The source is groundwater found in glacial materials. Six wells provide the pumping capacity for this well water supplied system. There are two pressure districts, north and south, in the water system. The water system was designed to allow water to move between pressure districts if there is a significant pressure drop. Polyphosphate and chlorine are added to the south (Oakland Valley and Coachlamp subdivisions) district wells. Polyphosphate and chlorine are added to the north (Knorrwood Pines/Oakland Farms well sites) district wells beginning in April 2024. 

There is no lead or copper in the source water and no known lead service lines in the water system. There was some lead in the solder used to connect copper piping prior to 1988. View the lead and copper results for the Oakland Township-Southeast water system.

Lead and copper contamination comes from leaching of plumbing materials. Things you can do to minimize consuming water containing leached plumbing material are as follows:

• Use cold water for drinking and cooking
• Flush your faucet if not used for more than 6 hours
• Clean out your faucet aerators on a regular basis
• Consider replacing your faucet if older than 2014. Faucets newer than 2014 are considered lead free (less than 0.25% lead allowed).

The State's Lead and Copper Rule requires that water operators create a plumbing material inventory. If you know what your in-home plumbing material is, please call (248) 858-0958 or email WRCwater@oakgov.com.

More information about lead can be found at www.michigan.gov/mileadsafe.

There are 2 pressure districts in Southeast Oakland Township. Your water pressure is dependent on your elevation and which pressure district you live in.

Please call 248-858-0958 or email WRCwater@oakgov.com for more information.

Ground water supplied (well) drinking water systems may experience yellow, orange, or brown water during high demand times (such as hot and dry weather). The discoloration of the drinking water is typically caused by iron particles. Iron in the drinking water is not a primary health concern according to the Safe Drinking Water Act. Iron in the water does cause aesthetic/nuisance problems in the water system. The increase in iron particles is often due to the need for backup wells to run to maintain system pressure. Customers can help decrease the need for backup wells to provide water by adjusting their sprinkler systems to water lawns outside of the higher demand times of 5:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Customers could also contact an in-home treatment company for appropriate water treatment equipment. Water treatment Frequently Asked Questions, Information Sheet, and videos could also be helpful.

Outdoor water use, primarily the sprinkling of lawns, significantly impacts water pressure and the sizing of water system infrastructure when the sprinkling is scheduled during peak demand times.

To improve your water pressure and decrease costs required for system expansion: water the lawn or set your automatic sprinklers to operate between the hours of 10 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Michigan State University recommends light, frequent irrigation applied in the early afternoon.

• There are no known lead service lines in the Southeast Oakland Township water supply system (WSSN 4877). 
• Oakland County/WRC has been involved with the Southeast Oakland Township water system since 1964.
• Residential water service lines are typically one inch or smaller. Oakland County standards required copper as the service line material since 1957 for water service lines with a diameter of two inches or less.
• High density polyethylene (HDPE) was allowed as a service line material starting in 2007.
• Lead was banned as a water service line material in Michigan in 1988.
• Please visit oakgov.com/watermap to view the best available information about your water service line material.