Manure contains toxic levels of nitrates, phosphorus, and harmful E. coli bacteria – and the contaminants commonly leach into surface and groundwater across Michigan.

“The conclusion we came to for why this is, is partly because Michigan is varied when it relates to where water comes from and flows to throughout different watersheds. There’s a huge focus on overall Great Lakes water quality, but maybe less so specifically on drinking water.”- Emily Huff, associate professor in the MSU Department of Forestry