Public water system · MI0004280
ActiveMerritt Township
At a glance
Merritt Township (PWSID MI0004280) is an active community water system in Bay County, Michigan. It reports serving 1,474 people through 528 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is health-based, and the most recent began in January 1996.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,474
Service connections
528
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Merritt Township compare with other water systems in Bay County?
By EPA's size categories, Merritt Township is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Bay County has 29 active public water systems. Its population served is about 57% below the county average of 3,416 people per system, and accounts for 1.5% of the 99,076 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 Merritt 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 surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 262 Michigan systems (2.5%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Merritt Township?
EPA lists Merritt 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. 21 of the 29 active systems in Bay County (72%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Merritt Township have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is health-based, and the most recent began in January 1996. By type: 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved is Total coliform bacteria (TCR). EPA lists 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
The one violation in EPA's records.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.
Merritt Township: frequently asked questions
Who runs Merritt Township?
Merritt Township (PWSID MI0004280) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MI state drinking water program.
How many people does Merritt Township serve?
Merritt Township reports serving 1,474 people through 528 service connections in Bay County, Michigan.
Where does Merritt Township get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Merritt Township have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is health-based, and the most recent began in January 1996. 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 Merritt 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. EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is health-based, and the most recent began in January 1996. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MI state drinking water program.
Where can I find Merritt Township's water quality report?
As a community water system, Merritt 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 Bay County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay City, City of | Bay | 32,255 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Bangor Township | Bay | 11,999 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Hampton Township | Bay | 9,652 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Bay Co. Dept of Water & Sewer | Bay | 8,465 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Williams Township | Bay | 5,444 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Monitor Township | Bay | 5,217 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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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, “Merritt Township, PWSID MI0004280, Michigan”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/michigan/merritt-township-mi0004280 (data as of October 1, 2026).