Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in KALAMAZOO, Michigan
Tap water in KALAMAZOO, Michigan receives a grade of F (51/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by KALAMAZOO. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in KALAMAZOO's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving KALAMAZOO.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 6.2 ppb, 1550x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.48 ppt, 1478x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 22.2 ppb, 371x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Recommended filters for KALAMAZOO
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in KALAMAZOO's water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in KALAMAZOO's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
6.2 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 1550× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.48 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1478× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
22.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 371× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
22.7 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 151× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
13.0 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 130× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.554 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 6.2× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.983 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.3× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.434 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.1× over |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
127.8 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Fails EU |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0177 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.188 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
120.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0462 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.143 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.0273 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.18 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.965 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00219 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.538 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.126 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.036 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.717 ppb | — | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.553 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.061 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| o-toluidine Other |
0.0023 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from KALAMAZOO.