The threat of nitrate contamination in Michigan is even more alarming when considering that 45 percent of the state s population uses groundwater as their primary source of drinking water.
Nitrates are one of the most widespread contaminants threatening Michigan groundwater.
There is no statewide program to regularly test private drinking wells for nitrates. As a result, an accurate assessment of the amount of nitrate-contaminated wells is not possible. Owners of private wells that are found to be nitrate contaminated receive no financial assistance from the state to pay for cleanup costs, while those whose wells are contaminated by chemical contamination are eligible to get free replacement sources of drinking water. Although nitrates are odorless, tasteless, and colorless, they are anything but harmless. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the areas of greatest risk for nitrogen-contaminated groundwater in Michigan are the southwestern and western counties of lower Michigan, where intensive agriculture, the use of septic tanks and sandy soils promote groundwater contamination.