	No	0	A-
40	Jenison	136.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
41	Allen Park	136.0 µg/L	No	4	B+
42	Muskegon Heights	133.0 µg/L	No	2	B+
43	Muskgon	131.0 µg/L	No	1	A
44	Roosevelt Park	130.2 µg/L	No	0	A
45	Grand Rapids	130.0 µg/L	No	10	B-
46	St. Joseph	130.0 µg/L	No	2	A
47	Garden City	130.0 µg/L	No	0	B
48	Allendale	130.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
49	Newport	130.0 µg/L	No	0	A
50	Muskegon	127.0 µg/L	No	3	B
51	Escanaba	126.1 µg/L	No	0	A-
52	Romulus	126.0 µg/L	No	0	B+
53	Detroit	125.0 µg/L	No	3	B+
54	Taylor	124.0 µg/L	No	2	C
55	Traverse City	124.0 µg/L	No	12	D+
56	Wyoming	123.9 µg/L	No	2	B-
57	Northville	123.9 µg/L	No	3	B+
58	Kentwood	123.2 µg/L	No	3	B
59	Dearborn	120.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
60	Midland	120.0 µg/L	No	3	B+
61	Benton Harbor	120.0 µg/L	No	16	D+
62	Woodhaven	120.0 µg/L	No	0	A
63	Riverview	119.2 µg/L	No	0	A+
64	Bad Axe	118.2 µg/L	No	3	A
65	New Baltimore	118.0 µg/L	No	1	A
66	Lincoln Park	117.0 µg/L	No	0	B+
67	Sterling Heights	116.0 µg/L	No	0	A
68	Madison Heights	115.4 µg/L	No	0	B+
69	Belleville	115.3 µg/L	No	4	D
70	Warren	115.0 µg/L	No	0	A
71	Grand Blanc	115.0 µg/L	No	26	F
72	Harper Woods	115.0 µg/L	No	2	B
73	Wyandotte	114.2 µg/L	No	0	B+
74	Troy	113.4 µg/L	No	10	B-
75	Inkster	113.1 µg/L	No	0	B
76	Dearborn Heights	113.0 µg/L	No	2	C+
77	Plymouth	112.7 µg/L	No	0	A-
78	Ferndale	112.6 µg/L	No	4	B
79	Highland Park	112.0 µg/L	No	3	A-
80	Canton	111.5 µg/L	No	3	A
81	Bridgeport	111.2 µg/L	No	0	A+
82	Hazel Park	111.0 µg/L	No	0	A+
83	Fraser	111.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
84	Wayne	110.9 µg/L	No	0	B-
85	Clinton Township	110.0 µg/L	No	1	B+
86	Ypsilanti	110.0 µg/L	No	5	B+
87	Roseville	110.0 µg/L	No	0	A
88	Brownstown Twp	110.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
89	Southgate	110.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
90	Harrison Township	110.0 µg/L	No	0	A
91	Hamtramck	110.0 µg/L	No	2	B-
92	Alpena	110.0 µg/L	No	14	C-
93	New Boston	110.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
94	Ecorse	110.0 µg/L	No	0	B+
95	Menominee	108.5 µg/L	No	3	A
96	Rochester Hills	108.3 µg/L	No	0	A-
97	Saginaw	108.2 µg/L	No	3	A-
98	Chesterfield Township	108.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
99	Bloomfield Township	108.0 µg/L	No	0	A+
100	Burton	108.0 µg/L	No	2	A
101	West Bloomfield	107.5 µg/L	No	21	F
102	Grosse Ile	107.4 µg/L	No	1	B-
103	Shelby Township	107.2 µg/L	No	6	D
104	St. Clair Shores	107.0 µg/L	No	1	A
105	Melvindale	107.0 µg/L	No	2	A-
106	Macomb	106.9 µg/L	No	0	A
107	Oak Park	106.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
108	Grosse Pointe Park	106.0 µg/L	No	1	B+
109	Livonia	105.7 µg/L	No	0	A
110	Southfield	105.0 µg/L	No	40	F
111	Berkley	104.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
112	Clawson	104.0 µg/L	No	0	B+
113	Birmingham	103.0 µg/L	No	17	F
114	Washington	103.0 µg/L	No	0	A
115	Royal Oak	102.0 µg/L	No	9	B
116	Beverly Hills	102.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
117	Farmington Hills	100.0 µg/L	No	86	F
118	Novi	100.0 µg/L	No	9	C
119	Lake Orion	100.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
120	Eastpointe	100.0 µg/L	No	0	A
121	Commerce Township	100.0 µg/L	No	0	A+
122	Grosse Pointe Woods	100.0 µg/L	No	0	B
123	Farmington	100.0 µg/L	No	2	A
124	Sturgis	100.0 µg/L	No	1	A
125	Fort Gratiot	100.0 µg/L	No	1	A
126	Port Huron	99.8 µg/L	No	0	A-
127	Pontiac	97.0 µg/L	No	2	A
128	Niles	94.0 µg/L	No	2	C
129	Calumet	59.0 µg/L	No	2	B+
130	Kincheloe	41.0 µg/L	No	10	A
131	Sault Ste. Marie	26.7 µg/L	No	2	B-
132	Marquette	24.8 µg/L	No	4	F

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about strontium in Michigan

Is strontium in Michigan tap water harmful?

Strontium at low levels is not considered harmful, but the EPA set a health reference level (HRL) of 1,500 µg/L based on potential bone effects. No cities in Michigan exceed the HRL. There is currently no federal MCL for strontium. Children may be more susceptible because strontium can substitute for calcium in developing bones.

How can I remove strontium from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis and ion exchange (water softener) systems are effective at removing strontium from drinking water. Standard carbon filters are NOT effective. If your water comes from a well in an area with limestone or dolomite geology, consider testing for strontium.

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