Frequently Asked Questions

Occasionally, tiny air bubbles in tap water cause a cloudy appearance. Air dissolves into water when pressurized which occurs in the groundwater basin and in the water pipes that deliver water to your tap. As a freshly poured cup of tap water settles, the bubbles (and cloudiness) dissipate.

The bubbles are harmless and pose no health risk. The air bubbles will dissipate if you let the water sit in a glass for a few minutes.

The City’s drinking water comes from a vast underground aquifer. The wells that pump the water from the aquifer into the delivery system are designed to filter out naturally occurring sediments. These particles typically settle in large water pipes and tanks, but sometimes make it through the faucet. Clearing the sediment and particles in our water mains is the main goal of hydrant flushing.

Click here to learn more about groundwater and aquifers from USGS.

When your water tastes or smells funny, the problem may be in the water or it may not. Odors might actually be coming from your sink drain where bacteria grow on hair, soap, food, and other things that get trapped. Gases in the drain that smell get stirred up when water pours into the pipe. Odor can also come from bacteria growing in devices such as water heaters.

It’s possible that from time to time your water may be safe to drink, but is discolored for some reason. The primary cause of water discoloration is due to naturally occurring minerals (primarily iron and manganese) flowing with the water. These minerals, which are heavier than water, settle in water pipelines when water usage is low - especially during winter months. When the water flow and pressure through the water pipes increases again (due to irrigation, construction, etc.) the minerals are stirred up and flow out of your faucets when you turn on the tap. Many times discoloration is caused from plumbing inside a home or business, not municipal watermains.

The Department of Public Services "flushes" the water system twice a year; this also allows the City to remove any sediment from the water lines which helps improve quality and clarity. As a result, water main flushing can cause temporary changes in water pressure or discoloration.

Find helpful information on Water Discoloration from American Waterworks Association.

Several types of minerals can be found in tap water. Minerals containing calcium and magnesium are common in local groundwater supplies and are responsible for the white spots observed when tap water is allowed to dry on household surfaces. While these spots may be unwelcome, these naturally occurring minerals in your tap water provide a protective internal coating deemed optimum for controlling corrosion of your home’s water pipes and plumbing fixtures. The most common mineral deposits are lime, rust, and calcium.

Mineral deposits that are allowed to accumulate over time on household surfaces can become more problematic to remove. Routine household maintenance such as wiping water droplets from surfaces before evaporation occurs can help prevent mineral deposits.

Learn more from EGLE's Common Drinking Water Quality Concerns.

The level of hardness in tap water is determined by the amount of calcium and magnesium in the water, both of which are common minerals found in the City’s groundwater supply. Most City water customers receive water with moderate hardness. The City of Grand Ledge tests water 16 times each month to ensure the water is safe to drink.

While hard water can require additional cleaning steps, these naturally occurring minerals in your tap water provide protective internal coating deemed optimum for controlling corrosion of your home’s water pipes and plumbing fixtures.

Please note, the City of Grand Ledge is legally required to regularly test the water we provide as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act and make the results available to their customers (view the City's Annual Water Quality Report.)

Learn more at EGLE's Drinking Water & Environmental Health Division (Community Water Supply)

Making up at least 5% of the earth’s crust, iron is one of the earth’s most plentiful resources. Rainwater as it infiltrates the soil and underlying geologic formations dissolves iron, causing it to seep into aquifers that serve as sources of groundwater for wells. Although present in drinking water, iron is seldom found at concentrations greater than 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) or 10 parts per million. However, as little as 0.3 mg/L can cause water to turn a reddish brown color. Iron is not hazardous to health, but it is considered a secondary or aesthetic contaminant. Essential for good health, iron helps transport oxygen in the blood.

Learn more from Care for MI Drinking Water's Iron Help Sheet.

Lead has not been detected in the City’s source water. While lead has not been detected in the City’s source water, there have been instances where lead was detected through testing individual customer taps. The City has been testing an average of 20 sites at the highest risk for lead, as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), every one to three years since 1992. In all instances, these tests have been found in compliance with water quality standards, including lead levels that have not reached above the Federal Action Level of 15 parts per billion (ppb). 

For the latest water sampling results (including lead testing), please view the City's Annual Water Quality Report.

EGLE also established the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) to protect public health by minimizing lead and copper levels in drinking water. The rule establishes action levels (AL) for lead and copper based on a 90th percentile level of tap water samples. An action level exceedance is not a violation but triggers other requirements to minimize exposure to lead and copper in drinking water, including water quality parameter monitoring, corrosion control treatment, source water monitoring/treatment, public education, and lead service line replacement. All community water supplies are subject to the LCR requirements.

