Michigan mobile home water provider, president accused of falsifying water safety tests
—
A water services provider and its president are accused of falsifying water safety and discharge tests for private water systems serving mobile home communities in Michigan, state officials said.
Douglas Environmental is charged with six counts of forgery and one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. The firm’s president, Brian Powell, 57, of Brighton, is also charged with six counts of forgery and seven counts of safe drinking water violations.
According to authorities, Douglas Environmental provided private water systems for several mobile home communities throughout Michigan, including the following communities:
Moon Lake Mobile Home Park in Shiawassee County
Thornapple Lake Estates in Barry County
Fenton Harbor Condominiums in Genesee County
Hickory Hills Mobile Homes in Calhoun County
Green Brook Estates in Livingston County
Western Pines in Kalamazoo County
Victory Gardens in Genesee County
North Bay Mobile Home Park in Genesee County
State prosecutors accuse Douglas Environmental of falsifying water test results at Moon Lake Mobile Home Park, Thornapple Lake Estates and Fenton Harbor Condominiums at least six times in 2023. Between 2020 and 2023, the company is also accused of failing to report water tests that exceeded maximum contaminant levels at Hickory Hills Mobile Homes, Green Brook Estates, North Bay Mobile Home Park, Fenton Harbor, Victory Gardens and Western Pines.
The Michigan DNR investigated Douglas Environmental after the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy discovered data discrepancies between reports and what the company submitted for review, state prosecutors say.
“Safe drinking water relies on honest testing,” said Nessel in a statement. “Falsifying reports jeopardizes the well-being of residents, and I am grateful for EGLE’s and DNR’s work to uncover and investigate these extremely troubling allegations. My office will continue to prosecute those who put Michiganders’ health at risk.”
Authorities say that based on EGLE’s testing, the public was not harmed by the alleged scheme.
“It’s deeply disappointing when individuals choose to falsify test results; they undermine the trust that communities place in the systems designed to safeguard them. Michigan residents deserve complete confidence that the water they rely on is safe,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos.
Powell will appear in the 55th District Court on May 5.
