Safe, Clean Drinking Water for Our Campus Community

This report covers drinking water quality for the 2022 calendar year at Glen Oaks Community College.

This report is published in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and State of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) regulations.


Where Our Water Comes From

Our water comes from three groundwater wells, each more than 208 feet deep.

  • No maximum contaminant level violations for groundwater wells
  • Well construction meets regulatory standards
  • No known contamination sources within the required isolation area

2022 Water Quality Data Summary

Regulated Contaminants Detected – Glen Oaks Community College Water Quality Report (2022)
Contaminant MCL / Standard MCLG Level Detected Range Year Sampled Violation Typical Source
Arsenic (ppb) 10 0 5.83 3–9 2022 No Erosion of natural deposits
Fluoride (ppm) 4 4 0.19 N/A 2021 No Erosion of natural deposits
Sodium (ppm)* Not regulated N/A 150 N/A 2020 No Erosion of natural deposits
Total Coliform Bacteria Treatment Technique N/A N/A N/A 2022 Yes Naturally present in the environment

* Sodium is not a regulated contaminant under federal drinking water standards.

Arsenic Health Effects Statement

While your drinking water meets the U.S. EPA standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. The U.S. EPA standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. The U.S. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic. Arsenic is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.


PFAS Monitoring Results (2022)

Regulated PFAS Contaminants

Regulated PFAS contaminants detected (or reported) for the 2022 calendar year. Results shown in parts per trillion (ppt).
Regulated Contaminant MCL (ppt) MCLG Level Detected (ppt) Range Year Sampled Violation Typical Source
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) 370 N/A <2.0 N/A 2022 No Industrial discharge utilizing GenX process
Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) 420 N/A <2.0 N/A 2022 No Industrial discharge; stain-resistant treatments
Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) 51 N/A <2.0 N/A 2022 No Firefighting foam; industrial discharge
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) 400,000 N/A <2.0 N/A 2022 No Firefighting foam; industrial discharge
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) 6 N/A <2.0 N/A 2022 No Industrial discharge; breakdown of precursor compounds
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) 16 N/A <2.0 N/A 2022 No Firefighting foam; electroplating discharge
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) 8 N/A <2.0 N/A 2022 No Industrial discharge; stain-resistant treatments

Notes: “N/A” means not applicable. “<2.0” indicates results were below the laboratory reporting limit.

Inorganic Contaminants Subject to Action Levels (AL)

 

Contaminant Action Level MCLG 90th Percentile Result Range of Results Year Sampled Number of Samples Above AL Typical Source
Lead (ppb) 15 0 0 ppb 0–1 ppb 2021 0 Lead service lines; corrosion of plumbing; natural deposits
Copper (ppm) 1.3 1.3 0.1 ppm 0–0.1 ppm 2021 0 Corrosion of household plumbing; natural deposits

Ninety (90) percent of samples collected were at or below the levels reported above.

Information about lead: If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Glen Oaks Community College is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you have a lead service line it is recommended that you run your water for at least 5 minutes to flush water from both your home plumbing and the lead service line. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

During the past year we were required to conduct 1 Level 1 Assessment(s). 1 Level 1 Assessment(s) were completed. In addition, we were required to take 1 corrective action and we completed 1 of these actions.

During the past year 1 Level 2 Assessments were required to be completed for our water supply. 1 Level 2 Assessments were completed. In addition, we were required to take 2 corrective actions and we completed of these actions.

Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, waterborne pathogens may be present or that a potential pathway exists through which contamination may enter the drinking water distribution system. We found coliforms, indicating the need to look for potential problems in water treatment or distribution. When this occurs, we are required to conduct assessment(s) to identify problems and to correct the problems that were found during these assessments.

Monitoring and Reporting to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Requirements: The State of Michigan and the U.S. EPA require us to test our water on a regular basis to ensure its safety. We met all the monitoring and reporting requirements for 2022.

We invite public participation in decisions that affect drinking water quality. For more information about your water, or the contents of this report, contact Larry Diekman, Director of Buildings and Grounds (269) 294-4312. For more information about safe drinking water, visit the U.S. EPA at http://www.epa.gov/safewater.