Is Portage, 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 Portage Water System. 2 PFAS were detected below the limits.
Portage Water System supplies Portage (46,292 people).
Water system
Portage Water System
46,292 people · Groundwater · EPA ID MI0005520
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Detected, below limit | 4.4 ppt | 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: 1.8 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2023, 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.
Portage 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 Portage city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo 5 mi Kalamazoo Water System | Above limit | 4 ppb |
| Battle Creek 20 mi Battle Creek – Verona System | None above limits | 2 ppb |
| Byron 43 mi Byron-Gaines Utility Authority | None above limits | 1.6 ppb |
| Kentwood 47 mi Kentwood Water System | None above limits | 2.99 ppb |
| Wyoming 48 mi Wyoming Water System | None above limits | 1.7 ppb |
| Grand Rapids 53 mi Grand Rapids Water System | None above limits | 6.98 ppb |
Portage ZIP codes (2)
- 49002
- 49024
Questions
Is Portage tap water safe to drink?
Portage 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 Portage, MI?
Portage Water System, which serves 46,292 people.
Does Portage tap water have PFAS?
Portage Water System had 2 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Portage homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 54% of Portage 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. Portage 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.