Is Lake Chapin Polluted?
Yes — Lake Chapin in Berrien County, Michigan is on the EPA's Clean Water Act 303(d) impaired-waters list (2024 assessment cycle). It is cited for Pathogens (E. coli, fecal), PFAS, PCBs. A formal cleanup plan — a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) — has been written. "Impaired" is a legal designation, separate from the lake's EPA condition class water-quality readings: it means at least one designated use (such as swimming, aquatic life, or fish consumption) does not meet state standards for the listed pollutant.
EPA 303(d) Listing
| On 303(d) impaired list | Yes |
| Cleanup plan (TMDL) | Completed |
| Assessment cycle | 2024 |
| EPA IR category | 5 |
| Uses not supported | Fish consumption, Recreation |
| EPA names this lake in the listing | Yes |
| Location | Berrien County, Michigan |
Pollutants Cited
- Pathogens (E. coli, fecal) — listed by EPA as exceeding water-quality standards for at least one designated use.
- PFAS — Per- and polyfluoroalkyl "forever chemicals" from industrial and firefighting-foam sources. PFAS listings are newer and typically trigger fish-consumption and, in some cases, drinking-water guidance.
- PCBs — Polychlorinated biphenyls are legacy industrial pollutants that persist in sediment and bioaccumulate in fish. Like mercury, PCB listings drive fish-consumption advisories.
Specific parameters in the EPA record: Escherichia coli (E. coli), PCBs in Fish Tissue, Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) in Fish Tissue.
What this means for using Lake Chapin
Because Lake Chapin is listed for Pathogens (E. coli, fecal), swimming can be affected — check for posted beach advisories, especially after heavy rain or during visible algae. An impairment listing does not mean the lake is closed — most impaired lakes remain open for boating and swimming. It means a specific pollutant exceeds a standard for a specific use. See the full breakdown on the lake report. The official EPA assessment is available in the ATTAINS waterbody report.
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