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Community Water System · PWS MI0000170

Charter Township of Alpena

Alpena, Michigan 49707 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 5,839 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

5,839
People served
22
EPA violations
4
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 22 drinking-water violations at Charter Township of Alpena, 18% of them health-based - below the Michigan per-system average.

22
Total EPA violations on record
18%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
5,839
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Charter Township of Alpena

Charter Township of Alpena is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 5,839 residents in Alpena, Michigan (Alpena County) through 2,365 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 22 total violations for this system , of which 4 (18%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 15 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2020.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 7 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

Across Michigan, EPA tracks 10,959 public water systems serving 9,098,093 people, with 255,201 cumulative violations and 31,467 health-based violations on record. About 86% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 23.3 violations. Statewide, 87 of 318 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (27.4%).

Charter Township of Alpena's 22 violations sit below the Michigan average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

Population Served
5,839
Total Violations
22
Health-Based Violations
4
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
2,365
County
Alpena
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
4
Monitoring Violations
15
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MR 7 2015
Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 2001
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 2019
TTHM MR 4 2019
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 3 2020

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
HFPO-DA 8/11/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/11/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/11/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/11/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/11/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/11/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/11/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/11/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/11/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/11/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/11/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/11/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/11/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/11/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/11/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/11/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/11/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/11/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/11/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/11/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/11/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/11/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/11/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/11/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/11/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/11/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/11/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/11/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/11/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 5/13/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 5/13/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/13/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 5/13/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 5/13/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 5/13/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 5/13/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/13/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 5/13/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/13/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/13/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 5/13/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 5/13/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 5/13/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/13/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 5/13/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 5/13/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 5/13/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 5/13/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 5/13/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 5/13/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Charter Township of Alpena.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID MI0000170 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Michigan Drinking Water Authority

Michigan EGLE, Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Charter Township of Alpena under EPA-delegated authority.

Open MI regulator portal

Source: Michigan EGLE, Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2020 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 3 SDWIS / MI0000170 / 7000
2019 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 SDWIS / MI0000170 / 2456
2019 TTHM MR 4 SDWIS / MI0000170 / 2950
2015 Coliform (TCR) MR 7 SDWIS / MI0000170 / 3100
2001 Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 SDWIS / MI0000170 / 3100

How Charter Township of Alpena Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Charter Township of Alpena Michigan avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 22 23.3 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 4 2.9 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 27.4% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 5,839 830 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 10,959 regulated public water systems in Michigan.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charter Township of Alpena water safe to drink?
Charter Township of Alpena (PWS ID: MI0000170) has 22 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 5,839 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Charter Township of Alpena serve?
Charter Township of Alpena serves 5,839 people in Alpena, Michigan. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 2,365 service connections.
What type of violations does Charter Township of Alpena have?
Charter Township of Alpena has 22 total violations: 4 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 15 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Charter Township of Alpena water?
No. Charter Township of Alpena was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Charter Township of Alpena use?
Charter Township of Alpena uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.