Wayne County Water Quality
Wayne County, Michigan
Water Grade
B
Water Score
69.7
Violations
20
State Rank
#31
of 83 (1 = best)
EPA SDWIS Compliance
Drinking Water Quality
Water Quality Grade
B
Based on EPA compliance history and violation data
Water Score
69.7/100
Higher = better quality
Health Violations
20
Health-based violations
Violation Rate
1.1%
Systems with violations
Water Advisory: Wayne County
Water Verdict
Wayne County receives a fair water quality assessment with a grade of B and a score of 69.7 out of 100. The water supply meets baseline federal standards, but there may be periods of elevated contaminant levels or infrastructure concerns worth monitoring.
Violation Context
Wayne County has recorded 20 health-based violations, indicating multiple instances where federal contaminant limits or treatment requirements were not met. At 1.1 violations per 1,000 residents, this rate is relatively low compared to many U.S. counties.
Consumer Guidance
Tap water in Wayne County is generally safe to drink based on available data. Residents should still review their utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for transparency on detected contaminants. With 20 recorded health violations, staying informed about utility communications and boil-water notices is especially important. For long-term peace of mind, request your utility's latest Consumer Confidence Report and consider independent water testing if you have specific health concerns.
Regional Context
Wayne County has better water quality than the average county in Michigan. Its water score is 11.2 points higher than the state average, indicating stronger water system performance relative to neighboring counties.
Past 5 years
Water Quality Monitoring
Monitoring Sites
78
Active in the past 5 years
Measurements Recorded
19K
18,729 total readings
Most Measured
- Physical
- Nutrient
- Inorganics, Major, Non-metals
Categories measured most frequently
Data from the EPA Water Quality Portal (WQP), aggregating monitoring records from federal, state, and tribal sources. Each measurement represents a single sample analyzed for a specific characteristic (e.g., E. coli, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen).
Live USGS Streamgage
River & Stream Conditions
Current Discharge
224.0Kcfs
May 14, 6:12 PM UTC
vs Long-Term Average
107%
Near typicalPrimary Streamgage
DETROIT RIVER AT FORT WAYNE AT DETROIT, MI
- USGS site
- 04165710
- Drainage area
- 228,800 sq mi
- Long-term mean
- 208.6K cfs
One representative streamgage (the one with the largest drainage area in the county). Many counties have multiple gauges — this view summarizes the primary one. The long-term mean is the full-record annual average; "% of typical" compares the latest reading against that average.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water quality in Wayne County, Michigan?
Are there any water violations in Wayne County?
How much water-quality monitoring happens in Wayne County?
What's happening with rivers in Wayne County right now?
How does Wayne County water compare to the Michigan average?
Is tap water safe to drink in Wayne County?
Why does Wayne County have so many water violations?
How does Wayne County rank for water quality in Michigan?
Counties with Similar Water Quality
Data Sources
Drinking-water compliance data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) via the ECHO enforcement database. Scores reflect compliance history and health-based violation counts.
Water-quality monitoring counts from the EPA Water Quality Portal (WQP) — federated USGS, EPA, and state agency sampling records over a rolling 5-year window.
Live streamflow from the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) — continuous discharge measurements from the largest-drainage gauge in each county, compared against the full-record long-term annual mean.
Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not health, legal, or professional advice. For concerns about your specific water supply, contact your local water utility.