Water Resources

The City of Kalamazoo offers information about water quality each year in the annual Water Quality Report, prepared in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. Much of the information provided in report, along with additional monitoring and testing conducted throughout the year, is beyond the requirements of the Act and offered as an extra service to customers. The report details many of the actions and programs in place to ensure Kalamazoo provides clean and safe water to all of our customers. Additional information about our efforts to protect our water and environment is available from the Environmental Services Division, and additional resources on groundwater, stormwater, and wellhead protection are available at www.protectyourwater.net.

Current and prior year Water Quality Reports are available here.

If you are concerned about the water in your home, please contact (269) 337-8756. The City of Kalamazoo also offers lead & copper testing to water customers. To have your water tested for lead & copper, please call (269) 337-8550 for more information and to schedule sampling.

From newly paved roads, new utilities, and replaced lead services, construction season can be very busy. In certain areas of the water system, customers experience periods of elevated iron causing brownish/rusty looking water. The primary cause of the majority of these situations is the “stirring up” of the water in the water mains from construction-related activities. The City performs hydrant flushing in the Spring and Fall seasons to remove much of the sediment and iron that accumulates over time in the water main. On occasion, household and businesses would also benefit from flushing their interior plumbing. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has prepared guidelines that explain how you can perform a beneficial interior flushing of your property's plumbing. The guidelines are available online here. 

The City of Kalamazoo takes issues related to our water system or water quality seriously. If you have questions or concerns, please call our Water Supply Operations number at (269) 337-8756. Other water related information is available at www.protectyourwater.net.

Over time, sediment can accumulate inside water mains, narrowing the path that water can flow through to homes and businesses. Twice per year, City personnel flush the hydrants in the City water system to remove these accumulated sediments to restore water flow and improve the performance of the system. During the flushing program, City personnel also check the pumps, storage tanks, mains, valves, and hydrants in the system to ensure that all components are functioning properly. 

While the Hydrant Flushing Program doesn't affect the safety of the water supply, tap water may appear cloudy or discolored immediately after flushing occurs. If you experience this, run cold water in your utility sink or bath tub until the water runs clear again. We recommend that you do not use your washing machine for 24 hours after flushing occurs in your area to avoid potential discoloration of clothing. 

Hydrant flushing occurs roughly over the course of a week each Spring and Fall. A map and schedule are made available before the program begins. 

Boil Water Advisories (BWAs) are most commonly issued when a significant temporary loss of pressure to a defined area occurs or had a reasonable potential to have occurred due to a water infrastructure break, repair, or replacement. BWAs may be issued before a planned/scheduled repair or infrastructure replacement, or issued under emergency conditions, such as a water main break or when other  water infrastructure is severely damaged. Although rare, BWAs can be issued under a variety of other situations, such as an act of vandalism, terrorism, or a known or unknown source of contamination in the water system. Please note that the BWA will always describe the specific area affected, contact numbers, and any appropriate directions, such as boiling your water. The vast majority of these BWAs are cautionary and issued without any evidence of contamination.  

More information on Boil Water Advisories and Orders is available in this FAQ.

More information on Boil Water Advisories and active advisories can be found here.