The Saginaw Bay/River Area of Concern now has one less beneficial use impairment as the Restrictions on Drinking Water Consumption or Taste and Odor Problems BUI has been removed. Improvements in Saginaw Bay water quality and efforts by the Saginaw-Midland Water Supply Corporation, Bay City Water Supply System, Caseville Water Supply System, Huron Shores Water Authority, and the Huron Regional Water Authority municipal drinking water facilities over the years led to improved drinking water quality.

The AOCs are sites along the Great Lakes experiencing severe environmental degradation stemming primarily from historic pollution. Taste and odor complaints by citizens were frequently reported in the 1970s and were one of the reasons why the Saginaw Bay area was first listed as an AOC in 1987.

Remedial actions completed since the 1970s, including the implementation of pollution control programs in the Saginaw Bay area, the use of improved water treatment technologies, and water intake placement, have been instrumental in significantly reducing the number of taste and odor complaints reported in recent years. All five drinking water supplies continue to meet state and federal drinking water standards at the point of distribution, demonstrating to the Department of Environmental Quality that the Saginaw Bay/River AOC's drinking water impairment has been restored.

"This is a significant mark of progress in improving the overall quality of Saginaw Bay," said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. "We still have a great deal of work ahead of us, but everyone involved deserves to be proud of this milestone."

Support for the action was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Partnership for the Saginaw Bay Watershed, and other stakeholders. Of the 40 current Great Lakes AOCs, 14 are located in Michigan.

"As MDEQ and EPA continue our work in the Saginaw Bay watershed, EPA is pleased to celebrate a significant step forward in the restoration of an Area of Concern," said U.S. EPA Region 5 Acting Regional Administrator Bharat Mathur."

Information about Michigan's AOC Program is posted on the DEQ Web site at http://www.michigan.gov/deqwater; select Great Lakes, and then Areas of Concern. Information about the Great Lakes is available on the U.S. EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes.

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"

Revised July 30, 2008 by Pat Watson