Public water system · MI0000660
ActiveBessemer
At a glance
Bessemer (PWSID MI0000660) is an active community water system in Gogebic County, Michigan. It reports serving 1,619 people through 1,100 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,619
Service connections
1,100
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Bessemer compare with other water systems in Gogebic County?
By EPA's size categories, Bessemer is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Gogebic County has 40 active public water systems, and Bessemer is the 3rd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 4.6 times the county average of 352 people per system, and accounts for 11% of the 14,084 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 Bessemer 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 Bessemer?
EPA lists Bessemer 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. 8 of the 40 active systems in Gogebic County (20%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Bessemer have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. The violations listed here began between August 2002 and July 2025. By type: 2 monitoring and reporting, 2 contaminant level above the legal limit and 1 reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (3 of them). EPA lists 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-02 | ReportingNotification, Known or Potential LSL · code 4H | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-09-26 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Minor (TCR) · code 26 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2004-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2002-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
All 5 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.
Bessemer: frequently asked questions
Who runs Bessemer?
Bessemer (PWSID MI0000660) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MI state drinking water program.
How many people does Bessemer serve?
Bessemer reports serving 1,619 people through 1,100 service connections in Gogebic County, Michigan.
Where does Bessemer 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 Bessemer have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. 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 Bessemer'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 5 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MI state drinking water program.
Where can I find Bessemer's water quality report?
As a community water system, Bessemer 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 Gogebic County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ironwood | Gogebic | 5,387 | Community | Groundwater |
| Wakefield | Gogebic | 1,808 | Community | Groundwater |
| Gun Barrell Lodge | Gogebic | 600 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Watersmeet Township | Gogebic | 575 | Community | Groundwater |
| Bessemer Township | Gogebic | 551 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Ironwood Township | Gogebic | 474 | Community | Purchased 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, “Bessemer, PWSID MI0000660, Michigan”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/michigan/bessemer-mi0000660 (data as of October 1, 2026).