Public water system · MI0003230
ActiveHoughton
At a glance
Houghton (PWSID MI0003230) is an active community water system in Houghton County, Michigan. It reports serving 8,386 people through 1,426 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in February 2023.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
8,386
Service connections
1,426
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Houghton compare with other water systems in Houghton County?
By EPA's size categories, Houghton is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Houghton County has 46 active public water systems, and Houghton is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 11 times the county average of 733 people per system, and accounts for 25% of the 33,702 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 Houghton is about 25% 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 Houghton?
EPA lists Houghton 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. 15 of the 46 active systems in Houghton County (33%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Houghton have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in February 2023. The violations listed here began between September 1996 and February 2023. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting, 1 monitoring and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-02-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2022-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2022-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2020-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingWater Quality Parameter M/R · code 53 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | 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.
Houghton: frequently asked questions
Who runs Houghton?
Houghton (PWSID MI0003230) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MI state drinking water program.
How many people does Houghton serve?
Houghton reports serving 8,386 people through 1,426 service connections in Houghton County, Michigan.
Where does Houghton 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 Houghton have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in February 2023. 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 Houghton'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; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in February 2023. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MI state drinking water program.
Where can I find Houghton's water quality report?
As a community water system, Houghton 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 Houghton County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Michigan Water Company | Houghton | 5,535 | Community | Groundwater |
| Hancock | Houghton | 4,500 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Adams Township | Houghton | 2,010 | Community | Groundwater |
| Laurium | Houghton | 1,947 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Osceola Township | Houghton | 1,391 | Community | Groundwater |
| Portage Township | Houghton | 1,214 | 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, “Houghton, PWSID MI0003230, Michigan”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/michigan/houghton-mi0003230 (data as of October 1, 2026).