metropolitan Kalamazoo County. Lying immediately west of the City of Kalamazoo (81, 169-1990) pollution on rolling terrain readily accessible to several limited access highways, Oshtemo Township has experienced increasingly strong development pressures from various residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.
Groundwater drawn from shallow, glacial drift aquifers (mainly sand and gravel) serve as the primary source of drinking water for all township residents. At the same time, only one-quarter of the township is currently serviced by a sanitary sewer system. The majority of township residents and businesses rely upon on-site methods of sewage disposal. Increasing development pressures combined with limited sanitary sewer access has resulted in valuable groundwater resources becoming increasingly vulnerable to contamination from a variety of surface and subsurface land uses. There have already been five Michigan Act 307 Sites of environmental contamination, and six leaking underground storage tanks identified within Oshtemo Township.
Motivation for Groundwater Protection in Oshtemo Township
- Township’s total dependence on groundwater for drinking water.
- Natural vulnerability of groundwater to contamination from surface land uses.
- Absence of municipal sewer in many areas of Township.
- Rapid growth and development in Township.
- Many known and potential sources of groundwater contamination.
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