The Village of Milford is a community of about 6,300 residents in Oakland County. In late 1988 and again in 1991, routine sampling of its groundwater identified trace levels of two toxic solvents, TCE and DCE. In 1991, another contaminant, MTBE, was also found. Investigations later determined the source of contamination to be one of the Village's major industries. Concerned about the potential effects of groundwater contamination on public health and economic development, Village officials responded by putting together a comprehensive wellhead protection plan that pre-dated the State's wellhead protection program.

Milford Village faced several obstacles in protecting its groundwater from further contamination. First, it lacked information on the characteristics of its local groundwater resource. Second, it had to expend considerable resources coping with the remedial action process and working to pinpoint the cause of contamination. These demands took resources away from its efforts to develop preventive programs. Third, it needed to promote public understanding of groundwater contamination and the need to protect this hidden resource.

Fred Morin, the Village's Public Service's Director, initiated Milford Village's early groundwater protection efforts. In his view, "we have a tremendous aquifer. We're trying to make sure it can serve us in the future." The first step was to gain information about the Village's local groundwater sources. To do so, the Village worked with the Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC), a non-profit organization consisting of municipalities and interested citizens in the watershed. The Watershed Council provided technical assistance and facilitated the planning process. A steering committee comprising representatives from the water utility, citizens, business interests, the Village manager, a Milford Township resident, and Village board members was formed.

The Committee identified groundwater resources in the area and also asked the Fire Department to carry out "Firefighter-Right-to-Know" surveys to identify businesses in the community that stored and used hazardous materials on-site. In its survey, the Fire Department also identified other potential sources of contamination. Using geographic information systems (GIS), the Committee mapped the potential contamination sources and groundwater resources, visually displaying the results of the surveys.

The Village also initiated education and outreach efforts to inform citizens about actual and potential contamination of drinking water sources. Beginning in the summer of 1998, the Village began periodic mailings of information pamphlets about water conservation, household hazardous waste, lawn care, and stormwater, making the point that all wastes dumped on land ultimately reach groundwater and/or the Huron River. Supplementing these efforts, the Village provides tours of its water plant to students from the four schools within its boundaries, including students from three elementary schools. Public Services Director Morin estimates the Village has spent approximately $4,000 on this education initiative. "We've been able to do this without raising our rates," Morin says, referring to the entire planning and education effort. Citizens have become more aware of contamination issues and consequently, have participated in both cleanup and prevention activities.

Milford Village officials used the map of groundwater resources and potential contamination sites developed by its groundwater steering committee as the basis for revising its zoning ordinance for non-residential uses and facilities that deal with quantities of hazardous substances greater than 100 kilograms per month. These facilities must incorporate such groundwater protection measures as secondary containment for potential hazardous substance overflows and/or spills and generally design sites to protect groundwater.

Village Deputy Treasurer Liz Bryant launched a personal education program in the community. Meeting with schoolchildren, she demonstrated the principles of groundwater hydrogeology with pop bottles that contain gravel, rock and sand, pouring food coloring into the bottles to represent a spill or contaminant release. Bryant also distributed placemats, used in local restaurants, which contain a crossword puzzle with a "think about what you drink" theme. Bryant also supported the development of a household hazardous waste collection program as well as the distribution of flyers and a coloring book to schoolchildren. "My part is to educate people so this doesn't happen again," Bryant said of the local contamination. "We can't look at a spill and say, it didn't happen in my county and so I don't need to worry about it. We need to protect groundwater for the future of our community."