Public water system · MI0000510
ActiveBear Lake, Village of
At a glance
Village of Bear Lake (PWSID MI0000510) is an active community water system in Manistee County, Michigan. It reports serving 318 people through 175 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 8 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2015.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
318
Service connections
175
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Village of Bear Lake compare with other water systems in Manistee County?
By EPA's size categories, Village of Bear Lake is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Manistee County has 89 active public water systems. Its population served is about 53% above the county average of 208 people per system, and accounts for 1.7% of the 18,490 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 Village of Bear Lake is well below 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. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 10,214 Michigan systems (96%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Village of Bear Lake?
EPA lists Village of Bear Lake 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. 4 of the 89 active systems in Manistee County (4.5%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Village of Bear Lake have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 8 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2015. The violations listed here began between October 1991 and July 2015. By type: 4 contaminant level above the legal limit, 2 monitoring and reporting and 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (5 of them). EPA lists 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2010-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 1995-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1995-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1991-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
All 8 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.
Village of Bear Lake: frequently asked questions
Who runs Village of Bear Lake?
Village of Bear Lake (PWSID MI0000510) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MI state drinking water program.
How many people does Village of Bear Lake serve?
Village of Bear Lake reports serving 318 people through 175 service connections in Manistee County, Michigan.
Where does Village of Bear Lake get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Village of Bear Lake have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 8 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2015. 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 Village of Bear Lake'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 8 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2015. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MI state drinking water program.
Where can I find Village of Bear Lake's water quality report?
As a community water system, Village of Bear Lake 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 Manistee County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manistee, City of | Manistee | 6,200 | Community | Groundwater |
| Wesco Parkdale 36 | Manistee | 1,100 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Filer Charter Township | Manistee | 940 | Community | Groundwater |
| Onekama Ez-Mart | Manistee | 780 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Orchard Beach State Pk | Manistee | 700 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Saddle Up Gas & Grocery | Manistee | 600 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
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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, “Bear Lake, Village of, PWSID MI0000510, Michigan”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/michigan/bear-lake-village-of-mi0000510 (data as of October 1, 2026).