Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
GENESEE COUNTY WATER SYSTEM
GENESEE COUNTY WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water graded B (78/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 73,726 residents in FLINT, Michigan using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 810-732-7870.
Is FLINT tap water safe to drink?
GENESEE COUNTY WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water that earns a grade of B (78/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a good rating, with only minor concerns relative to health-based guidelines.
The utility serves 73,726 residents in FLINT, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 7 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Arsenic, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for GENESEE COUNTY WATER SYSTEM (system ID MI0002615) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for FLINT residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for GENESEE COUNTY WATER SYSTEM.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 17.9 ppb, 298x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 38.1 ppb, 254x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 10.9 ppb, 109x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.18 ppb.
Contact GENESEE COUNTY WATER SYSTEM
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for FLINT
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 78/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
17.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 298× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
38.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 254× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
10.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 109× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.18 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 45× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.59 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0979 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.9× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.167 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.2× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.08 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
4.92 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
13.3 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
9.0 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.125 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.101 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.205 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.64 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
GENESEE COUNTY WATER SYSTEM service area
This water system serves 1 community in Genesee County, Michigan. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for FLINT water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.