EGLE supports local governments in managing safe, reliable public water supplies by providing regulatory oversight, technical assistance, and tools to ensure compliance with Michigan’s Safe Drinking Water Act. The Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division (DWEHD) oversees Michigan’s 11,000 public water supplies to ensure safe drinking water.
The DWEHD is involved in source water protection, operator certification and training, water well construction, registration of water well drilling contractors, assisting local health departments in conducting drinking water quality investigations in areas of known or suspected environmental contamination, administering drinking water replacement activities, approving and licensing the handling of domestic septage including land application and registration of haulers, and oversight of the onsite wastewater program.
The DWEHD is also responsible for the design approval and licensing of campgrounds and public swimming pools.
The campground program provides local governments information on the requirements for constructing, modifying, licensing, and operating a campground. A license from EGLE is required to operate a campground offering five or more campsites/recreational units in the state of Michigan.
The community water supply program oversees the primary U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program that sets forth minimum standards for safe drinking water as well as administering the requirements of Michigan's Safe Drinking Water Act. The program's primary function is regulatory oversight of approximately 1,400 community public water supplies in Michigan.
This regulatory oversight directly affects local governments, which are responsible for operating and maintaining many of these public water systems and ensuring their communities have access to safe and reliable drinking water. Through state and federal requirements, local governments must monitor water quality, comply with drinking water standards, and address potential risks to public health.
EGLE’s Lead & Copper Rule helps local governments protect public health by reducing corrosivity in drinking water systems and ensuring compliance with strict safety standards.
Michigan’s updated rule (effective January 2025) lowers the lead action level from 15 ppb to 12 ppb and maintains the copper level at 1.3 ppm. It requires public water systems to conduct first- and fifth-liter sampling, complete inventories of service line materials, replace lead service lines, implement corrosion-control treatment, and communicate results and corrective actions to consumers.
Michigan is home to nearly 9,500 noncommunity water supply systems, which include schools, restaurants, motels, campgrounds, and churches. EGLE contracts with local health departments to maintain a noncommunity water supply program in each county.
This partnership is an important role in protecting public health by overseeing these water systems and ensuring they comply with state drinking water requirements.
The Onsite Wastewater Management Program offers assistance and training to local health departments in the review and approval of land developments utilizing onsite wastewater systems and large capacity onsite systems discharging up to 10,000 gallons per day.
This program helps local health departments evaluate proposed developments, ensure compliance with environmental and public health requirements, and protect groundwater and surrounding communities from potential wastewater-related risks.
Created through Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2019-06, the Office primarily serves as a resource and facilitator of communication between other offices, state agencies, community partners, and the public on issues related to drinking water.
The Public Swimming Pools program provides local governments information on requirements for building and operating public swimming pools in their communities.
Prior to beginning construction of a public swimming pool or making alterations to an existing public swimming pool, the developer or owner must obtain a construction permit, issued by EGLE. Prior to opening the public swimming pool for use, the owner must obtain a license to operate from EGLE.
School Drinking Water Program helps local governments ensure safe drinking water in K–12 schools and child care facilities. This program provides guidance and tools for the Filter First legislation, voluntary lead testing program, and other drinking water quality resources important for schools and child care centers.
Protection of public health, ground water resources, and aquifers is accomplished by assuring that water wells are constructed, operated, and decommissioned in a technically sound manner. This program is important to local governments because communities often rely on private and public wells for their drinking water supplies.
By establishing and enforcing standards for well construction and abandonment, the program supports local governments in protecting groundwater quality, ensuring safe drinking water, and reducing potential environmental and public health risks within their communities.
