MSU Center for Water Sciences

Who to Contact

Have a question about water? We've put together a list of information resources for homeowners, teachers, and kids.

Homeowners

Who do I contact to...

Get information on the quality of my drinking water?

Contact your water utility.

EPA's Drinking Water website lets you search online for local water quality reports.

Have my drinking water tested?

Most utilities will test water for their clients so contact your water utility.

For more in-depth analyses, try the MDEQ's Drinking Water Analysis Lab

Get information on septic tank maintenance?

EPA's Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems (pdf)

Report illicit discharges or illegal dumping?

If you live in the Lansing area, check out the contacts at Greater Lansing Regional Committee for Stormwater Management

Get information on storm water control?

       Contact your County Drain Commissioner

Michigan DEQ Stormwater Program

EPA Stormwater Program

Monitor my lake or stream?

       Michigan Clean Water Corps

Michigan Cooperative Monitoring Program

Create a vegetated buffer on my waterfront property?

Online guide on how to create a shoreline buffer from New York Sea Grant.   

Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality is a "must have" manual for shoreline restoration from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Topics include: buffer zones, lake ecosystems, designing lakeshore landscapes, site preparation, plant installation, and shoreline stabilization. The book is available from Minnesota's Bookstore (1-800-657-3757), the University of Minnesota bookstores, most private bookstores and from Amazon.         

Get information on fish consumption guidelines?

Michigan DEQ Fish Consumption Guidelines

Create a raingarden in my yard?

Raingardens of West Michigan

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Teachers

Where can I find information on...

School monitoring programs?

      Cooperative Monitoring Program School Projects

Classroom science resources (curricula, activities, lesson plans, etc.)?

EPA Teacher Center

EPA Environmental Education Pages

USGS Science Resources for Primary Grades (K-6)

USGS Science Resources for Secondary Grades (7-12)

Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support?

MEECS website

Western UP Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education

Information on creating wildlife habitat at my school?

NWF Schoolyard Habitats

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Kids

Where can I...

Learn about water?

EPA’s Water for Kids

Find the watershed where I live?

        EPA’s Surf Your Watershed

Create habitat for wildlife in my backyard?

National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Wildlife Habitat

Create a raingarden in my yard?

Raingardens of West Michigan

Learn about aquatic invasive species?

Michigan Sea Grant Aquatic Invasive Species Site        

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