The map indicates the landmass that contributes water to the municipal wells. The area extends outside of the Village limits into Milford and Highland Townships.
Wellhead Protection (WHP) is a program of planning and management aimed at preventing the contamination of public water supply wells. The objective of Milford's WHP is to manage or control potential sources of contamination throughout the Village of Milford, with a particular focus on a specifically designated area surrounding the well field. This terrain or landscape contributes infiltration water, or recharge, to the municipal wells. Contaminants found at or below the land's surface can move with this recharge toward the public water supply pumping well.
Currently the State of Michigan has over 8800 sites of environmental contamination, eight of which are in and around the Village of Milford. Groundwater and its protection are integral to the overall quality of life for the Village of Milford. It is important to understand that water movement is cyclical. It travels from within the ground to the surface (springs, rivers, lakes), to the air (evaporation) and back to the surface (precipitation), where it seeps into the ground. While over a hundred households within the Village limits are on private wells, most residents receive their drinking water from two municipal wells. In 1990, trace amount of contaminants were found in the Village water supply. Though concentrations are not high enough to warrant a threat to public health and are removed during a treatment process, Village officials are planning to prevent future contamination.
The Village has determined the land area that requires the greatest protection, the land mass contributing water to the Village wells. Studies have determined how fast and in what direction groundwater flows. Program planners have mapped out the area which contributes recharge water (and, therefore, any contaminants) to the Village wells.
An advisory committee made up of local citizens, planning officials, and Village and Township staff is responsible for developing the best management strategies to protect the Village's water supplies. These strategies include groundwater protection considerations in site plan and building codes; public education through brochures and other materials; and encouraging pollution prevention through sound handling of hazardous chemicals and the use of alternative, non-hazardous materials in households and businesses.