MARQUETTE — The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has announced that the state will offer free manganese testing for private drinking water wells and public water supplies in Gogebic and Marquette counties.

In addition to manganese, the sampling will also include analysis for iron, copper and zinc. Sample results will be provided to homeowners and public water supplies, along with a description of what the results mean. 

“The information that we collect will be useful in understanding the regional occurrence of manganese and other metals in drinking water and give consumers health information about their water quality,” said Scott Kendzierski, EGLE project manager. “The data will be provided back to the public and may position impacted communities for future funding opportunities to address problem areas.”

Manganese is part of a normal diet and an important nutrient when consumed in small amounts. However, high levels of manganese can result in discolored, metallic-tasting drinking water. Manganese has also been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a contaminant of emerging concern which, at high levels, could cause negative health effects in infants and other vulnerable populations. 

The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department has routinely collected manganese data in Gogebic County groundwater through its well permitting programs for years. The latest testing initiative represents an opportunity to accelerate such efforts. “The amount of data that this project could produce would take years to gather through our regular well permitting programs,” said Peter Baril, deputy health officer for WUPHD.

The study is a collaborative effort between EGLE, WUPHD, the Marquette County Health Department and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Funds for this effort were provided through a $500,000 EPA Emerging Contaminants in Small and Disadvantaged Communities grant.

EGLE has hired contractor AECOM to conduct sampling, which is slated to start this fall and continue through spring and early summer of 2026. Sampling is voluntary and targeted areas will receive letters asking for voluntary participation in the study. EGLE has created a website where the public can obtain additional information about metals in drinking water and details about the groundwater study, Michigan.gov/manganeseindrinkingwater.