The City’s water system pulls ground water from four different wells that are 250 feet below ground. The water is tested before it travels into the public water towers and water main. Water is tested 16 times a month in the City's laboratory, which is required to be certified by EGLE, to ensure testing methodology and reporting meets certification requirements.

For sampling data and additional information on the City’s water quality, view the most recent Water Quality Report or stop by City Hall, open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, for a printed copy.

You may also learn more about the regulation of your water quality here.

As a public water provider, the City of Grand Ledge can only charge customers for the costs associated with providing water service, which means it cannot earn a profit. The City provides water and wastewater collection for more than 3,800 customers across approximately 4 square miles.

There is no profit from utility bill revenue or rate adjustments; all revenue is spent on the water or sewer systems. Property taxes do not pay for our water system. We can’t take revenue from water bills to pay for a new playground. Likewise, we do not use property tax revenue to pay for water system improvements.

To review current budgets, fee schedules, and other financial information, please visit our Budget & Finances page.

The City of Grand Ledge is dedicated to setting water and wastewater rates that treat customers fairly and reflect the true cost of service while protecting the City’s financial stability. Recent water and wastewater rate increases reflect the necessary adjustments needed to ensure the City provides the operation and maintenance required for the water and wastewater systems. Adequate funding levels are critical to the delivery of a safe and reliable supply of water. The City adopts a budget each year to support the water/sewer systems in Grand Ledge. The budget must meet the needs of the system and in return the rates must support the budget. 

Every year, the Michigan Rural Water Association presents a rate analysis to ensure monthly utility rates are reasonable and support both short and long-term goals of our water and sewer infrastructure. This analysis is available on the My Utilities page.

For every $1 paid toward property taxes, the City of Grand Ledge receives approximately 24 cents if the taxpayer lives in the City or approximately 17 cents if the taxpayer owns property in the City. The balance of taxes paid is appropriated to other entities. The tax allocation could not support a user-based utility such as the City’s water and wastewater, which has operational costs and user fees dependent on use. The vast majority of municipalities charge customers fixed and variable rate water/wastewater fees to cover costs associated with adequately operating water and wastewater utilities.

There is no profit from utility bill revenue or rate adjustments; all revenue is spent on the water or sewer systems. Property taxes do not pay for our water system. We can’t take revenue from water bills to pay for a new playground. Likewise, we do not use property tax revenue to pay for water system improvements.

Learn more about the City's budget and financial information here.

It is important for water customers to understand how their water meter works. The following graphic indicates a few features of typical water meters, both current and new, that are utilized in the City. If you feel your meter is not operating as it should, please contact the Utilities Billing Department at 517-627-2149. In most cases the City will be able to run a report that shows hourly usage at your home or business for the previous 30 days. This can be very helpful in identifying leaks.

• Fixed rates are designed to recover unchanging costs associated with the operation of water and wastewater utilities (including costs to maintain existing infrastructure, improve infrastructure, and repay loans and bonds used to build that infrastructure). 
• Variable rate calculations are based on the amount of water and wastewater used (which reflects the costs of providing water, such as costs for chemical treatment to provide safe water and energy to move and deliver water.)

To view our current fee schedule, click here.

The charts and infographics on the My Utilities Page will help you decipher and understand how your bill is calculated. These two graphics will also help:

Some people believe that bottled water is safer and more pure than tap water. Buying and consuming bottled water is entirely up to the consumer. Water purity is determined by the amount of minerals/elements found in the water and by the level of treatment performed. Both bottled and tap water are considered safe when drinking water standards are met. When the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets a new standard for tap water, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is required to establish the same new standard for bottled water.

Some brands of bottled water use tap water from other areas and are a much more expensive option than your own tap water. Water that is bottled and sold can cost up to a thousand times more per gallon than tap water. On average, a City water customer receives 40 gallons of tap water for approximately $1.65. (Click here for our current fee schedule).

Drinking water provided by the City meets all federal and state quality standards. Water filters may change the taste of tap water, but they are not necessary to ensure water safety, and are entirely up to the discretion of the consumer.

While the drinking water provided by the City meets all federal and state quality standards, it is hard water. For customers who are looking to utilize "softer" water, a home water softener can be a viable option. Water softeners do require regular maintenance and have added installation costs and regular fees associated with their use. It is recommended that property owners check with a local water conditioning expert or the Water Quality Association to find the best product for their needs. Softening water in-home is entirely up to the discretion of the consumer.