Is Southgate, 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 Southgate Water System.
Southgate Water System supplies Southgate (30,047 people).
Water system
Southgate Water System
30,047 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID MI0006170
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: 6 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.
Southgate 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 Southgate city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Park 3 mi Lincoln Park Water System | None above limits | 3.1 ppb |
| Taylor 3 mi Taylor Water System | None above limits | 10.7 ppb |
| Allen Park 4 mi Allen Park Water System | None above limits | 8.7 ppb |
| Brownstown charter 7 mi Brownstown Township Water System | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Dearborn 7 mi Dearborn Water System | None above limits | 6 ppb |
| Dearborn Heights 10 mi Dearborn Heights Water System | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Southgate ZIP codes (1)
- 48195
Questions
Is Southgate tap water safe to drink?
Southgate 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 Southgate, MI?
Southgate Water System, which serves 30,047 people.
Does Southgate tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Southgate 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 Southgate homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 77% of Southgate 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. Southgate 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.