Is Battle Creek, MI tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Battle Creek – Verona System. 1 PFAS were detected below the limits.
Battle Creek – Verona System supplies Battle Creek (43,975 people).
Water system
Battle Creek – Verona System
43,975 people · Groundwater · EPA ID MI0000450
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 2 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 9
Across Michigan, 5 of 311 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 26 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Michigan results.
Battle Creek homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Battle Creek city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo 18 mi Kalamazoo Water System | Above limit | 4 ppb |
| Portage 20 mi Portage Water System | None above limits | 1.8 ppb |
| Delta charter 41 mi Charter Township of Delta Water System | None above limits | 1.2 ppb |
| Jackson 42 mi Jackson Water System | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Byron 43 mi Byron-Gaines Utility Authority | None above limits | 1.6 ppb |
| Kentwood 44 mi Kentwood Water System | None above limits | 2.99 ppb |
Battle Creek ZIP codes (2)
- 49015
- 49037
Questions
Is Battle Creek tap water safe to drink?
Battle Creek – Verona System had 9 health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Battle Creek, MI?
Battle Creek – Verona System, which serves 43,975 people.
Does Battle Creek tap water have PFAS?
Battle Creek – Verona System had 1 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Battle Creek homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 79% of Battle Creek homes as built before 1980 (Michigan: 62%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Battle Creek – Verona System's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.