Public water system · MI0000710
ActiveBig Rapids
At a glance
Big Rapids (PWSID MI0000710) is an active community water system in Mecosta County, Michigan. It reports serving 10,403 people through 2,386 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 4 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
10,403
Service connections
2,386
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Big Rapids compare with other water systems in Mecosta County?
By EPA's size categories, Big Rapids is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Mecosta County has 152 active public water systems, and Big Rapids is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 46 times the county average of 225 people per system, and accounts for 30% of the 34,117 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 Big Rapids is about 55% above 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 Big Rapids?
EPA lists Big Rapids 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. 1 of the 152 active systems in Mecosta County (0.7%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Big Rapids have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. The violations listed here began between December 1996 and July 2025. By type: 2 required treatment not met, 1 reporting and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (2 of them). EPA lists 4 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 |
| 2023-07-01 | Required treatment not metWQP Entry Point/Tap Treatment Technique Non-Compliance · code 59 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2020-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingWater Quality Parameter M/R · code 53 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-12-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
All 4 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.
Big Rapids: frequently asked questions
Who runs Big Rapids?
Big Rapids (PWSID MI0000710) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MI state drinking water program.
How many people does Big Rapids serve?
Big Rapids reports serving 10,403 people through 2,386 service connections in Mecosta County, Michigan.
Where does Big Rapids 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 Big Rapids have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 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 Big Rapids' 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 4 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 Big Rapids' water quality report?
As a community water system, Big Rapids 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 Mecosta County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wesco #60 | Mecosta | 900 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Hometown Grocery | Mecosta | 800 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Canadian Lakes Gas | Mecosta | 765 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Davis Bridge General | Mecosta | 700 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Chippewa Hills Middle School | Mecosta | 700 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Beacon & Bridges Market | Mecosta | 700 | 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, “Big Rapids, PWSID MI0000710, Michigan”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/michigan/big-rapids-mi0000710 (data as of October 1, 2026).