Vanadium Contamination

Vanadium in Michigan Drinking Water

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

114

Cities Tested

Over HA

% Over HA

0.56 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 5% vs national

vs National

351

Health Violations

Analysis

Vanadium in Michigan: what the data shows

Michigan has 114 cities with vanadium data from the EPA's UCMR 3 program (2013–2015). Vanadium was detected above the 21 µg/L EPA short-term health advisory in 0 of those cities. The state average max detected level is 0.56 µg/L. Vanadium occurs naturally in groundwater, particularly in the western United States where it leaches from volcanic rock and oil shale formations. Industrial sources include steel manufacturing, oil refining, and fossil fuel combustion. There is no federal MCL for vanadium — the EPA established a short-term health advisory of 21 µg/L for a 10 kg child consuming 1 L/day for 10 days. Long-term exposure to elevated vanadium has been associated with kidney effects in animal studies and possible developmental impacts. Reverse osmosis and ion exchange systems are effective at removing vanadium from drinking water.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 21 µg/L EPA short-term HA (no MCL)

Michigan

0 of 114 cities

← ▼ 5% below national rate (better)

National avg

179 of 3322 cities

City Map

Vanadium data across Michigan

Each dot is a city with UCMR 3 vanadium testing data. Cities where vanadium exceeds the 21 µg/L EPA short-term health advisory are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by vanadium level in Michigan

Highest Vanadium levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All Michigan cities ranked by vanadium level

