Mike Shore, homeowner on Holcomb Road in Independence Township, has a warning for other homeowners with private wells.
“Oakland County told me my well had to be dug deeper, and made using steel rather than another material,” Shore said.
That means almost double the cost.
Shore discovered last year the area Oakland County deemed the area to be contaminated. He also lives in a zone at risk of-contamination from leaking underground storage tanks, as indicated on a map recently created by township officials.
Last year, his well failed. He called up a well company and went to Oakland County for a well permit. He was told the contamination was caused by a leaking underground storage gas spill at a station on M-15.
Costs for a new well with stainless steel screen and other special materials are more than $12,000.
‘I just want other homeowners to be aware they will face similar costs,? he said. ‘Many of the homes near mine are older, and their wells may fail in the near future. It’s hard enough to afford paying for an unexpected expense when your well fails, let alone adding much more because you are in a contaminated area.?
Shore said he cannot imagine what he would have done if he was unable to have put expenses to fix the well on a credit card.
‘I know some people don’t have that kind of cash or they are unable to put an unexpected expense like that on a credit card,? he said.
A 1995 article in The Clarkston News addressed gas leaking from an underground tank at the former Shell Station, now BP, at the corner of M-15 and Bluegrass.
According to the article, Shell hired a consultant to clean up the mess, and the state of Michigan started testing wells at homes on Bluegrass Drive. The testing was supposed to continue.
Shore remembered testing regularly occurring on his water, although he believed it was just something the state did. He didn’t think it was because his water was threatened by contamination.
Around 2007, the testing stopped.
‘They told me all the funds had dried up to test water,? he said.
After he paid for a new well, Shore said he knows why the state did those tests.
He said he would like all the extra money he spent back, and it’s just not right he is paying for a mess created by a gas station.

Action by the township
Independence Township Supervisor Pat consulted townships attorneys to see what legal steps the township could take to address water contamination issues.
‘Water quality issues are a major concern,” Kittle said. ‘We placed those leaks on a map and placed a one mile radius around each leak to see which of our township wells or residents wells could be threatened.”
The map was published in the Feb. 10 edition in CNews, and is also on the township’s web site.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality lists 16 Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) sites in the area, 12 of which are in Independence Township.
Kittle said pollution spread from LUST sites threaten the future water supply.
‘It worries me to know where these leaks are in relation to the township’s wells particularly on the southern end of the township,? Kittle said.
There are 1,100 homes using private wells in the pollution zones. Homeowners with private wells should test their water, he said.
Contamination on Maple Road near Maybee Road was found to be caused by leaking underground storage tanks at what is now Citgo on Dixie Highway.
Seven more wells recently tested positive on Maple after further testing was requested by the township, Kittle said.
Township officials met with MDEQ and offered Maple Road residents a Special Assessment District to pay for over an estimated $300,000 in water main extension and service lines to over 20 homes on the street.
‘We are working with the state on an agreement to pay $300,000 for the work on Maple,? Kittle said.
Independence Township residents on the township system are supplied from 14 underground water wells located throughout the area. The township tested wells for harmful chemicals and substances. Initial tests came back clean. Testing for those substances will continue.
‘Anyone on private wells should have their water tested,” Kittle said. ‘A test, which includes screening for MTEBs and other chemicals, is offered by the state for $125.”

