The Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNW) and the Northern Michigan Public Health Alliance (NMPHA) are joining communities across the nation in celebrating Drinking Water Week, May 3-9. Led by the American Water Works Association, the annual observance highlights the importance of safe, reliable drinking water and recognizes the tireless efforts of water professionals who keep it flowing year-round.

“Safe drinking water is something people count on every day, often without a second thought,” says Jeremy Fruk, Environmental Health Directors at HDNW. “Drinking Water Week is an opportunity to recognize the professionals who make that service possible and to reflect on the continued work it takes to maintain and strengthen the systems our communities depend on.”

This week is also a time to bring attention to the 2.6 million Michiganders who depend on private wells for their drinking water, and the responsibilities of well owners to properly maintain and test their wells.

Following recent flooding across the region, HDNW, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), is providing free bacteriological water testing kits to residents in Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet counties.

Residents who rely on private wells in affected areas are strongly encouraged to obtain a free water sample kit from HDNW to test their drinking water. Flooding can introduce harmful bacteria into well systems, and testing is an important step to help ensure the water is safe for household use.

Free kits are available while supplies last.

Tips to Maintain Your Well

• Use the Well Assessed Tool to complete your own well assessment every year,
• Monitor your well’s surroundings: look around your wellhead frequently to see if there are items or materials nearby that could impact your well,
• Address any concerns you have with your well: contact a professional well driller to evaluate the condition of your well, and
• Locate documents about your well: it’s important to hold onto documents about your well, such as your water well record, containing important information like well location, depth and more.

Tips to Maintain Your Home’s Drinking Water Quality

• Keep your water moving: water quality problems can happen when water sits in your home plumbing for too long,
• Clean your aerator every six months: there are screens on faucets called aerators, they help keep pieces of lead and other particles from getting into your water,
• Check your home plumbing: your own home’s plumbing can be a source of contamination in your drinking water, this checklist helps you to know if you’re at risk,
• Test your water: 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’re interested in having your water tested, HDNW offers bacteriological and partial chemical sample testing to ensure safe, clean drinking water. Water samples are tested in our Gaylord lab but can be dropped off at any of our HDNW locations. Samples must be collected on the day they are dropped off. For more information on water testing visit our Drinking Water and Wells page at nwhealth.org/drinking-water or call us locally at 800-432-4121.