General Water Quality

Cross Connection Control

The Environmental Health Division acts as agents for local water utilities and the Michigan Department of Public Health enforcing the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996, Part 14. This Act protects the municipal water supply by insuring that contaminants do not enter the potable water supply through connections with non-potable source. Such a physical connection is called a "cross connection" which may result in the backflow [reversal of normal direction of water in the piping system] of contaminants and any cause serious injury to users of the water supply. It is estimated that over 100,000 cross connections of the potable water supply occur daily in the United State.

Cognizant of the hazards to the public health caused by cross connections, the Environmental Health Division utilizes Article IX, Potable Water Systems, of Wayne County's Environmental Health code to conduct its program of cross connection control. This program serves to educate and monitor facilities that, by nature of their business, create the potential for serious contamination of the potable water supply. The Division contracts with individual communities to provide the inspection, enforcement, and plan review activities for those communities' business and public operations. Currently the Environmental Health Division serves 22 communities [over 6,500 facilities] throughout Wayne County.

Once a community has supplied a list of institutional, commercial, and industrial facilities that may have cross connections, a representative of the Environmental Health Division begins the inspection process. Facilities are notified of the pending visit, and subsequently may receive a Compliance Order that lists all violation and methods of correction. At this time a hazard rating is assigned to each facility. A compliance deadline is set which is dependent upon the severity of the violations. A follow- up visit is conducted to insure compliance of the Order. Hazard ratings would determine the revisit frequency and the extent of legal action that would be taken in the event of that corrections were not made as requested. Failure to comply with orders may result in legal action and the termination of the water supply to the facility.

Public Swimming Pool Inspection and Sampling

The Division of Environmental Health inspects over 500 swimming pools in Wayne County that are used by the public at facilities such as schools, community parks, and hotels. Routine inspections are conducted yearly to insure compliance with Michigan Public Health Code, Act 368, part 125. Pool equipment such as pumps and filters and operations such as backwashing and daily chemical testing are monitored during routine inspection. Safety equipment, including ring buoys, lifelines and phones must be present; and all surfaces must be maintained in a safe and clean condition. The Division of Environmental Health also responds to complaints and will take action when necessary to insure a safe and health swimming environment for the public.

Indoor and outdoor swimming pools are issued permit to operate only after an inspection has been conducted and approval granted in writing. Bi-monthly water analysis samples and monthly activity charts for each pool help to determine the condition in which the pool is being maintained.

Bathing Beach Water Quality Program

During the summer months the Wayne County Environmental Health Division will monitor the bacterial levels at the of the five natural bathing beaches in the County to protect the health of the bathers.

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