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City/Community Residential Drinking Water

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City/Community Residential Drinking Water

A high-quality city/community residential water supply is important for public health. However, water can sometimes become contaminated from things like:

  • Natural sources.
  • Industrial and agricultural activities.
  • Corrosion from pipes.
  • Disinfection processes.

Public water supplies are tested regularly to make sure they meet safe drinking water standards.

Many public water supplies test for and closely monitor contaminants like disinfection by-products (DBPs), such as haloacetic acids (HAA5) and total trihalomethanes (TTHM). The goal is to keep contaminants below health-based standards to protect everyone, especially children, pregnant women and those with certain health conditions. To learn more about Michigan drinking water, visit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Care for MI Drinking Water.

Disinfection By-Products  

When chlorine interacts with organic matter such as dirt, plants or other material in water, DBPs are formed. This can happen when chlorine is added to drinking water to disinfect bacteria and other germs.