Commerce Township, Oakland County, Michigan

CAEenter for pplied nvironmental R esearch University of Michigan-Flint ARSENIC, NITRATE, AND CHLORIDE IN GROUNDWATER, COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN

INTRODUCTION Protection Agency. The maps were based on historical data The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Center for Applied from records compiled by the Michigan Department of Environmental Research at the University of Michigan-Flint (CAER) Environmental Quality (MDEQ). The USGS collected and mapped distributions of arsenic, nitrate, and chloride in the analyzed samples to test the water quality in a number of these groundwater of Oakland County. Emphasis was placed on sites that wells to confirm the overall validity of the historical records. exceeded Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) and Secondary The maps showed that each of the chemical constituents is Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCL) set by the U.S. Environmental widely distributed. High concentrations of arsenic are most

gyyvi‰2veui2‚hF gywwi‚gi2„y‡xƒrs€ vong2v—ke ‡e„i‚2 evs„‡e„i‚2 evs„‰‰

f

y

q P

s

F Q i h 2

ve I ‚

2 R

S u ‰

i hF i ‡eui2‚

2 ‚ g

T ‚ erseni™D2nitr—teD2 xitr—te2—nd2™hloride e e

h

‚ g

F

‚ —nd2™hloride2—˜ove2wgv —˜ove2wgv

y

v

v

2

v

e

u

gywwi‚gi2‚hF i 2 erseni™2—nd2nitr—te ‚

h xitr—te2—˜ove2wgv

F —˜ove2wgv

II IP gi2‚hF erseni™2—nd2™hloride gywwi‚ ghloride2—˜ove2ƒwgv ƒvii„r2‚hF —˜ove2wgv

IH F

V W h ‚

U ƒherwood2 2 x

s xo2o˜serv—tions i

v—ke „ erseni™2—˜ove2wgv

ƒ @see2t—˜leA x

i xorth2 vower2ƒtr—its2v—ke f

ƒ

y gommer™e2 x hF ƒvii„r2‚ i

„

‡

f r

e „ v—ke 2 g

ƒ y ƒh—ded2se™tions2—re2within2one2qu—rter2mile2 g

y

ƒ x r

wwi

2 e ‚ IQ

‚

h of2—n2o˜serv—tion2gre—ter2th—n2the2i€e2

w

F v

‚

ƒ e

g

2 u IR ‚

i w—ximum2gont—min—nt2vevel2@wgvA2 i

h yx2‚hF 2 sgre‚hƒ ‚ ‚ F IT ‚hF IS h IV F for2either2—rseni™D2nitr—teD2or2™hloride IU erseni™2@€rim—ry2wgvaHFHS2mgGlAD2

euvi‰2€e‚u2‚hF xitr—te2@€rim—ry2wgvaIH2mgExGlAD2—nd2 y ghloride2@ƒe™ond—ry2wgvaPSH2mgGlA —re2the2™ont—min—nts2in™ludedF

‡

PP i

v

g PR

PQ r Sections with: Arsenic Nitrate Chloride

2

‚

h No observations 5,17-19,36 17,18,36 17,18,36

F ‡sˆyw2‚hF Observations, but 3,4,7-10,13-16, 1-8,10-16,20- 1,4,7,8,10,21, PH PI ‡yv†i‚sxi no detectable 20-23,27-30 25,27-33,35 23,24,27,29 IW qvixqe‚‰2‚hF veui contaminant Observations 1-3,6-16,21-35 1-16,19-35 1-16,19-35 below MCL

vyyx ve ui ‚h F ‡olverine2v—ke g €u˜li™2‡—ter2ev—il—˜ility2in r PS e ‚ w voon2v—ke PT ƒ gommer™e2„ownship 2‚ PU h F H g‚ wf2‚hF Q PV ere—2with2pu˜li™2w—ter

