Public water system · MI0000470
ActiveBay City, City of
At a glance
City of Bay City (PWSID MI0000470) is an active community water system in Bay County, Michigan. It reports serving 32,255 people through 14,756 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
32,255
Service connections
14,756
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does City of Bay City compare with other water systems in Bay County?
By EPA's size categories, City of Bay City is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Bay County has 29 active public water systems, and City of Bay City is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 9.4 times the county average of 3,416 people per system, and accounts for 33% of the 99,076 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Michigan, the 10,599 active systems average 847 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so City of Bay City is about 4.8 times that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
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. Michigan has 1,332 active community water systems, 13% of the state's 10,599 active systems. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 262 Michigan systems (2.5%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates City of Bay City?
EPA lists City of Bay City as owned by a local government. The MI state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 21 of the 29 active systems in Bay County (72%) are also owned by a local government.
Does City of Bay City have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2024. The violations listed here began between December 1995 and January 2024. By type: 3 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 required treatment not met, 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) (3 of them). EPA lists 6 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-01 | Required treatment not metWQP Entry Point/Tap Treatment Technique Non-Compliance · code 59 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2020-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1995-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Minor (TCR) · code 26 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
All 6 violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
City of Bay City: frequently asked questions
Who runs City of Bay City?
City of Bay City (PWSID MI0000470) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MI state drinking water program.
How many people does City of Bay City serve?
City of Bay City reports serving 32,255 people through 14,756 service connections in Bay County, Michigan.
Where does City of Bay City get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does City of Bay City have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2024. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is City of Bay City's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2024. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MI state drinking water program.
Where can I find City of Bay City's water quality report?
As a community water system, City of Bay City must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Bay County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor Township | Bay | 11,999 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Hampton Township | Bay | 9,652 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Bay Co. Dept of Water & Sewer | Bay | 8,465 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Williams Township | Bay | 5,444 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Monitor Township | Bay | 5,217 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Frankenlust Township | Bay | 3,626 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Bay City, City of, PWSID MI0000470, Michigan”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/michigan/bay-city-city-of-mi0000470 (data as of October 1, 2026).