(1) When considered necessary for protection of the public health, the department shall notify a supplier of water of the need to make changes in operations, to provide treatment, to make structural changes in existing systems, or to add additional capacity as necessary to produce and distribute an adequate quantity of water meeting the state drinking water standards.
    (2) The department shall inspect a waterworks system or a part of a waterworks system, and the manner of operation of the system or part. If upon inspection the department determines the waterworks system to be inadequate or so operated as to not adequately protect the public health, the department may order the supplier of water to make alterations in the waterworks system or its method of operation as may be required or considered advisable by the department to assure the public water supply is adequate, healthful, and in conformance with state drinking water standards. If the supplier does not request a public hearing within 30 days after receipt of the order, the order shall be final and binding on the supplier of water. If the department receives a request for a public hearing within the specified 30 days, the public hearing shall be immediately arranged. A supplier of water shall comply with a final order of the department.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Michigan Laws 325.1015

  • Department: means the department of environmental quality or its authorized agent or representative. See Michigan Laws 325.1002
  • Imminent hazard: means that in the judgment of the director there is a violation, or a condition that may cause a violation, of the state drinking water standards at a public water supply requiring immediate action to prevent endangering the health of people. See Michigan Laws 325.1002
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Public water supply: means a waterworks system that provides water for drinking or household purposes to persons other than the supplier of the water, and does not include either of the following:
    (i) A waterworks system that supplies water to only 1 living unit. See Michigan Laws 325.1002
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
  • State drinking water standards: means quality standards setting limits for contaminant levels or establishing treatment techniques to meet standards necessary to protect the public health. See Michigan Laws 325.1002
  • supplier: means a person who owns or operates a public water supply, and includes a water hauler. See Michigan Laws 325.1002
  • system: means a system of pipes and structures through which water is obtained and distributed, including but not limited to wells and well structures, intakes and cribs, pumping stations, treatment plants, storage tanks, pipelines and appurtenances, or a combination thereof, actually used or intended for use for the purpose of furnishing water for drinking or household purposes. See Michigan Laws 325.1002
  •     (3) If a public water supply poses an imminent hazard to the public health, the department may issue an emergency order immediately, without notice or hearing, requiring such action as the department determines is necessary to protect the public health. Normal administrative procedures as required by the administrative procedures act of 1969, Act No. 306 of the Public Acts of 1969, as amended, being section 24.201 to 24.328 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, shall proceed concurrently with an emergency order upon written request of the supplier of water received within 15 days. An emergency order shall be effective immediately and binding until modified or rescinded by the department or a court of competent jurisdiction.
        (4) The department may take appropriate action to limit water system expansion or limit water use from a public water supply until such time as satisfactory improvements are made in the system or operation to provide for a continuous, adequate supply of water meeting the state drinking water standards.