Water System

Water Shutoffs Remain Suspended through June 30, 2021

We are aware that during difficult times such as the COVID-19 pandemic we are experiencing, our customers may not be able to make payments in a timely manner with respect to their water/sewer service from the City.  It is imperative to us that our customers maintain access to clean water during this challenging period.  Due to this, we will continue suspending all water/sewer shutoffs related to non-payment through June 30, 2021. Late fees and administrative fees are still being assessed for non-payment of water/sewer bills.

If your water service is being restored after being shut off for some time, it is necessary to flush the plumbing in your home. Click HERE(PDF, 137KB) for information on how to flush your plumbing system.

Water and Sewer Bill Payment Assistance

For water payment assistance, contact Kent County Community Action at 616-632-7950.

Limited Appointments

• Starting Monday, July 13, 2020, cross connection inspections and meter replacements in all properties will return to normal schedule
• Our facility at 1900 Oak Industrial Dr will be open, but it is strongly encouraged that customers schedule appointments.
• Issuance of hydrant connectors continue by appointment only.
• Tours of the Lake Michigan Filtration Plant will be available on a limited basis and for limited group sizes.
• Flow tests remain unchanged and can be requested online.

We developed a Water System Strategic Plan for the City of Grand Rapids Water System. The Water System's strategic plan tackles many of the challenges public utilities face nationwide, including aging infrastructure, emerging contaminates, new regulatory requirements, and a decline in a skilled workforce.

When developing our strategic direction, we leveraged our values of respect, self-awareness, equitability, listening, accountability, collaboration, and reliability. We also structured the Strategic Plan around five strategic priorities, which are:

• Customer Experience
• Finance & Business Management
• Asset Management & Capital Planning
• Innovation & Sustainability
• Leadership & Employee Development

As we begin to implement the Strategic Plan, we are committed to tracking and evaluating our progress. This will include close attention to the effectiveness of this plan's strategic priorities, objectives, and ability to make the necessary changes or improvements.

Water System Strategic Plan(PDF, 3MB)

We are committed to delivering high-quality water. We work hard every day to do just that and we have a long history of success in protecting the public’s health. We regularly sample drinking water to better understand the lead and copper levels in our system. We then use corrosion-control measures at our water filtration plant to ensure lead levels are controlled.

Check out this short educational video from the American Water Work Association to learn more about water and lead services lines.

Lead Water Service Line Map Now Available

We have developed a new tool that allows residents to search for their property address to determine the material of the public, and privately owned water service line on the property. We used historical data such as plumbing and tap records to verify the service line material.

We continue to promote transparency and raise public awareness about lead and water quality. Since 2017, we have replaced approximately 1,387 lead service lines through our Lead Service Line Replacement Program. We continue to invest in lead service line replacements with the end goal of eliminating lead service lines.

For more information about lead and how to minimize lead exposure click here.

More Info

Frequently Asked Questions About Lead

Older homes may contain lead pipes or faucets that can contribute to lead exposure. When lead pipes are moved or worked on near or within your home, lead may leach into the water as it passes through the pipes.

More Info

The Lead Service Line Replacement Program

Our Lead Service Line Replacement Program allows us to replace lead service lines at zero cost to the homeowner, including the private side if certain requirements are met. 

If you do not meet the requirements and still want to have your lead service line replaced, you are responsible for the costs of the replacement. You can use a Ten-Pay program to spread the cost over 10 years.

More Info

Drinking Water Quality

We are proud of the high-quality and safe drinking water that we provide our customers every day, and we take this responsibility very seriously. Our customers should be confident in the system’s water quality and safety.

On this page you will find information and links about:

• 2020 Water Quality Report
• What is in Your Water? 2020 Water Analysis
• Lead Information & Sampling Results
• PFAS Information & Sampling Results

2020 Water Quality Report

The annual report details the results of water quality monitoring during 2020, as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act. This report explains where your drinking water comes from, what is in it and what steps we take to keep it safe. At the end of each year, we put together a Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report).

English Version

• 2020 Water Quality Report(PDF, 676KB)

Spanish Version

• Informe de calidad del agua del año 2020(PDF, 1MB)

Report Library

Use the report library to find the current and past years' reports.

View Library

What is in your water? 2020 Water Analysis

Find out exactly what is in your water. This analysis contains information about calcium, alkalinity, hardness levels, etc. in Lake Michigan and drinking water.

View Analysis(PDF, 174KB)

Lead and Copper Rule & Sampling Results

In 1991, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a regulation called the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) that requires water suppliers to control lead and copper in drinking water using corrosion control measures. Corrosion control is an effective way to reduce the release of these metals from plumbing materials into drinking water.

We recently completed our annual lead and copper sampling. No samples exceeded the lead action level of 15 ppb or the copper action level of 1.3 ppm set by the EPA and the State of Michigan. Our 90th percentile for lead is 6 parts per billion (ppb) and 0.0 parts per million (ppm) for copper.

Info & Results

PFAS Information and Sampling Results

In April of 2019, the State of Michigan began a statewide sampling program and sampled all the surface water systems in the state for six consecutive months. Our test results showed that our tap water concentration of PFOS and PFOA are well below the EPA lifetime health advisory of 70 part per trillion (ppt) established by the EPA and state as well as regulatory limits being discussed.

Info & Results

The Utility Advisory Board (UAB) reviews Water System rates, policies, and fees. The UAB then makes recommendations to the Grand Rapids City Commission. The Commission reviews these recommendations and approves and adopts them.

Each customer community has a seat on the UAB. While wholesale communities are not represented, they negotiate fair contracts with the City of Grand Rapids. For more about the UAB, check out the links below.

• UAB Meeting Schedule and Notices
• UAB Documents

2020 Water System Rate Study

The Final 2020 Grand Rapids Water System Rate Study is now available.

View 2020 Study(PDF, 4MB)

Rate Study Library

We use a complex, but transparent, method to determine the rates for the Grand Rapids Water System. Changes to the rates are effective the 1st of each year, after a study, review and approval process. Users, customer communities and the City Commission are all involved in this process. Use the rate study library to find the current and past years' rate study results.

View Library

All of our customer communities are represented on the Utility Advisory Board (UAB). These are the areas outside the Grand Rapids city limits that our Water System serves. Some of these communities are retail water customers , while others are wholesale water customers.

Ada Township

Wholesale Water and Sewer Customer

Cascade Township

Retail Water and Sewer Customer

City of East Grand Rapids

Wholesale Water and Sewer

City of Kentwood

Retail Water and Sewer

Tallmadge Township

Retail Water and Sewer

City of Walker

Retail Water and Sewer

Wright Township

Retail Sewer

Wholesale communities are not represented on the Utility Advisory Board (UAB). Instead, these municipalities negotiate a fair contract with the City of Grand Rapids. All of these communities are wholesale water customers .

Gaines Township

Wholesale Sewer

Ottawa County

Wholesale Water