Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester announced today that the City of Three Rivers has been ordered to undertake immediate improvements to the city's public water supply to assure that residents and businesses are provided safe drinking water that meets state standards.  Three Rivers has a long history of violations involving the presence of total coliform bacteria in the city's water supply, and is one of very few systems of similar size in Michigan that does not chlorinate as a means of disinfecting water prior to distribution to customers. 

"Michigan residents deserve the certainty that the water coming out of their taps is safe for their families to drink," said Director Chester.  "The order I have signed seeks to have Three Rivers follow the same procedures that communities all across Michigan use to ensure their water is free of harmful bacteria."

Michigan's Safe Drinking Water Act grants the DEQ Director with the authority to order a supplier of water to make alterations to its system to assure the water supply is adequate, healthy, and in compliance with state drinking water standards. 

After attempting to gain voluntary compliance for many years, recent violations of the total coliform standard during the months of September and October of this year have forced the DEQ to issue today's Order to compel the city to take the needed actions to resolve these ongoing problems.

The order requires that Three Rivers continuously disinfect its public water supply through interim use of existing chlorination equipment while a permanent water treatment system is designed, permitted, and installed. 

Editor's note:  DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"