Water Department

Powell Township is proud of its water. Even before scares downstate, the local water was tested regularly and found to be in the top percentile of the state. Powell Township even received  awards in past years for clean and fresh water. The Water Department has monitors at wellheads, the pump house, fire hydrants, and the water tower. The water system was originally installed over thirty years ago and work on system updates began ten years ago. In 2017, a large portion of funding from a USDA Rural Development Grant enabled additional and necessary updates. This caused changes to water fees for Powell Township water customers. All households were also set to meter usage to help support customers. Updates also helped the Powell Township Fire Department, enabling better access to fire hydrants, and in turn better equipping firefighters to extinguish fires.

NOTICE TO RESIDENTS: WATER QUALITY (CONSUMER CONFIDENCE) REPORT AVAILABLE 

  1. The 2025 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) describing the source and quality of your drinking water is available for review or paper copy at the Powell Township office during normal business hours, Mondays and Thursdays, 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
  2. CCRs are also available to view by clicking on them from the below Consumer Confidence Reports list.
  3. For any questions regarding the CCR or to request a paper copy, please contact Coty Sorby, Powell Township Water Operator, using one of the following options:
    Phone: (906) 345-9345 ext. 10
    Mail: Coty Sorby, Water Operator, P.O. Box 319, Big Bay, Michigan 49808
    Email: waterdept@powelltownship.org

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORTS LIST

2025 DEQ Consumer Confidence Report for Community Water Supply

2024 DEQ Consumer Confidence Report for Community Water Supply

2022 DEQ Consumer Confidence Report for Community Water Supply

2021 DEQ Consumer Confidence Report for Community Water Supply

2020 DEQ Consumer Confidence Report for Community Water Supply (corrected 06/16/2021)

2019 DEQ Consumer Confidence Report for Community Water Supply

2018 DEQ Consumer Confidence Report for Community Water Supply

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER – Reporting Requirements Not Met for Powell Township

  • The Water Department is required to deliver notification to customers with lead service lines, galvanized service lines previously connected to lead, or service lines of unknown lead status, and certify to the State that these notifications were sent.
  • Our system delivered the notifications, however they did not contain all the required information.
  • Although the failure to comply with the reporting requirement does not create a risk to public health, we are required to inform you of this violation and provide additional information including what we did to correct the situation.
  • It is important for consumers to know if the water they are receiving has been delivered through a lead, galvanized previously connected to lead, or lead status unknown service line so they can make decisions on whether and what actions to take to reduce their exposure to lead in drinking water.

 

What should I do?

  • There is nothing you need to do at this time. You do not need to boil your water or take other actions. Remember, boiling water does not remove lead from water.

 

What is being done?

  • Previously unknown water service lines have been identified as not to contain lead or galvanized previously connected to lead.
  • We are currently in compliance.
  • There is no further required action.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

  • For more information, please contact Coty Sorby at 906-345-9345 EXT. 10, mail correspondence to Powell Township, Attn: Water Operator, P.O. Box 319, Big Bay, Michigan 49808, or email waterdepartment@powelltownship.org.
  • For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit the EPA’s websites at https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water and http://www.epa.gov/lead. Additional resources can also be found https://www.michigan.gov/mileadsafe/get-ahead-of-lead.

WATER REQUESTS AND CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP FORMS

“LET WATER RUN” NOTIFICATIONS

During the fall, winter, and spring months, cold spells sometimes require the Water Operator and Maintenance Supervisor to issue a “Let Water Run” Notice. This Notice is to let Powell Township water users know that they should let water run from faucets at a trickle the size of a pencil lead. During these times, water bills are adjusted for the higher usage because it prevents more expensive corrections to the water system. A “Let Water Run” notice is sent through TV6, The Mining Journal newspaper, township boards, and this website. Please be on the lookout for these notices. When conditions improve, the Water Operator and Maintenance Supervisor will issue a removal of the “Let Water Run” status. The ending status notice will be on the township boards, on township water bills, and on this website.

POWELL TOWNSHIP WATER DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY / CONTINGENCY PLAN

(Revised April 2021)

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY:

The Water Operator, Maintenance Supervisor, Township Supervisor, and Emergency Manager will be made aware of emergency conditions. The Water Operator and Maintenance Supervisor initiate a legal and practical response to the emergency, in consultation with the Township Supervisor if possible.

