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Did you know? 56% of Michigan residents get their drinking water from surface water and 44% get their drinking water from groundwater.

Water Cycle

The water cycle is a process of recycling water.

• Water on the surface (like oceans, lakes and rivers) evaporates into the air.
• The water that evaporates into the air then condenses into clouds.
• Eventually, the water in the clouds will fall back to earth again as precipitation, like rain or snow.

As water cycles, it can pick up pollutants or contaminants. These contaminants can enter the groundwater or surface water that becomes our drinking water.

Watershed

• When the water falls back to earth, it collects in a watershed. A watershed is an area of land where all the water that falls onto it or runs under it flows to one specific place, like a lake, river or stream.
• Watersheds drain rainfall and melting snow into the nearest water body that lies at the lowest point of the watershed. 
• Watersheds can be small or large, and most are interconnected, eventually draining to the large water bodies – such as bays, gulfs, oceans and for us here in Michigan, the Great Lakes.

Surface Water

• Surface water is found on the top (surface) of the ground. It includes lakes, rivers, streams, creeks and reservoirs.
• Some public water supplies use surface water, like the Great Lakes, as a water source that becomes drinking water.

Groundwater

• Groundwater comes from precipitation (rain, hail, snow, sleet, dew, mist or frost) that soaks into the soil.
• It travels downward through cracks and other openings in rocks and sand.
• Private residential wells and many public water supplies use groundwater as a water source that becomes drinking water.

Do you have a private residential well?

Michigan has over one million private residential wells. These wells serve over 2.6 million people statewide. That is nearly 30% of Michigan residents!

• A private residential well supplies water to a single-family home. 
• Water is pumped from groundwater using a water well.

If you have a well, you can look up the record for it using your address by visiting the website Water Well Viewer. This record tells you important information like your well location, well depth and when your well was drilled which is helpful for maintaining your well. Learn more by visiting the MiWell Maintenance Checklist.

Should you test your private residential well water?

Yes! Most contaminants in water have no taste, color or smell. The only way you might know if you have a problem is to test your drinking water. If you have a private residential well, testing is your responsibility.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recommends the following routine well testing schedule:

Additional information about private well testing can be found on the Water Testing page or by viewing our Private Well Testing fact sheet.

If you are a private residential well owner, it is important to understand what contaminants may be in the groundwater that you use for drinking water. Both natural and human-made contaminants can sometimes be found in groundwater. When you know what contaminants may be in groundwater and where they can be in our environment, you can help protect your drinking water and health. To learn more about how water is contaminated, visit the drinking water contamination page.

How should you take care of your well?

Maintaining your well and the surrounding area is important for protecting your drinking water and your health. Follow the steps below to maintain your well or visit the Well Maintenance Checklist to learn more:

1.       Use the Well Assessed Tool to complete your own well assessment every year.
2.       Look around your wellhead to see if there are items or materials nearby that could impact your well.
3.       If you notice any concerns, contact a professional well driller to evaluate the condition of your well.
4.       Locate documents about your well, if you can’t find your well record – check Wellogic at Egle.state.mi.us/wellogic.

How does the water get to your home from a private residential well?

Water wells pull water from deep in the ground and pump it into your home. Learn more in this MIEnviroMinute video from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

How are private residential wells constructed?

The Michigan Water Well Construction and Pump Installation Code helps protect the health of Michigan well owners. Understanding well construction helps determine any required well maintenance.

Most wells in Michigan are drilled wells. Drilled wells are constructed using plastic or steel casing to keep soil and contaminants out. These wells are drilled deep enough to prevent surface water contamination.  

Who do you call if you need to install a new private residential well?

Contact your local health department to learn about well construction applications, permits and inspections.

What are the parts of a well system?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a private residential well diagram showing the parts of a well system:

• Well Casings are pipes that stretch from the surface down to the groundwater. This prevents some contaminants from getting into drinking water. Well casings in Michigan must comply with the well construction code.
• Well Caps are on the top of the well casing to prevent insects, dirt or vegetation from entering the top of the well. Well caps in Michigan must be on the approved list of components.
• Well Screens are installed at the bottom of certain well casings to help prevent sediment, like sand and gravel, from getting into the well.

Do you live on a public water supply?

A general rule to follow is if you get a bill for your water, you are likely on a public water supply. You can learn more about the types of public water supplies on the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Drinking Water webpage How does water get to my home?

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EGLE regulate the quality of water from Michigan public water supplies through the development and enforcement of rules and through monitoring efforts.

• The US EPA sets minimum standards for drinking water quality.
• Michigan's Safe Drinking Water Act includes additional requirements for drinking water quality. 

Regular maintenance is required to operate and comply with these rules and regulations. To cover the cost of doing this work, customers pay for water. This could be through a water bill, rent or other payment options.

How does your public water supply water get to your home?

Water leaves the water supplier and travels through water mains to get to the service line at your home, where it passes the water meter and into your home. Learn more in this EnviroMinute video from EGLE.

What is a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)?

To help inform people of the quality of their drinking water, public water supplies are required to release an annual CCR by July 1 each year. The CCR provides information specific to your drinking water system, such as: 

• The source of drinking water (lake, river or groundwater).
• Results for regulated contaminants found in the drinking water.
• Information on any regulated contaminants found and how to reduce exposure.
• Contact information for the water supply.

You can read more about understanding your CCR on this helpful infographic from the EPA.

How are CCRs provided?

• Your water supplier may email or direct mail you a copy of your CCR.
• It may be posted on your water supplier’s website.
• You can call your water supplier.

More than 1.3 million homes and businesses in Michigan depend on septic systems to treat wastewater. Do you have a septic system? Understanding proper septic system care and maintenance is important.

Learn about how a septic system works and why proper maintenance is important with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy's Septic System video.

Septic System Replacement Loan Program

Throughout Michigan, failing septic systems are often identified as a potential source of pollution that contributes to both public health and environmental concerns. One of the barriers preventing the replacement of septic systems and installation of systems is lack of funding options available to homeowners.

If you are interested in more information on the Septic Replacement Loan Program (SRLP), visit the SRLP website.

Do you have more questions about septic systems?

The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has a FAQ: Septic systems webpage that answers common questions about a septic system including what to do after a flood, how long a septic tank is good for, how far a septic system should be from a well and what are the signs of a failure in a septic system. 

For more information visit:

EGLE SepticSmart Webpage

EPA Septic Systems and Drinking Water Webpage