Is Independence charter, 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 Orion Township Water System.
2 public water systems serve parts of Independence charter. The largest, Orion Township Water System, serves 33,000 people, and one system here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
Orion Township Water System
33,000 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID MI0005035
Buys treated water from Great Lakes Water Authority.
| 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: 0 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: 0
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.
Independence charter homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Independence charter township (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Which system serves your ZIP code
Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.
| System | ZIP codes in Independence charter |
|---|---|
| Orion Township Water System 33,000 people | 48348 |
| Independence Township Water System 11,790 people | 48346 |
Other water systems serving Independence charter
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Waterford charter 6 mi Waterford Township | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| Orion charter 7 mi Orion Township Water System | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Pontiac 9 mi Pontiac Water System | None above limits | 1.6 ppb |
| White Lake charter 9 mi White Lake Township Water System | None above limits | 3 ppb |
| Auburn Hills 9 mi Auburn Hills Water System | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| West Bloomfield charter 12 mi West Bloomfield Township Water System | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Questions
Is Independence charter tap water safe to drink?
Orion Township Water System has had no 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 Independence charter, MI?
2 public water systems serve parts of Independence charter. The largest is Orion Township Water System (33,000 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Independence charter tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Orion Township Water System had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Independence charter homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 40% of Independence charter 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. Orion Township Water 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.