Options are limited for Maple Drive residents suffering from water contaminated by gasoline, officials say.
Christine Robinson’s family has dealt with the issue for over a year. They cannot drink water from the tap, give it to their pets, cook with it, nor use it for showers.
Every 20 days, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) delivers eight cases of water to the family of four.
‘It’s not enough for us,? she said. ‘When you go to the store and buy petroleum products for your skin it soaks into your skin. Showering and bathing in gas soaks into your skin too and we do not want to use the water.?
The leak is from the Citgo Gas Station on Dixie Highway at Maple Drive, near Maybee Road.
Owner Munir Tarraf said the underground tanks at the station were replaced, but they weren’t the source of the leak.
The leak is coming from pipes transferring gas from the underground tank to the gas pumps, Tarraf said.
The MDEQ Drinking Water Laboratory analyzed water samples in July 2014, and detected volatile organic compounds in several homes on the road. Robinson’s home was found to have a concentration above healthy limits set by the state.
Oakland County Health Division sent a letter to Robinson recommQending use of bottled water for drinking and cooking.
Neighbor Penny Castles said her water was tested and passed state requirements.
‘It’s still a concern, but Christine, my neighbor, has suffered the most,? she said.
Sam, a resident of the apartments next door to Robinson, said he heard rumors officials are trying to hook the complex up to city water.
‘We don’t want to be a slave to high water bills,? he said.
Dave McGee, DPW director for Independence Township, said there is no municipal water to hook up to on Maple.
McGee said Independence Township is aware of the situation.
‘I spoke with residents and connected them with the state. My understanding is about one dozen homes have been tested in the area,” McKee said, adding some have refused to get their water tested.
Robinson has attempted to contact an attorney to help them handle the situation, but had no luck.
‘We do not know where to turn for help,? she said.
A Citgo media relations representative said each station is individually owned, and the corporate office was not aware of the Clarkston situation.
However, they would send the information immediately to a department that handles similar issues.
Lois Graham of MDEQ’s Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance said the MDEQ intends to install a new well at the Robinsons, at taxpayer expense.
McGee said he didn’t know why the station owner was not required to replace Robinson’s well.
‘That is a question you have to ask Lansing about,? he said. ‘I talked to the state this year ? they did not have enough funding to replace that well in 2015, so maybe in 2016.”
McKee said the township is doing everything they can to get the issue resolved.

Options are limited for Maple Drive residents suffering from water contaminated by gasoline, officials say.
Christine Robinson’s family has dealt with the issue for over a year. They cannot drink water from the tap, give it to their pets, cook with it, nor use it for showers.
Every 20 days, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) delivers eight cases of water to the family of four.
‘It’s not enough for us,? she said. ‘When you go to the store and buy petroleum products for your skin it soaks into your skin. Showering and bathing in gas soaks into your skin too and we do not want to use the water.?
The leak is from the Citgo Gas Station on Dixie Highway at Maple Drive, near Maybee Road.
Owner Munir Tarraf said the underground tanks at the station were replaced, but they weren’t the source of the leak.
The leak is coming from pipes transferring gas from the underground tank to the gas pumps, Tarraf said.
The MDEQ Drinking Water Laboratory analyzed water samples in July 2014, and detected volatile organic compounds in several homes on the road. Robinson’s home was found to have a concentration above healthy limits set by the state.
Oakland County Health Division sent a letter to Robinson recommending use of bottled water for drinking and cooking.
Neighbor Penny Castles said her water was tested and passed state requirements.
‘It’s still a concern, but Christine, my neighbor, has suffered the most,? she said.
Sam, a resident of the apartments next door to Robinson, said he heard rumors officials are trying to hook the complex up to city water.
‘We don’t want to be a slave to high water bills,? he said.
Dave McGee, DPW director for Independence Township, said there is no municipal water to hook up to on Maple.
McGee said Independence Township is aware of the situation.
‘I spoke with residents and connected them with the state. My understanding is about one dozen homes have been tested in the area,” McKee said, adding some have refused to get their water tested.
Robinson has attempted to contact an attorney to help them handle the situation, but had no luck.
‘We do not know where to turn for help,? she said.
A Citgo media relations representative said each station is individually owned, and the corporate office was not aware of the Clarkston situation.
However, they would send the information immediately to a department that handles similar issues.
Lois Graham of MDEQ’s Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance said the MDEQ intends to install a new well at the Robinsons, at taxpayer expense.
McGee said he didn’t know why the station owner was not required to replace Robinson’s well.
‘That is a question you have to ask Lansing about,? he said. ‘I talked to the state this year ? they did not have enough funding to replace that well in 2015, so maybe in 2016.”
McKee said the township is doing everything they can to get the issue resolved.