Bay County, Michigan — public water systems

How does Bay County compare with other Michigan counties?

Bay County has the 80th-most active public water systems among the 131 counties listed for active Michigan systems in EPA records; among the 88 with 3 or more systems, the median has 92. Its systems report 99,076 people served in total, the 18th-largest county figure in the state and 1.1% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 3,416 people, about 4 times the Michigan average of 847. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Bay County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Bay County's active systems draw on purchased surface water (20, 69%), groundwater (8, 28%) and surface water (1, 3.4%). Overall, 28% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 72% on surface water, compared with 97% and 3.1% across Michigan. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. The county's largest system, City of Bay City, draws primarily on purchased surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Bay County?

Bay County's active systems break down as 21 community systems (72%) and 8 transient non-community systems (28%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as local government (72%) and private (28%).