Michigan's Safe Drinking Water Act grants the DEQ director with the authority to order a water supplier to make alterations to its system to assure the water supply is adequate, healthy and in compliance with state drinking water standards.
 

Steven E. Chester, director of the DEQ said: “Michigan residents deserve the certainty that the water coming out of their taps is safe for their families to drink. The order I have signed seeks to have Three Rivers follow the same procedures that communities all across Michigan use to ensure their water is free of harmful bacteria.”
 

Recent violations of the total coliform standard during September and October forced the DEQ to take action after many attempts to gain voluntary compliance. The order requires that the City of Three Rivers continuously disinfect its public water supply through interim use of existing chlorination equipment while a permanent water treatment system is designed, permitted and installed.