Fast FactsWater Quality Fast Facts
Demographic Information
There are approximately . . .
- 4.9 million people in Southeast Michigan. By 2030 there will be 5.4 million.
- 2.0 million homes in Southeast Michigan.
- over 11,000 inland lakes in Michigan
- over 35,000 miles of rivers and streams in Michigan.
The Great Lakes hold 20% of the world’s surface fresh water.
Public Perceptions of Water Issues
One-third of Southeast Michigan residents are satisfied with the quality of their lakes and streams.
The majority of Southeast Michigan residents thought they could personally take actions that would help improve the quality of the environment in Southeast Michigan.
Southeast Michigan residents are willing to take action to protect our water resources:
- 93% are willing to dispose of household hazardous wastes at approved disposal centers.
- 90% are willing to switch to products that are environmentally friendly.
- 79% are willing to change the type of fertilizer on their lawn.
- 66% are willing to not use soap to wash their car at home.
- 62% are willing to wash their car on the lawn/grass instead of the street or driveway.
- 60% are willing to help pick up trash along streams.
Water Use
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) produces approximately 655 million gallons of clean drinking water every day.
They treat an average of 675 million gallons of sewage per day.
On average, a person uses about 77 gallons of water each day, 200 gallons per household per day.
Over three million people depend on surface water for their drinking water
Expected Changes in Our Watersheds
| Watersheds |
Acres |
2000 |
2030 |
Percent change |
2000 |
2030 |
Percent change |
| Anchor Bay |
99,000 |
90,000 |
126,000 |
40.0 |
33,000 |
52,000 |
57.6 |
| Belle |
96,000 |
24,000 |
33,000 |
37.5 |
9,000 |
14,000 |
55.5 |
| Black |
132,000 |
43,000 |
52,000 |
20.9 |
16,000 |
22,000 |
37.5 |
| Clinton |
498,000 |
1,409,000 |
1,540,000 |
9.3 |
544,000 |
655,000 |
20.4 |
| Ecorse Creek |
84,000 |
353,000 |
323,000 |
-8.5 |
141,000 |
150,000 |
6.4 |
| Flint |
67,000 |
20,000 |
33,000 |
65.0 |
7,000 |
13,000 |
85.7 |
| Grand |
7,000 |
700 |
1,000 |
42.9 |
200 |
400 |
100.0 |
| Huron |
574,000 |
540,000 |
768,000 |
42.2 |
206,000 |
320,000 |
55.3 |
Lake St. Clair*
|
1,031,000 |
2,207,000 |
2,365,000 |
7.2 |
846,000 |
986,000 |
16.5 |
| Looking Glass |
5,000 |
400 |
1,000 |
150.0 |
100 |
500 |
400.0 |
| Maumee |
16,000 |
2,000 |
3,000 |
50.0 |
900 |
1,000 |
11.1 |
| Pine |
125,000 |
29,000 |
37,000 |
27.6 |
10,000 |
15,000 |
50.0 |
| Raisin |
222,000 |
72,000 |
120,000 |
66.7 |
27,000 |
48,000 |
77.8 |
| Red cedar |
76,000 |
17,000 |
37,000 |
117.6 |
6,000 |
14,000 |
133.3 |
| Rouge |
292,000 |
1,365,000 |
1,365,000 |
0.0 |
519,000 |
561,000 |
8.1 |
| Shiawasee |
200,000 |
73,000 |
130,000 |
78.1 |
26,000 |
51,000 |
96.2 |
| Stony |
80,000 |
45,000 |
66,000 |
46.7 |
16,000 |
27,000 |
68.8 |
* (includes Anchor Bay, Clinton, Belle, Black, Pine, and direct drainage)
Source: SEMCOG
Recreation
There are over 300,000 registered boats in Southeast Michigan.
There are an estimated 980,000 anglers in Michigan.
Over 3.5 million people visit a local park each year.
Lawn Care
The major impact of nutrient over-enrichment is excessive growth of algae that leads to nuisance algal blooms and eutrophic conditions. Nitrogen and phosphorus are principal nutrients in stormwater. Major sources are urban landscape runoff (fertilizer, detergents), atmospheric deposition and improperly functioning septic systems. Animal waste can also be a significant source of pollution.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 70 million pounds of pesticides are applied to lawns every year.
It has been estimated that there are 25 to 30 million acres of turf and lawn in the United States. To put this statistic in perspective, if lawns were classified as a crop, they would rank as the fifth largest in the country on the basis of area.
In many areas, soils contain enough phosphorus to grow healthy lawns without any added fertilizer.
Pet Waste
Dog waste has been found to be a major source of fecal coliform and pathogens in many urban watersheds, due to their population, daily defecation rate, and bacteria/pathogen production.
Pets and urban wildlife can be significant sources of bacteria.
Fecal coliform levels in urban stormwater often exceed public health code standards defining safe water for swimming.
Automobile Maintenance
There are over four million registered vehicles in Southeast Michigan.
Car washing contributes nutrients, metals, and hydrocarbons to our waterways. This occurs as the detergent-rich water used to wash our cars flows down the street and into storm drains.
Just four quarts of oil can form an eight acre oil slick if spilled or dumped down a storm drain.