An Award-Winning Water Department
The Plainfield Charter Township Water Department has proudly received the following awards:
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2020 Michigan Rural Water Association/ Administrator of the year – Donald Petrovich
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2019 American Water Works Association/Michigan Section: Raymond J. Faust Award Honoring Outstanding Service -Donald Petrovich
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2019 American Water Works Association/Michigan Section: Individual Winner -Professional Excellence Award -Donald Petrovich
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2019 Michigan Rural Water Association/ Person of the Year – Donald Petrovich
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2019 American Water Works Association/Michigan Section: Exemplary Source Water Protection Award – Plainfield Township Water Department
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2010 Michigan Rural Water Association: Operator of the Year Award - Don Petrovich
- 2010 Michigan Rural Water Association: Water Utility of the Year Award
- 2009 Michigan Section, AWWA: Consumer Confidence Report Award of Excellence
- 2009 Michigan Section, AWWA: Exemplary Wellhead Protection Award
- 2004, 2002, 2000, 1996, 1991 Regional, AWWA: Best Tasting Water
- 1994 Michigan Section, AWWA: Tapping Contest Winner
- 1991 Michigan Section, State, AWWA: Best Tasting Water
Is my tap water safe?
Plainfield Township Water Department is committed to providing superior quality water that meets or exceeds the high safety standards of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Act sets forth a rigorous scientific process to set standards for drinking water quality. Our skilled water professionals work tirelessly to fulfill the standards and protect public health and safety.
Where does Plainfield water come from?
Plainfield Township Water Department gets its excellent quality raw water from sixteen wells located in three separate well fields. These wells vary in size, and can pump from 600 gallons of water per minute to 1450 gallons of water per minute, for a total raw water supply capacity of approximately 24 million gallons a day!
This raw water supply is pumped to and treated by our 16 million gallon per day capacity water plant to meet every federal and state requirement for safe drinking water. In 2011, we supplied 1.26 billion gallons of safe, clean drinking water to our customers. Our minimum daily pumpage was 1.68 million gallons of water. Our average daily pumpage was 3.45 million gallons per day.
The Water Treatment Plant is a full treatment, lime softening facility. In the water distribution system, there are over 200 miles of water main, over 9,000 water meters, and over 2,000 valves and 2,000 hydrants. There are 14 water tanks ranging in capacity from 200,000 gallons to 4 million gallons of water. These tanks provide pressure and stored water for fire protection. Five pump stations move water to our tanks and four pressure districts. We provide water to over 40,000 residents located in Plainfield Township, Alpine Township, portions of Grand Rapids Township, Algoma Township, as well as a small part of the city of Walker.
Does Plainfield Township also provide testing services?
Your water is tested and checked constantly by Plainfield Township Water Department. We want the people we serve to know as much as possible about their water quality. This information is available on the Township Web site in the form of a yearly Water Quality Report. The more informed you are about tap water quality, the more confidence you will have in it.
What is the process for testing my water?
The customer can call the Water Treatment Plant at 616-364-7174 or Water Distribution at 616-363-9660. An appointment can be made for Water Department staff to visit your residence. In most cases, an appointment may not be necessary and an explanation over the phone with one of our trained staff will suffice. In cases where our testing is sent to another laboratory, you will be informed of those results.
How can I find out more about my water quality?
Contact us at (616) 364-7174, (616) 363-9660 or click here to see our latest report on water quality.
What causes my faucet to clog or have low water pressure?
These clogs are due to calcium build up, a common, natural mineral in many municipal water systems. This can occur more frequently in smaller valves such as a kitchen or bathroom sink or when near a heat source such as a hot water heater.
Calcium buildup is typically white in color. If your faucet has a different color buildup or your water comes out anything other than clear, it may be an indication of trouble with your home’s plumbing or fixtures.
How do I fix a clogged or low-pressure faucet?
Calcium build-up often accumulates on the aerator, which is the small plastic or metal mesh insert at the tip of the faucet used to create a soft flow and minimize splashing. To fix your faucet, remove the aerator by unscrewing the end of the faucet. The aerator can be cleaned by hand, with a brush or by soaking it in vinegar for approximately one hour to dissolve the calcium. Once the aerator is removed and being cleaned, customers should turn the faucet on fully for approximately 15 minutes to help remove additional build-up in the water line.
Does the water plant remove calcium during the treatment process?
The Water Department’s current treatment process removes approximately half of the calcium from the Township’s municipal water supply. Plainfield Township uses groundwater for its water supply, which contains more calcium than Lake Michigan water used by other water plants in the area. After softening, the hardness level is approximately the same as Lake Michigan water.
Is calcium harmful for me to drink?
No. This is a natural mineral found in all municipal water systems.
Does the water plant's granular activated carbon filtration have any effect on these clogs?
No. The GAC filtration system at the water plant is used to filter harmful chemicals. No carbon is leached into the water system from these filters or causes these clogs.
