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Office of the Clean Water Public Advocate

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Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Office of the Clean Water Public Advocate

The Office of the Clean Water Public Advocate (OCWPA) was created in 2019 through Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2019-06.

The office:

  • Created and oversees a statewide drinking water concern reporting system. This system ensures that the public can report drinking water concerns and that those concerns are heard and routed to the appropriate entity for investigation.  
  • Serves as a resource and facilitator of communication between other offices, state agencies, community partners, and the public in issues related to drinking water. 
  • Explores gaps and recommends potential improvements to policies, procedures, and regulations to support the continued improvement of Michigan’s drinking water response and regulation. 
  • Develops and shares resources and education about drinking water and career opportunities in water.
  • Advocates for clean and affordable drinking water, water infrastructure funding, and advancing water careers.

Strengthening water systems through strategic investment

Clean drinking water plays an essential role in everyday life, supporting public health, the economy, and quality of life. Delivering safe, reliable drinking water to homes requires treatment, resilient infrastructure, ongoing maintenance, and significant investment.

Every two minutes a water main breaks in the United States. In 2024, there was an estimated gap of $91 billion between infrastructure needs and spending in the US. This growing gap represents the enormous need for water infrastructure funding. However, infrastructure is usually paid for by the public and water affordability is a serious concern for households. Strategic and meaningful investment toward water infrastructure is needed.  

Workers in the water sector are another critical part of keeping our water infrastructure running. One third of them will be eligible to retire by 2033. Building awareness about these careers and filling them with qualified individuals is essential.

Learn more about the Value of Water campaign, developed by the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation. 

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Concerned about your drinking water?

Michigan’s online drinking water concern system lets residents submit water quality concerns to EGLE or their Local Health Department.

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Water assistance

Having a hard time paying water or utility bills? Michigan 211 can help. Call, text, or search online to get connected.

Accomplishments and focus areas

EGLE enforces the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act through Michigan’s authority by regulating water systems and well drilling, researching emerging contaminants, providing public education, and setting high drinking water standards. The OCWPA supports communities by elevating concerns, improving inter-agency communication, and guiding solutions on water affordability, infrastructure, and water-sector careers. 

  • Workforce development

    We collaborate with other groups to bring awareness to careers in the water sector. It takes a variety of positions to help ensure Michiganders have clean water, and there is a demand for workers in these fields.

    Careers in water operations are stable – there is always a need for water! – and offer competitive salaries and opportunities for growth. Providing a service to communities can also be very impactful and rewarding.

    Learn about careers in water 

  • Grant management

    Our Office manages several grant programs, including EPA’s Small, Rural, and Tribal Drinking Water Assistance Grant (previously known as the Small, Underserved and Disadvantaged Communities Grant), EGLE’s Affordability and Planning Grant, and others.

    Learn more about Funding opportunities through EGLE

  • Water affordability

    Water systems throughout Michigan strive to provide reliable, healthy drinking water to their communities. Many systems struggle with the substantial cost of providing this service – which includes deferred and regular maintenance, lead service line replacements, and other treatments to address contaminants and aesthetic quality – and often worsened by revenue from relatively stagnant rates that haven’t kept up with costs. 

    Within communities, many households struggle to pay for this essential service. Rate increases or private well maintenance can be an insurmountable cost for many households across the state.

    So how do we ensure communities can afford to maintain their water system without overburdening households? Our office has awarded funding to communities working to develop water affordability plans (see Kalamazoo and Oakland’s report for examples) and advocates for more grant and low-interest loan funding, but those are pieces of the puzzle. Water affordability is a complex topic. 

    If you’re having a hard time paying your water bill visit Michigan 2-1-1

     

  • Drinking water concerns

    The online drinking water concern system was developed to provide Michigan residents with an additional channel to submit their water quality concerns to EGLE or their Local Health Department (LHD). 

    Submit a drinking water concern or learn more about common concerns

  • Public education and outreach

    Educated water users better protect their own water quality and others. That’s what makes education and outreach so important.

    The Clean Water Ambassador network is for residents over 18 years of age who are interested in learning more about drinking water. Over 200 Michiganders have signed up!

    OCWPA organizes annual awareness weeks focused on drinking water, including Fix a Leak Week and Drinking Water Week, and supports and promotes other events put on by EGLE and federal and state agencies.

    OCWPA also attends various outreach events in communities (public meetings, resource fairs, etc.).

    Learn more about how to Engage with EGLE

         

    Find educational resources at EGLE Classroom

     

Learn more

  • Grants managed by OCWPA

    We have awarded over $10M in grants for water system projects including studies, upgrades, and resilience.

  • Drinking water week

    Michigan recognizes national Drinking Water Week each year during the first full week of May.

  • Fix a leak week

    Fix a Leak Week, created by EPA and WaterSense partners, raises awareness about water leaks and offers resources to spot and fix common household leaks.

  • Drinking water testing

    Our drinking water laboratory provides drinking water testing services to the public, state and local communities, and water supply programs. 

  • Interpretation of common tests

    The Contamination Investigation Program in the Source Water Unit helps local health departments investigate drinking water quality in contaminated areas.

  • Lead in drinking water

    Michigan law requires all children to get blood lead tests at 12 and 24 months, and at other risk-based times.

  • PFAS in drinking water

    Learn how EGLE is addressing the threat of PFAS contamination in Michigan.

  • School drinking water program

    All children need healthy water. Michigan kids spend much of their day in school or childcare, so safe drinking water is vital to their health and development.

Nondiscrimination in EGLE Programs (English, El español and العربية)

Everyone in Michigan deserves meaningful access and equitable opportunity to participate and provide input in EGLE’s programs, activities, and services.

Learn more about nondiscrimination in EGLE programs