  1. Water Operator: Coty Sorby (906-345-9345 ext. 10)
  2. Maintenance Supervisor: Scott DeMoulin (906-345-9345 ext. 13)
  3. Township Supervisor: Levi Ellis (906-345-9345 ext. 14)
  4. Emergency Manager: Kim Bourgeois (906-362-7275)

BOIL ADVISORIES:

In the event of pressure loss from a broken main, construction, or other event, a boil water advisory will be posted in the following locations and on the following stations:

  1. Bay Cliff Health Camp
  2. Drury’s General Store
  3. Lumberjack Tavern
  4. Perkins Park
  5. Powell Township Hall
  6. Powell Township School
  7. Thunder Bay Inn
  8. U.S. Postal Service, Big Bay 49808

Television

  1. WLUC – TV6 (906-475-4161)
  2. WJMN – TV3 (920-437-5411)
  3. WNMU – TV13 (800-227-9668)

Radio

  1. 92.3 FM    WJPD (906-225-1313, Hotline: 1-906-225-1440)
  2. 107.7 FM  WMQT (906-225-9100)
  3. 90.1 FM    WNMU (906-227-2600, Hotline: 1-800-227-9668
  4. 103.3 FM  WFXD (906-227-8888)
  5. 97.1 FM    WGLQ (906- 228-9700)
  6. 101.9 FM  WKQS (906-227-7777)
  7. 94.1 FM    WUPK (906-225-1313)         

Sewer Department

The Sewer system is an essential part of the structure work of a community, though it’s the least talked or thought about. The sewer system of Powell Township was last updated in 2009. It’s supported by flat fees from the residential customers and a metered fee from the commercial customers. The custodian and cemetery sextant has been overseeing the system and making any recommendations.  The sewer system update is going to be in the thought process of being updated by the Powell Township Board.

MISS DIG 811 Website Information

For more information or to place a dig notice, contact us by calling 811 or by going to our website @  www.missdig811.org  

Additional MISS DIG 811 Social Media Links:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/miss-dig-811 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MISSDIG811.mich/

Twitter https://twitter.com/missdig811?lang=en

Doing Any DIY Projects?

  • Fences
  • Mailbox Posts
  • Room Additions
  • Gardens
  • Decks & Patios
  • Trees or Shrubs
  • Swing Sets
  • Signs
  • Fountains
  • Tents

Know What’s Below Before You Dig!

Even Hand digging can cause damage.  Over 25% of damage is from homeowners.

Become part of the solution!

Protect

  • Yourself
  • Your family
  • Your Community

It’s the LAW! It’s fast and it’s FREE!!!

What do you mean FREE?

When you contact MISS DIG 811, the public facility companies are notified to mark the location of their underground lines.

Public facilities are marked for FREE by facility company representatives known as Locators.  The Locators paint lines and/or place flags to mark the approximate location of underground public lines. 

TO PLACE A DIG NOTICE

  • Visit elocate.missdig811.org
  • In the e-Locate box click Start.
  • Complete the e-Locate Request.
  • Check your status before you dig @status.missdig811.org
  • Enter your ticket #. Click Inquire.

Those painted lines usually run from the main facility to the meter on your house.

Not everything gets marked when you call.  Private facility lines are NOT marked.

The unmarked private lines usually run from the house to any other building or object with service in your yard, like a garage or lamp post.  A private locator may be hired to mark them.

And often, water and sewer lines are only marked in the right-of-way not all the way to the meter on the house.

It’s the LAW?

Yes, a bill was signed by Gov. Rick Snyder and has been in effect since April 1, 2014.  Be smart and contact MISS DIG 811 before you dig. 

Why so many flags? What do they mean? Can I remove them?

Do NOT remove the flags until the work is completed or after 21 days. 

Color Key:

White – Area of Proposed Excavation

Pink –      Temporary Survey Markings

Red –       Electric

Yellow –  Gas, Oil, Steam, Propane

Orange –  Phone and Cable

Blue –      Water

Purple – Reclaimed water, irrigation

Green – Sewer

Gray –     Used to Erase Marks

5 Steps to Safe Digging

  1. Call MISS DIG 811 at 811 or go online to elocate.missdig811.org
  2. Wait for utilities to be marked
  3. Check status @ status.missdig811.org
  4. Respect the marks
  5. Dig with care
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