Public water system · MI2002006
ActiveSterling Elem School
At a glance
Sterling Elem School (PWSID MI2002006) is an active non-transient non-community water system in Arenac County, Michigan. It reports serving 356 people through 2 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as privately owned. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2022.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
356
Service connections
2
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
NTNCWS
Non-transient non-community water system
System record
How does Sterling Elem School compare with other water systems in Arenac County?
By EPA's size categories, Sterling Elem School is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Arenac County has 65 active public water systems. Its population served is about 12% above the county average of 317 people per system, and accounts for 1.7% of the 20,612 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Michigan, the 10,599 active systems average 847 people each. Nationally, the average active non-transient non-community water system reports serving 430 people, so Sterling Elem School is about 17% below that figure.
What does “non-transient non-community water system” mean?
A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. Michigan has 1,402 active non-transient non-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 Sterling Elem School?
EPA lists Sterling Elem School as privately owned. 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. 53 of the 65 active systems in Arenac County (82%) are also privately owned.
Does Sterling Elem School have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2022. The violations listed here began between January 2005 and January 2022. By type: 11 monitoring and reporting and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Arsenic (5 of them). EPA lists 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Arseniccode 1005 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Arseniccode 1005 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Arseniccode 1005 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Arseniccode 1005 | No | Resolved |
| 2006-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Arseniccode 1005 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Antimonycode 1074 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Cadmiumcode 1015 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Berylliumcode 1075 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Bariumcode 1010 | No | 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.
Sterling Elem School: frequently asked questions
Who runs Sterling Elem School?
Sterling Elem School (PWSID MI2002006) is a non-transient non-community water system privately owned. It is regulated by the MI state drinking water program.
How many people does Sterling Elem School serve?
Sterling Elem School reports serving 356 people through 2 service connections in Arenac County, Michigan.
Where does Sterling Elem School 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 Sterling Elem School have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2022. 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 Sterling Elem School'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, one is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2022. For current results, consult EPA ECHO, or the MI state drinking water program.
Where can I find Sterling Elem School's water quality report?
The annual Consumer Confidence Report requirement applies to community water systems. Sterling Elem School is a non-transient non-community water system, so it is not required to publish one; like every public water system, it must notify the people it serves about violations under EPA's public notification rules.
Other water systems in Arenac County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sims-Whitney Utilities Auth. | Arenac | 5,815 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Standish, City of | Arenac | 1,509 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Mdot - Alger Rest Area, R625 | Arenac | 1,000 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Au Gres, City of | Arenac | 945 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Standish-Sterling Central Elem | Arenac | 800 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Whites Canoe Livery Well | Arenac | 660 | 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, “Sterling Elem School, PWSID MI2002006, Michigan”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/michigan/sterling-elem-school-mi2002006 (data as of October 1, 2026).