We read 17 results from Kalamazoo’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 5 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 192,992 people · Water system ID MI0003520 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenichighest measured · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 7.8 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal1,950x the health goal |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 1 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 8 | 0.8 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Above the health goal2.7x the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 5 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 8 | 5 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal25x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range ND to 2.2 · Wells (PFAS monitoring) · 2025 report, page 9 | 2.1 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 8 ppt (Michigan) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal300x the health goal |
| PFOS (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range ND to 5.3 · Wells (PFAS monitoring) · 2025 report, page 9 | 3.7 ppt | 1 ppt | 16 ppt (Michigan) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal3.7x the health goal |
| Bariumhighest measured · range ND to 0.11 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 0.11 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest running annual average · range ND to 2.32 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 8 | 1.02 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylenehighest running annual average · range ND to 1.2 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 0.71 ppb | 70 ppb | 70 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 7.04 to 13.6 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 8 | 13.3 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 12 to 47 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 8 | 33.8 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest running annual average · range 0.26 to 0.68 · sampled 2024 · Pumping stations · 2025 report, page 8 | 0.68 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range ND to 1.1 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 1.1 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range ND to 3.7 · Wells (PFAS monitoring) · 2025 report, page 9 | 2.8 ppt | None set | 51 ppt (Michigan) now; 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Dibromochloromethanehighest running annual average · range ND to 5.7 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 3.39 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range ND to 11 · Wells (PFAS monitoring) · 2025 report, page 9 | 5.2 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFHxA (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range ND to 4.3 · Wells (PFAS monitoring) · 2025 report, page 9 | 3.6 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumhighest measured · range 6.8 to 75 · sampled 2024 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 75 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper. 1 number we weren’t sure about is held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Kalamazoo’s water between Aug 2023 and Apr 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA4 pptFound in 1 of 26 samples · highest resultBelow the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS6.7 pptFound in 4 of 26 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS4.2 pptFound in 4 of 26 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS7.6 pptFound in 6 of 26 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Lead
Found: Copper, Lead
What removes it: Reverse osmosis or Certified carbon block or RO.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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