Midland County, Michigan: drinking water report. Midland County in central Michigan has a population of about 83,000.
Midland County in central Michigan has a population of about 83,000. The county is inseparable from Dow Chemical, which has operated its global headquarters and largest manufacturing complex here since 1897. The City of Midland draws water from the Tittabawassee River, which flows past Dow's facilities. The 2020 Edenville Dam failure, which caused catastrophic flooding in Midland and breached containment of Dow's Superfund-designated floodplain, added a dramatic chapter to the county's water quality story.
The Tittabawassee River is contaminated with dioxins from Dow's historical manufacturing operations. According to EPA Superfund records, dioxin levels in river sediment and floodplain soil exceed cleanup standards for miles downstream of the Dow facility. The 2020 flood redistributed contaminated sediment across residential areas, and cleanup is ongoing. While Midland's water treatment plant addresses dioxins in drinking water, the source water contamination is persistent.
The EPA's UCMR5 data shows PFAS detections in the Midland system. A 2024 Michigan EGLE assessment documented PFAS at levels near 10 ppt in the city's distribution system. Dow's operations, including AFFF use at the facility, contribute PFAS to the regional contamination picture.
Midland's relationship with Dow Chemical means the contamination picture is layered – dioxins in the floodplain, PFAS in groundwater and surface water, and the ongoing effects of the 2020 flood. Household treatment adds a margin of safety that the source water situation warrants.
Check your water for current monitoring data. For dioxins and PFAS, reverse osmosis provides the broadest household protection. Our water filter guide covers systems certified for industrial contaminants. Pull your detailed report for historical context, and visit our Michigan page for statewide data.