Is Kalamazoo water safe to drink?

Kalamazoo (PWS ID: MI0003520) has 28 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. EPA SDWIS lists this system's service population as 192,992 people using Groundwater sources.

How many people does Kalamazoo serve?

EPA SDWIS reports that Kalamazoo serves 192,992 people (this public water system's service population, not the municipal population of Kalamazoo or any other city). It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 41,411 service connections. The operator address is listed in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

What type of violations does Kalamazoo have?

Kalamazoo has 28 total violations: 16 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 6 monitoring/reporting violations, and 16 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in Kalamazoo water?

Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in Kalamazoo's water supply: PFBS, PFPeA, PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.

What water source does Kalamazoo use?

Kalamazoo uses Groundwater 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.

Where does Kalamazoo sit among U.S. public water systems?

According to EPA SDWIS population_served among sitemap-advertised systems (serving 500+), Kalamazoo ranks #222 of 29,740 by people served, and #4 of 1,375 in Michigan. Ordinals use population_served DESC among systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). See /methodology#corpus-placement.

How does Kalamazoo's violation count compare nationally?

Kalamazoo has 28 recorded EPA SDWIS violations, fewer than 59% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500 or more people nationwide (the same sitemap cohort used for the corpus-placement ranking above). 40% of that cohort has fewer violations than Kalamazoo. A system can have zero recorded violations and still be actively monitored, and a high violation count often reflects a system that reports thoroughly, not necessarily one with worse water.

States → Michigan

Community Water System · PWS MI0003520

Kalamazoo

Operator location Kalamazoo, Michigan - 57% of 28 violations are health-based (upper-third health share (> 23%)); groundwater source; 192,992 served per SDWIS.

Compiled by PlainWater · May 15, 2026

192,992
People served (this PWS) Larger third of systems: 28
EPA violations (this PWS) Middle third of systems: 16
Health-based (this PWS) Upper third by health-based share: 5 PFAS
UCMR5 (this PWS) Upper third of PFAS-detected systems

Follow published updates (RSS)

Kalamazoo standing, mid SDWIS violation third

57% of 28 recorded violations are health-based - upper-third health share (> 23%). Corpus terciles use 29,740 systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). Health-based share 57% is upper-third health share (> 23%). UCMR5: upper-third PFAS panel (> 4 compounds). Population rank #222 of 29,740 among systems serving 500+.

The verdict

Kalamazoo lands in the middle third by violation volume (28), large enough for peer comparisons without matching the fleet's heaviest ledgers. Population served is large (192,992; larger served population (> 3,309)), so household exposure scale sits behind the violation mix. Health-based share is 57% - most of this ledger is MCL or treatment-technique exceedance. UCMR5 detected 5 PFAS compounds (upper-third PFAS panel (> 4 compounds)).

#222 of 29,740
Population · /systems: #4 of 1,375
Population · MI: 28
Total EPA violations on record: 57%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)

Population ordinals match the sitemap cohort (systems serving 500+, population_served DESC). See methodology · corpus placement.

PFAS Detected

5 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Water Safety Score

39/100

Kalamazoo

Based on EPA SDWIS violation history and UCMR5 PFAS testing only, not water taste, odor, infrastructure age, or contaminants outside the federally tracked set.

Health-based violations F

EPA SDWIS health-based violations on record (MCL, MRDL, treatment technique)

Monitoring & reporting violations C+

Non-health SDWIS violations (monitoring, reporting, and other compliance)

PFAS contamination C

0.0076 µg/L

Highest PFAS compound level detected in UCMR5 testing

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 41,411
County: Kalamazoo
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 0
Monitoring Violations: 6
Treatment Tech Violations: 16

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
Lead and Copper Rule	TT	16	2019
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U	MR	4	2015
Nitrate-Nitrite	MR	2	1994

Violation Count vs. the National Corpus

Kalamazoo has 28 recorded EPA violations, 40% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500+ people nationwide carry fewer, and 59% carry more. 57% of this system's own violations are health-based (16 of 28), and it ranks #222 of 29,740 by population served among that same cohort.

EPA violations vs. the national water-system corpus

Public water systems serving 500+ people (EPA SDWIS)

28 Lower than most fewer violations than 59% of 29,740 water systems

the national water-system corpus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more water systems. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source EPA SDWIS · 2026-05-15

How many violations vs. how serious, among peer systems

Kalamazoo plotted against 29 peer public water systems (500+ people served), by total violation count (x) and the share of those violations that are health-based (y). The crosshair sits at this sample's own median on each axis. A high violation count does not automatically mean a serious record: most monitoring and reporting violations are minor, not health-based.