#	City	Level	Over HA?	Violations	Grade
1	Calumet	5.61 µg/L	No	2	B+
2	Norton Shores	3.70 µg/L	No	0	A
3	Adrian	2.40 µg/L	No	46	F
4	Kincheloe	2.19 µg/L	No	10	A
5	Bay City	1.60 µg/L	No	20	B
6	Monroe	1.50 µg/L	No	6	C
7	Ecorse	1.20 µg/L	No	0	B+
8	Ann Arbor	0.90 µg/L	No	39	D+
9	Lincoln Park	0.87 µg/L	No	0	B+
10	Dearborn	0.82 µg/L	No	0	A-
11	Ypsilanti	0.80 µg/L	No	5	B+
12	Melvindale	0.77 µg/L	No	2	A-
13	Fraser	0.76 µg/L	No	0	A-
14	Southgate	0.74 µg/L	No	0	A-
15	Dearborn Heights	0.72 µg/L	No	2	C+
16	Ferndale	0.70 µg/L	No	4	B
17	Niles	0.70 µg/L	No	2	C
18	Clinton Township	0.68 µg/L	No	1	B+
19	Detroit	0.66 µg/L	No	3	B+
20	Traverse City	0.64 µg/L	No	12	D+
21	Hamtramck	0.64 µg/L	No	2	B-
22	Wayne	0.63 µg/L	No	0	B-
23	Highland Park	0.62 µg/L	No	3	A-
24	Redford	0.61 µg/L	No	1	B
25	Grand Rapids	0.60 µg/L	No	10	B-
26	Novi	0.60 µg/L	No	9	C
27	Northville	0.60 µg/L	No	3	B+
28	Brownstown Twp	0.60 µg/L	No	0	A-
29	Eastpointe	0.60 µg/L	No	0	A
30	Canton	0.59 µg/L	No	3	A
31	St. Clair Shores	0.58 µg/L	No	1	A
32	Garden City	0.58 µg/L	No	0	B
33	Grosse Pointe Park	0.58 µg/L	No	1	B+
34	Inkster	0.58 µg/L	No	0	B
35	Port Huron	0.55 µg/L	No	0	A-
36	Kentwood	0.55 µg/L	No	3	B
37	Taylor	0.53 µg/L	No	2	C
38	Auburn Hills	0.53 µg/L	No	1	B+
39	Burton	0.53 µg/L	No	2	A
40	Muskgon	0.51 µg/L	No	1	A
41	Macomb	0.50 µg/L	No	0	A
42	West Bloomfield	0.50 µg/L	No	21	F
43	Brighton	0.50 µg/L	No	25	F
44	Grand Haven	0.50 µg/L	No	1	A-
45	New Boston	0.50 µg/L	No	0	A-
46	Farmington	0.50 µg/L	No	2	A
47	Harper Woods	0.49 µg/L	No	2	B
48	Waterford	0.48 µg/L	No	11	B
49	Oak Park	0.48 µg/L	No	0	A-
50	Sault Ste. Marie	0.46 µg/L	No	2	B-
51	Warren	0.45 µg/L	No	0	A
52	Newport	0.44 µg/L	No	0	A
53	Riverview	0.41 µg/L	No	0	A+
54	Lansing	0.40 µg/L	No	13	C-
55	Sterling Heights	0.40 µg/L	No	0	A
56	Pontiac	0.40 µg/L	No	2	A
57	Chesterfield Township	0.40 µg/L	No	0	A-
58	Lake Orion	0.40 µg/L	No	0	A-
59	Romulus	0.40 µg/L	No	0	B+
60	Fort Gratiot	0.40 µg/L	No	1	A
61	South Haven	0.40 µg/L	No	26	B-
62	East Grand Rapids	0.38 µg/L	No	0	B+
63	Grandville	0.38 µg/L	No	0	A-
64	Menominee	0.37 µg/L	No	3	A
65	Kalamazoo	0.36 µg/L	No	37	F
66	Allen Park	0.36 µg/L	No	4	B+
67	Grand Blanc	0.35 µg/L	No	26	F
68	Trenton	0.34 µg/L	No	1	A-
69	Mount Clemens	0.33 µg/L	No	3	B+
70	Plymouth	0.33 µg/L	No	0	A-
71	Flint	0.32 µg/L	No	29	D
72	Holland	0.31 µg/L	No	20	B-
73	Harrison Township	0.31 µg/L	No	0	A
74	Portage	0.31 µg/L	No	1	B+
75	Byron Center	0.30 µg/L	No	0	A+
76	Southfield	0.30 µg/L	No	40	F
77	Troy	0.30 µg/L	No	10	B-
78	Farmington Hills	0.30 µg/L	No	86	F
79	St. Joseph	0.30 µg/L	No	2	A
80	Mount Pleasant	0.30 µg/L	No	1	B
81	Madison Heights	0.30 µg/L	No	0	B+
82	Commerce Township	0.30 µg/L	No	0	A+
83	Allendale	0.30 µg/L	No	0	A-
84	Alpena	0.30 µg/L	No	14	C-
85	Grosse Pointe Woods	0.30 µg/L	No	0	B
86	Benton Harbor	0.30 µg/L	No	16	D+
87	Woodhaven	0.30 µg/L	No	0	A
88	Grosse Ile	0.30 µg/L	No	1	B-
89	Roosevelt Park	0.30 µg/L	No	0	A
90	Bad Axe	0.30 µg/L	No	3	A
91	Wyoming	0.30 µg/L	No	2	B-
92	Jenison	0.29 µg/L	No	0	A-
93	Bloomfield Township	0.28 µg/L	No	0	A+
94	Muskegon	0.28 µg/L	No	3	B
95	Escanaba	0.27 µg/L	No	0	A-
96	Manistee	0.27 µg/L	No	3	A-
97	Royal Oak	0.27 µg/L	No	9	B
98	Livonia	0.26 µg/L	No	0	A
99	Hazel Park	0.26 µg/L	No	0	A+
100	Belleville	0.26 µg/L	No	4	D
101	Beverly Hills	0.25 µg/L	No	0	A-
102	Muskegon Heights	0.25 µg/L	No	2	B+
103	Wyandotte	0.25 µg/L	No	0	B+
104	Washington	0.24 µg/L	No	0	A
105	New Baltimore	0.24 µg/L	No	1	A
106	Clawson	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
107	Birmingham	0.23 µg/L	No	17	F
108	Marquette	0.23 µg/L	No	4	F
109	Berkley	0.22 µg/L	No	0	A-
110	Clarkston	0.22 µg/L	No	10	B+
111	Roseville	0.21 µg/L	No	0	A
112	Shelby Township	0.20 µg/L	No	6	D
113	South Lyon	0.20 µg/L	No	1	B
114	Sturgis	0.20 µg/L	No	1	A

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about vanadium in Michigan

Is vanadium in Michigan tap water harmful?

Vanadium has no federal MCL. The EPA short-term health advisory is 21 µg/L. No cities in Michigan exceed the EPA short-term health advisory. Long-term exposure has been linked to kidney effects in animal studies. Vanadium is most common in groundwater in the western US.

How can I remove vanadium from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are highly effective at removing vanadium, typically reducing it by 90% or more. Ion exchange systems also work. Standard activated carbon filters are not effective against vanadium. If your water comes from a private well in the western US, consider testing for vanadium.

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