Michigan has naturally higher arsenic levels in groundwater.

Contaminant levels may vary depending on where you live within your county. To find out more about groundwater arsenic in your area, contact your local health department.

To find out more about arsenic in drinking water, view the Arsenic in Drinking Water fact sheet:

• Arsenic in Drinking Water.
• Arsénico en el Agua Corriente.
• تواجد الزرنيخ في مياه الشرب.

Boron is naturally occurring in rocks and soil. It gets into drinking water from both naturally occurring and human-made processes.

Find out more about boron in drinking water in the Boron in Drinking Water fact sheet.

Cadmium is a metal found in rocks and soil. It is also found in galvanized pipes and some batteries. Cadmium may get into drinking water.

Find out more about cadmium in drinking water in the Cadmium in Drinking Water fact sheet.

Chloride is naturally occurring in rocks and soil. It can be found in lakes, rivers or groundwater that become your drinking water. It is also in products like road salt, fertilizer and could be added to water by some homeowners using water softener salts. Too much chloride may make water taste salty.

Find out more about chloride in drinking water in the Chloride in Drinking Water fact sheet.

Chromium is an element that can occur in different ways. The most common forms are chromium-0, chromium-3 and chromium-6. It is found in nature and also used in manufacturing and plumbing components and could enter drinking water.

Find out more about chromium in drinking water in the Chromium in Drinking Water fact sheet.

Coliform bacteria are found in soil, surface water, on plants and in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and people. Poorly maintained septic systems can be a source of coliform bacteria, especially E. coli, which can make you sick.

Find out more about coliform bacteria in drinking water, view the Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water fact sheet:

• Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water.
• Bacterias Coliformes en el Agua Potable para Propietarios de Pozos.
• البكتيريا القولونية في مياه الشرب لأصحاب الآبار.

Copper is a metal found naturally in the environment. It can be found in ground and surface water that is used for drinking water. It may also be found in your home's plumbing, farming materials, mining run-off and in wastewater. Some copper is necessary for your body, but too much can cause stomach upset or other health concerns if you have been diagnosed with Wilson's Disease. 

Find out more about copper in drinking water in the Copper in Drinking Water fact sheet.

Fluoride occurs naturally in soil and can be found in fertilizer and waste run-off from factories. It is also added by public water systems because it's good for our teeth in small amounts. Too much fluoride may cause health problems such as white spots on teeth, painful damage to bones or lower IQ.

• To find out more about fluoride in public drinking water supplies, view the Community Water Fluoridation webpage.
• Wells with high levels of fluoride have been found in Houghton and Keweenaw Counties. For more information visit the Fluoride Advisory page on the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department website.

Iron occurs naturally in soil and rocks. It is also found in plumbing materials. Some iron is necessary for health, but too much may cause health problems such as stomach problems and nausea.

To find out more about iron in drinking water, view the Iron in Drinking Water fact sheet:

• Iron in Drinking Water.
• Hierro en el Agua Corriente.
• تواجد الحديد في مياه الشرب.

Lead found in drinking water is soluble or particulate. Soluble lead is lead that is dissolved in water. Particulate lead is small pieces of lead from lead-containing material. Either type of lead can get into your drinking water when pipes or faucets containing lead begin to break down or dissolve. The amount of lead that can end up in drinking water depends on:

• Water chemistry (what is in the water).
• Contact with lead-containing items (if it passes through lead plumbing or fixtures).
• Water use (how often and in what amount water runs through plumbing and fixtures).
• Construction or plumbing repairs in the street or home (particulate lead can be released). 

Visit Michigan.gov/MiLeadSafe or Michigan.gov/GetAheadofLead to learn more about lead.

To find out more about lead in drinking water, view the Lead in Drinking Water fact sheets:

• Lead in Drinking Water.
• Plomo en el Agua Corriente.
• الرصاص في مياه الشرب.

• How to Find Out if Lead May Be in Your Drinking Water.
• Cómo Descubrir Si Puede Haber Plomo Presente en el Agua Corriente.
• كيف تعرفون ما إذا كان الرصاص متواجد ًا في مياهالشرب التي تشربونها .

• Steps to Get Ahead of Lead in Your Drinking Water.
• Pasos para Estar por Delante del Plomo en su Agua Corriente.
• خطوات الستباق الرصاص في مياه الشرب التي تشربونها.

