Public water system · MI0005600
ActiveBessemer Township
At a glance
Bessemer Township (PWSID MI0005600) is an active community water system in Gogebic County, Michigan. It reports serving 551 people through 437 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
551
Service connections
437
Primary source
GWP
Purchased groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Bessemer Township compare with other water systems in Gogebic County?
By EPA's size categories, Bessemer Township is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Gogebic County has 40 active public water systems, and Bessemer Township is the 6th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 56% above the county average of 352 people per system, and accounts for 3.9% 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 Township 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. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 42 Michigan systems (0.4%) list purchased groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Bessemer Township?
EPA lists Bessemer Township 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 Township have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. The violations listed here began between September 1991 and October 2024. By type: 7 monitoring and reporting, 2 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 required treatment not met, 1 reporting and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (5 of them). EPA lists 10 as resolved and 2 as unaddressed. 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. Unaddressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is not yet covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-17 | Required treatment not metLSL Inventory · code 2E | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | Yes | Unaddressed |
| 2024-10-17 | ReportingLSL Reporting · code 4G | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2023-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-07-11 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1996-05-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1991-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
The 12 most recent 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 Township: frequently asked questions
Who runs Bessemer Township?
Bessemer Township (PWSID MI0005600) 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 Township serve?
Bessemer Township reports serving 551 people through 437 service connections in Gogebic County, Michigan.
Where does Bessemer Township get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased groundwater. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Bessemer Township have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 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 Bessemer Township'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. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 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 Bessemer Township's water quality report?
As a community water system, Bessemer Township 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 |
| Bessemer | Gogebic | 1,619 | Community | Groundwater |
| Gun Barrell Lodge | Gogebic | 600 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Watersmeet Township | Gogebic | 575 | Community | 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 Township, PWSID MI0005600, Michigan”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/michigan/bessemer-township-mi0005600 (data as of October 1, 2026).