30 public water systems (500+ people served), EPA SDWIS current release.

How to read this

Each dot is one public water system; the highlighted dot is Kalamazoo. A system to the right has more recorded violations; a system higher up has a larger share of those violations classified health-based rather than monitoring or reporting.

Rare but serious: few violations, but most of them are health-based.
Frequent, mostly paperwork: many violations, but mostly monitoring or reporting, not health-based.
Clean record: below-median on both counts, the tinted corner.

View all 30 systems as a list

City of Ballinger: 372 violations, 85% health-based
Kalamazoo: 28 violations, 57% health-based (this system)
Nooksack Valley Water Association: 16 violations, 31% health-based
Montgomery Co RWD 12: 7 violations, 29% health-based
Irvin Water District #6: 11 violations, 27% health-based
Ticonderoga WD: 47 violations, 26% health-based
Pine Valley Plantation: 37 violations, 24% health-based
McLouth, City Of: 29 violations, 17% health-based
Kipling Oaks 1: 25 violations, 16% health-based
South Deerfield Water Supply District: 96 violations, 16% health-based
Sunset Ridge Water District: 82 violations, 15% health-based
Orange Water Dept: 136 violations, 14% health-based
Mount Pleasant Water Sys #1: 167 violations, 11% health-based
Lake Gibson Estates: 42 violations, 2% health-based
Benson Culinary Improvement District: 212 violations, 1% health-based
Conemaugh Twp Muni Auth: 567 violations, 1% health-based
Miccosukee Service Plaza: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Brazoria - Fort Bend Counties MUD 3: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Tanglewilde Thompson Place 600: 2 violations, 0% health-based
Center Water Co: 5 violations, 0% health-based
Spring Mills Elem School/Hvs: 9 violations, 0% health-based
Great Bend Industrial Park: 14 violations, 0% health-based
Glen Park Village: 19 violations, 0% health-based
Camp Is-Sho-Da: 22 violations, 0% health-based
Hamilton: 33 violations, 0% health-based
Town of Welaka: 54 violations, 0% health-based
Township of Blairstown Dpw: 61 violations, 0% health-based
McIntosh Water & Fire Pro Authority: 71 violations, 0% health-based
Clarkdale Municipal Water System: 114 violations, 0% health-based
Eureka Water Association: 273 violations, 0% health-based

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 18 of 754 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
PFUnA	9/27/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	9/27/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpS	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeS	9/27/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	9/27/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMBA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMPA	9/27/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	9/27/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	9/27/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	9/27/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	9/27/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDoA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	9/27/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	9/27/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	9/27/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	9/27/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	9/27/2023	4.60 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
ADONA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	9/27/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	9/27/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	9/27/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	9/27/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMPA	9/27/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	9/27/2023	3.50 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
PFMBA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	9/27/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	9/27/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	9/27/2023	3.70 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
PFPeS	9/27/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDoA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	9/27/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	9/27/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	9/27/2023	7.60 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
PFHpS	9/27/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	9/27/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	9/27/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	9/27/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected

Health-based violations on Kalamazoo

16 health-based rows in the tables above map to MCL or treatment-technique exceedances, verify each contaminant code on the federal SDWIS report for MI0003520.

EPA SDWIS · PWS MI0003520 MI primacy agency

Sources: EPA SDWIS · Michigan EGLE, Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division

Nationwide peers

28 violations · 192,992 served: nearest cross-state SDWIS matches.

Cross-state systems near this violation count

Nearest cross-state community systems (500+ served) by total SDWIS violations on record.

4 peers

Cross-state systems with similar served population

Nearest cross-state systems by EPA SDWIS population_served (same 500+ sitemap gate).

4 peers

What to do with Kalamazoo

Use this system's EPA-reported record as a starting filter, not a final verdict.

See how every tracked system in Michigan compares on the same EPA violation measures. Michigan systems
Check whether PFAS was detected at this system under UCMR5 testing. PFAS guide
Find and compare another public water system by name or PWSID. Search systems

EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 figures are informational only, not a substitute for a certified lab test of your own tap water.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater

Compiled by PlainWater, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Process · May 15, 2026

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