IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER Union Townships Distribution System and Well 8 Tested Positive for

Fecal Contamination Our water system detected fecal indicators (E. coli) in our distribution system and in one of our six wells. As our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we are doing to correct this situation. On February 14, 2012, we learned that one of our routine samples collected from the distribution system on February 13, 2012 was total coliform and E. coli positive. As required by EPAs Total Coliform and Ground Water Rule, some of our follow-up steps were to collect a repeat sample from the distribution system and to collect samples from all of our wells. The repeat sample collected on February 14, 2012 from the distribution system was total coliform and E. coli negative. However, the sample collected from Well 8 on February 14, 2012 tested positive for a fecal indicator (E. coli). We immediately discontinued using Well 8 and conducted additional sampling on the well. Samples taken from Well 8 on February 16 and 17, 2012 were total coliform and E. coli negative. We are now conducting additional sampling of the well to confirm the problem has been corrected and are conducting a thorough investigation to determine if there is a possible source of contamination. What should I do? You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor. People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. What does this mean? Inadequately treated or inadequately protected water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, cramps, and associated headaches. Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. These symptoms are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. What is being done? We are conducting additional sampling of Well 8 and conducting a thorough investigation to determine if there are any sources of possible contamination. We will be working with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to implement any necessary corrective actions to ensure that our water supplies are protected against contamination. We will keep you informed of the steps we are taking to protect your drinking water and will provide information on any steps you should be taking. For more information, please contact Mr. Shawn McBride, Water Superintendent, or Kim Smith, Public Works Coordinator at 989-772-4600 ext 224 or write to 2010 South Lincoln Road, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan 48858-9036. Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.