Here is what the EPA's own data shows about tap water in West Branch. According to EPA SDWIS data retrieved October 2026, West Branch is served by 3 active community water systems, together reported to serve about 2,325 people.
As of October 2026, EPA records show 11 violations across the community water system(s) serving West Branch, going back to the earliest EPA record. None were health-based; the records are monitoring or reporting violations (a required test or report was late or missed). Each is listed by system below, with its status.
Monitoring Arsenic: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between October 2019 and October 2025. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Fluoride: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in October 2016. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in June 2003. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Ogemaw Township
125 served · groundwater · PWSID MI0004935
Monitoring Revised Total Coliform Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in March 2026. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
West Branch Township
61 served · groundwater · PWSID MI0007012
Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times between July 2021 and July 2023. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Combined Radium (-226 and -228): a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in October 2009. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
What this means
A health-based violation means a contaminant was recorded above the limit the EPA tracks for it. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was late or missed — not that a contaminant was measured above a limit. “Returned to compliance” means the EPA recorded the issue as resolved.
This page summarizes the EPA's own records and does not assess whether your water is safe to drink. For the most current details, you can verify every record directly with the EPA, and contact your water system with questions.
Source: U.S. EPA Envirofacts SDWIS, retrieved October 2026. Records cover the EPA's full reporting history for these systems. Verify at EPA ECHO.