F PW —v—il—˜le

h

‚ 2

F ‡evvih2veui

w h ‚ y 2‚hF

2 ‡F2we€vi

ˆ

x

s

s i ‡ €y„„i‚2‚hF

„ gityD2vill—geD

ƒ x

i township2˜ound—ries f ‡sˆyw ƒe™tion2lines

QS QT

F h

QI ‚ 2

‡iƒ„2we€vi2‚hF QP QQ QR

„‰

‚

i

q

q e ‡—lled2v—ke r IR2wsvi2‚hF

€yx„seg2„‚esv x

ƒy ‚giƒX22wi™hig—n2hep—rtment2of2invironment—l2u—lity2IWVQEIWWU2@ex™luding2IWWIEWPA H I2wsvi 222222222222222222222wi™hig—n2hep—rtment2of2x—tur—l2‚esour™esD2wi™hig—n2‚esour™e2snform—tion2ƒystem2@ws‚sƒAD2IWUV 222222222222222222222y—kl—nd2gounty2qsƒ2 tilityD2IWWU H I2usvywi„i‚ HOW TO USE THE TOWNSHIP MAP Carefully review the map to find the approximate location of your home. If you find that your home is in one of the areas highlighted on the map, the Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) recommends that you obtain a water sample from your well to test for the contaminants indicated for that area. Contact the OCHD for information on obtaining sample bottles and procedures for collecting a sample. Homeowners with a well are, in effect, running their own small water utility. The best way to assure a safe drinking-water supply anywhere in Oakland County is to have water samples analyzed regularly by a certified public or private laboratory.Arsenic tests are conducted by the MDEQ. The OCHD can analyze samples for nitrate and chloride levels and also provide a list of certified private laboratories in the area who can test your water.

U.S. Department of the Interior Fact Sheet 153-98 U.S. Geological Survey December 1998 common in the northern and northwestern parts of the county. itrate The township maps were prepared using the address-matched has been detected in groundwater in most townships but samples with database and a detailed base map which included residential concentrations above the MCL tend to cluster around high-density roads. Square mile sections were highlighted if they contained lakeshore communities. Chlorides are the most widely distributed and a well with a measurement higher than the (S)MCL for each samples with concentrations above the SMCL also cluster in high- constituent or were within a -mile of one of these wells. density lakeshore communities. These sections were shaded to indicate the multiple combinations of (S)MCL exceedances that were possible. To provide homeowners with more detailed information on the distribution of these water-quality indicators, a series of township maps HOW WERE THE SAMPE DATA COECTED have been prepared. These maps highlight square-mile sections that AND EAUATED contain, or are close to, wells in which concentrations of arsenic, nitrate, or chloride greater than the (S)MCL have been detected. The USGS collected water samples across Oakland County at HOW WERE THE MAPS PREPARED selected sites with previous analyses for arsenic, nitrate or chloride. Each new sample was collected using clean The MDEQ maintains a database of results from water-quality tests sampling techniques to minimize the risk of contamination. conducted for homeowners and businesses. In this study, maps were Duplicate samples were sent to both the MDEQ laboratory and prepared from records of tests in Oakland County where arsenic, nitrate the USGS ational ater Quality Laboratory (QL) in and chloride measurements were made. The data spanned the years Denver, Colorado. Results from the USGS QL were from 1988 through 1997 (excluding 1991-92). compared against the results from MDEQ and against results from the previous samples. The results from the MDEQ Addresses for each of the records were matched to an Oakland County laboratory agreed very closely with the results from the USGS road file through an address-matching procedure in a Geographic QL. This sample testing confirmed the validity of using Information System. All sites with arsenic concentrations greater than the MDEQ database in maps prepared for the study. the MCL were mapped. For nitrate and chloride, the success rates were 94 percent and 81 percent, respectively. Data coverage for all the by Steve Aichele (USGS), Richard Hill-Rowley (CAER), and chemical constituents was extensive, although the distribution of test Matt Malone (CAER) results for arsenic was least concentrated in the southeastern part of the county, where public water supply is most available.

WHAT CAN I DO I I HAE ARSENIC NITRATE OR CHORIDE IN M WATER

ou may wish to have an additional sample collected to confirm the results of the first test. If your drinking water contains concentrations of arsenic or nitrate above the MCL, MDEQ and the OCHD recommend that you stop using the contaminated water for drinking and preparing food. ottled water is a possible temporary solution. either arsenic nor nitrate pose a health risk through skin exposure, so the contaminated water can still be used for washing, laundry, and other household uses. Chloride is not generally considered to be a health concern.

Long-term solutions for high arsenic or nitrate concentrations include connecting to a public water supply, modifying the existing well or installing a new well, installing a treatment device such as a Reverse Osmosis (RO) filter, or using bottled water indefinitely. Chloride concentrations are a less serious concern than those associated with arsenic and nitrate and connecting to a public water supply or installing a treatment device such as a RO filter are the primary solutions.

ecause treatment devices require regular maintenance to remain effective, MDEQ and Oakland County both recommend obtaining a new source of drinking water, either by connecting to a public water supply or, where high arsenic or nitrate concentrations are a concern, by drilling a new well.

The OCHD can provide additional information and advice on a solution to fit your needs.

CAEenter for pplied nvironmental R esearch University of Michigan-Flint U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Applied Environmental Research Oakland County Health Division ater Resources Division University of Michigan - Flint 1200 . Telegraph Road 6520 Mercantile ay, Ste. 5 Room 529 Murchie Science ldg. Pontiac, MI 48341-0432 Lansing, MI 48911 Flint, MI 48502-2186 (248) 858-1312 (517) 887 - 8903 (810) 766-6608 httpwww.co.oakland.mi.us httpwwwdmilns.er.usgs.gov httpwww.umf-outreach.edu