MICHIGAN’S WATER SUPPLY PROGRAM

MICHIGAN’S WATER
SUPPLY PROGRAM
Act 190 P.A. 1889
Set limits on flowing well discharges
Act 98 P.A. 1913
State health
department is
given control
over
Community
supplies
1920’s
Michigan legislature
considered well
drilling licensing.
1929
Michigan Well Drillers Association was
established.
 Considered Well Driller Licensing
1937
Michigan Board
of Water Well
Drillers
was established
1940’s
Voluntary standards were established with
cooperation among:



Michigan Well Drillers’ Association
Michigan Department of Health
Michigan Department of Conservation
1941
Non specific regulations on non-municipal
public water supplies.
1949
MDH bulletin: “Ground
Water Supplies for Homes
and Small Institutions”
 Health aspects
 GW pollution
 GW flow direction
 Isolation distances
 Well depths
 Types of wells
 Springs
 Pumps
 Well seals
 Frost pits
 Water analyses
1950’s and 1960’s
Some county permit provisions were established
1966 and 1967
Private Water Supplies
 Ground Water
Quality Control Act
passed in 1966.
 Ground Water
Quality Control
Rules effective on
February 14, 1967.
1976 - 1978
Public Water
Supplies
 Safe Drinking
Water Act passed
in 1976.
 SDWA Rules
effective in 1978.
Well Construction Program
 Administers Well Drilling Contractor and
Pump Installation Contractor registration
program
 Provides technical assistance to well drilling
contractors, local health department staff, and
general public
 Provides training to local health
departments and well drilling and pump
installation contractors
Well Construction Program
 Performs annual evaluations of LHD well
permitting/inspection programs.
 Administers Wellogic, the program that allows
contractors to submit well logs electronically.
 Initiates escalated enforcement actions to
suspend or revoke Certificates of Registration
when a pattern of noncompliance exists.
 Evaluates water well components
pursuant to Michigan Well Code.
Michigan’s Drinking Water
Supply Program
Incorporates a preventive public health
strategy to ensure that newly installed water
well systems are safe and reliable
Proper and sanitary
well construction is
the key to a safe
water supply!
Michigan’s Drinking Water
Supply Program
Administered as a joint effort between
Michigan’s local health departments
(LHD) and the DEQ.
44 LHDs SERVING
MICHIGAN’S 83 COUNTIES
42
31
66
7
27
52
48
2
17
36
75
49
22
21
55
24
16
71
15
5
69
60
4
20
68
1
72
65
35
45
Local Health Departments
in the State of Michigan
Benzie-Leelanau
Barry-Eaton
Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph
Central Michigan
Delta-Menominee
District #2
District #4
District #10
Greater Thumb
Iron-Dickinson
LMAS
Mid-Michigan
Northwest Michigan
Van Buren-Cass
Western Upper Peninsula
40
28
10
51
83
53
57
43
67
18
6
26
32
54
64
37
9
56
62
79
61
59
29
34
19
74
73
25
70
41
44
77
76
50
3
80
11
14
8
33
23
39
13
78
12
47
38
30
63
81
46
82
58
DRINKING WATER SUPPLY PROGRAM
FUNDING AT LHD’S
State of
Michigan
Local
Health
Department
$TATE FUND$ FROM ANNUAL
APPROPRIATION BY STATE LEGISLATURE
State/LHD Committee
Consensus
LHD’s must comply with the
Minimum Program Requirements
(MPR) to receive state funding
ANNUAL LHD
EVALUATIONS
for MPR Compliance
State/LHD Well Code Implementation
BENEFITS TO WELL DRILLING INDUSTRY
Standardization of Inspections
Improved Communication with Local
Health Departments
Complaint Investigation and
Enforcement by Local Agency
Reduction of Competition from
Unregistered Contractors
MPRs require LHDs to do the
following:
* Issue permits
* Inspect wells
* Investigate complaints
* Investigate contamination sites
* Approve water supply systems
LHD Final Approvals
1. Approved water well & pump record
2. Safe coliform bacteria sample
3. Inspection of the water supply
system
LHDs may require more
extensive sampling depending
on local conditions.
Local code requirements may be more
stringent than state code
requirements.
• Isolation distances
• Water sampling
• Land Division Act - subdivisions
Permits in areas of groundwater
contamination may also have more
stringent permit conditions.
Contact the LHD
For questions regarding:
permit requirements
well locations & deviations
flowing wells
water well records
water sampling & quality
water supply inspections