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City water profile

West Branch water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for West Branch, Michigan.

Median indexed hardness

194PPM

One indexed ZIP

Range 194–194 PPM

State comparison
89 PPM below
State hardness rank
#291 of 374
Matched utilities
1
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

West Branch has 1 published ZIP profile across Ogemaw County. The indexed median is 194 PPM, compared with 283 PPM across Michigan.

Among the 374 Michigancities with an indexed median, West Branch ranks #291from highest to lowest. Across all 512 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 41.3to 459.5 PPM.

Because only one ZIP is represented, the city median and range are the same local estimate. It should not be read as multiple independent samples across the community. At least one estimate is marked low confidence, so observation distance and date deserve extra attention.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs
Moderately hard0 ZIPs
Hard0 ZIPs
Very hard1 ZIP

1 of 1 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
45.4 miles
Profiles with evidence
1/1

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 0Low: 1

Observation window: Sep 13, 2023 to Sep 14, 2023.

ZIP directory

Water reports in West Branch

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

48661

Very Hard

194 PPM

Nearest site
45.4 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

West Branch, City Of

PWSID MI0007010

Groundwater
System population served
2,139
Last reported
Jun 23, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

RecordSystemPeriodStatus
ArsenicMI0007010Oct 1, 2025Resolved
ArsenicMI0007010Apr 1, 2024Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

  1. 1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
  2. 2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
  3. 3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Questions people ask

About water in West Branch

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 194 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.