Lithium is a metal that occurs naturally in soil and rock. It is also found in batteries, ceramics, glass, lithium-containing pesticides and medications. Sometimes, lithium can be found in drinking water.

To find out more about lithium in drinking water, view the Lithium in Drinking Water fact sheet.

Most manganese in water comes from naturally occurring sources. However, industrial activities can also release manganese into the environment. Manganese is necessary for the body in small amounts, but too much, especially for infants, can cause health problems like harm to the nervous system and motor skills.

To find out more about manganese in drinking water, view the view the Manganese in Drinking Water fact sheet:

• Manganese in Drinking Water.
• Manganeso en el Agua Corriente.
• تواجد المنغنيز في مياه الشرب.

Some areas of Michigan have been found to have higher nitrate levels in groundwater. Nitrate and nitrite may be more common in shallow wells near agricultural areas.

Contaminant levels may vary depending on where you live within your county. To find out more about groundwater nitrate in your area, contact your local health department.

To find out more about nitrate and nitrite in drinking water, view the Nitrate and Nitrite in Drinking Water fact sheet.

• Nitrate and Nitrite in Drinking Water for Well Owners.
• Nitrato y Nitrito en el Agua Potable Para Propietarios do Pozos.
• النترات والنتريت في مياه الشرب لمالك آبار المياه.

The most common sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater are airports, military bases, manufacturing facilities, unlined landfills and farm field applications.

Learn more about the basics of PFAS, how to reduce your exposure to PFAS and how Michigan is addressing PFAS in our communities by visiting the Michigan.gov/PFAS website.

To find out more about PFAS in drinking water, view the PFAS in Drinking Water fact sheet.

Sodium is naturally occurring in rocks and soil. It can be found in the lakes, rivers or groundwater that become your drinking water. Sodium is in products such as road salt, water treatment chemicals and sewage runoff. When these products are used or disposed of improperly, sodium can get into the water that becomes your drinking water. When too much sodium is in drinking water, it can change its taste. Too much sodium can also cause health problems for certain people.

To find out more about sodium in drinking water, view the Sodium in Drinking Water fact sheet.

Sulfate occurs naturally in drinking water. However, when water with high levels of sulfate are consumed, it could cause short-term diarrhea.

To find out more about sulfate in drinking water, view the Sulfate in Drinking Water fact sheet:

• Sulfate in Drinking Water Fact Sheet.
• Sulfato en el Agua Corriente.
• تواجد الكبريتات في مياه الشرب.

Uranium occurs naturally in some areas. For example, naturally occurring uranium has been found in Western Upper Peninsula bedrock and groundwater.

Wells with high levels of uranium have been found in Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, Gogebic and Ontonagon Counties.

• What you need to know about Uranium – Western UP Health Department
• To find out more about uranium in drinking water, view the CDC’s Uranium ToxFAQs.

VOCs are chemicals that easily evaporate into the air. There are many different VOCs. Many products commonly used and stored in homes and garages contain VOCs, including paint, cleaners and gasoline. Some VOCs can cause more harm to your health than others. It is important to follow storage and use directions on packages. It is also important to note that not all VOCs can be smelled at levels where they can cause harm; and not all VOCs that you can smell will cause harm.

VOCs can also get into drinking water. This can happen when places like industrial facilities, gas stations or dry cleaners leak things that seep into the ground like:

• Petroleum fuels.
• Hydraulic fluids.
• Refrigerants.
• Paint thinners.
• Dry cleaning agents.

Common VOCs in chlorinated drinking water are disinfection by-products, which form when chlorine interacts with organic matter in water. This can happen when chlorine is added to drinking water to disinfect bacteria and other germs.

Public water supplies are tested regularly to make sure they meet safe drinking water standards. Many public water supplies test for and closely monitor disinfection by-products like Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAS). 

Because of the many different VOCs there are, the levels of chemicals in your area may vary depending on where you live within your county. To find out more about groundwater VOCs in your area, contact your local health department. 

To find out more about VOCs in drinking water, view the VOCs in Drinking Water fact sheet.

Zinc gets into drinking water from manufacturing waste and fertilizer runoff. It is also found in plumbing materials. Some zinc is necessary for health, but too much may cause health problems like anemia.

To find out more about zinc in drinking water, view the Zinc in Drinking Water fact sheet:

• Zinc in Drinking Water Fact Sheet.
• Zinc en el Agua Corriente.
• تواجد الزنك في مياه الشرب.