Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
KALAMAZOO
KALAMAZOO delivers tap water graded D (60/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 192,992 residents in KALAMAZOO, Michigan using groundwater. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 269-337-8768.
Is KALAMAZOO tap water safe to drink?
KALAMAZOO delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (60/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 192,992 residents in KALAMAZOO, drawing from groundwater. Despite being legal under US EPA standards, this water would fail the European Union's Drinking Water Directive, primarily due to pfas contamination.
Public testing data identifies 9 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Nitrate, Manganese. 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 KALAMAZOO (system ID MI0003520) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Missed reporting | 07/02/2025 | Open |
| Radionuclides and Revised Rad Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2015 | Open |
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 KALAMAZOO residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for 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.
Contact KALAMAZOO
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 KALAMAZOO
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.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
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 60/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
KALAMAZOO service area
This water system serves 1 community in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for KALAMAZOO water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.