The great importance of the fresh ground-water resources of Michigan is evident because 90 percent of the rural and about 70 percent of the total population of the state exclusive of the Detroit metropolitan area are supplied from underground sources. Manmade and natural contaminants, including many types of chemical and organic matter, have entered many of the numerous aquifers of the state. Industrial and domestic wastes, septic tanks, leaking sewers, flood waters or other poor quality surface waters, mine waters, solids stored or spread at the surface, and even airborne wastes all have been sources of ground water contamination in Michigan. In addition, naturally occurring saline waters have been induced into other aquifers by overpumping or unrestricted flow from artesian wells, possibly by dewatering operations, and by the deepening of surface stream channels. Vertical migration of saline waters through open holes from formations underlying various important aquifers also has spoiled some of the fresh ground waters in the state. In spite of the contamination that has occurred, however, the total amount of ground water that has been spoiled is only a small part of the total resource. Overall legal authority to control most types of ground-water contamination in the state has been assigned by the Michigan legislature to the water resources commission, although the department of conservation and the health department also exercise important water-pollution control functions. (campbell-nwwa)
RECORD ID: 7313562
F&G CODE: 05b; 04b; 06e
Publication
Deutsch, M., 1963, Ground-Water Contamination and Legal Controls in Michigan:
Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 1691; 79 P. 23 Fig.
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