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Houghton, MI Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Houghton, MI — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Houghton's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Houghton Township PWSID: MI0001930 Updated: 2026 Q2
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Lead above the federal action level

Lead is 38.00 ppb, 253% of the action level and no violations are open. PFAS has never been sampled at this system.

C

Houghton earns a C for water quality

Graded on violations and lead, with state inspection findings. PFAS not tested.

Lead: 38.00 ppb — 253% of the federal action level
PFAS never sampled at this system
2 violations since 2015, 0 health-based
No violations currently open
Houghton's lead level vs. all Michigan community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 38.00 ppb — 100% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 2% of Michigan utilities
Population Served
48
~60 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
2 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
100% of EPA action level
38.00 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 38.00 ppb, 253% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Revised Total Coliform Rule MONITORING FAILURE — — 2021 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2019 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

2 violations are on record since 2015, of which 0 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Houghton Township
PWSID MI0001930
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 48
Service connections 60
Systems serving this area 1
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Houghton tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 38.00 ppb, 253% of the action level.
Does Houghton water have PFAS? ▼
This system has never been sampled for PFAS. EPA's national monitoring covered systems serving 3,300 people or more, so no results exist — which is not evidence that none is present.
Who supplies water to Houghton? ▼
Houghton Township (PWSID MI0001930). Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2025-05-21. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Houghton Residents Do?

1
Consider a filter certified for lead
Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for lead reduction.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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