Kalamazoo County, Michigan: drinking water report. Kalamazoo County serves about 265,000 residents.
Kalamazoo County serves about 265,000 residents. The City of Kalamazoo draws from both groundwater wells and the Kalamazoo River. The county is known for its paper manufacturing heritage – and for the 2010 Enbridge oil pipeline rupture in the Kalamazoo River, which spilled over 800,000 gallons of diluted bitumen into the waterway in one of the largest inland oil spills in US history.
The 2010 oil spill prompted extensive cleanup that lasted years, but the Kalamazoo River's ecological and water quality recovery continues. The city's drinking water intakes were not directly affected (they are upstream of the spill site), but the event heightened awareness of contamination risks.
Michigan's PFAS MCLs for seven compounds apply to Kalamazoo County systems. UCMR5 data shows detections in some systems. According to Michigan EGLE's 2024 data, PFAS from historical manufacturing – including paper industry chemicals – has been found in groundwater at several locations across the county. Fort Custer Training Center is another potential PFAS source.
Kalamazoo County's industrial history and the 2010 spill make water quality a topic of active public interest. Michigan's strict standards drive more monitoring than most states.
Check your water for data in your area. Our water filter guide covers effective PFAS treatment options. Pull your detailed report, and visit our Michigan page for statewide data.