VILLAGE OF BEAR LAKE, MICHIGAN
WELLHEAD PROTECTION PROJECT

Click here for Village Wellhead Protection Meeting Minutes.

The Wellhead Protection Delineation report is now available for download from this site.

The Village of Bear Lake has been participating in a State of Michigan funded Wellhead Protection Program since 2000.

The State of Michigan and the US Environmental Protection Agency considers poorly functioning septic systems a leading cause of groundwater contamination, we urge you to make use of these following publications to learn more about how your septic system works.

The Beast in The Backyard! (ADOBE ACROBAT PDF 54k)

The Homeowners Guide to Septic Systems (PDF 952k)

A CD-Rom containing more information is available for use at the Keddie Norconk Memorial Library.

Click here to read the Manistee News Advocate feature story on potential sources of groundwater contamination within our area.

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The Village of Bear Lake was presented with our grant award check for $1,012.50 from Executive Director Karen Bruchan of the Manistee County Community Foundation

The grant was awarded to contribute toward the education component of the Village's Wellhead Protection Initiative, which will be developed in collaboration with the 4th and 5th Grade and High School students in Bear Lake.

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The State of Michigan Wellhead Protection Program (WPP) is designed to protect the integrity of current and future water supply for the Village of Bear Lake.

The Village relies on two wells drilled in to a primary aquafer. The WPP seeks to determine from which direction our water supply reaches the wells which in turn will help identify any future potential for contamination and help plan for future water wells and land use.

Click here to read the Manistee News Advocate feature story on potential sources of groundwater contamination within our area.

The Village has received a $7,500.00 grant from the State of Michigan to defray 2001 costs. An additional $7,050.00 was approved for 2002. A grant of $2,725.00 has been received for 2003 project costs. $3,250 has been awarded for 2004.

The next phase will prepare a public education model to show the source of our ground water and plan for proactive, responsible communtiy planning. It has been shown that Bear Lake's drinking water, derived from ground water, is relatively 'young' being less than 50 years old. It will also allow us to plan for possible sites for new drinking water wells and lay the groundwork for Drinking Water Revolving Fund Grant Applications.

The Wellhead Protection Delineation report is now available for download from this site.

In order to protect the current and future sources of our ground / drinking water, the Wellhead Protection project will enable us to make sound future planning decisions.

The Village tests the integrity of our municipal supply on a monthly basis.