Douglas Environmental and its president, Brian Powell, were arraigned on March 30 in the 53rd District Court in Howell for allegedly falsifying water safety and discharge tests for private water systems serving mobile home communities across Michigan, according to an April 1 announcement by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
The case is significant because it involves the integrity of drinking water testing for residents in multiple mobile home communities. Accurate reporting of contaminant levels is required to ensure public health and compliance with state regulations.
Douglas Environmental faces one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, which carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, along with six counts of Forgery. Powell has been charged with six counts of Forgery and seven counts of Safe Drinking Water Violations. Each misdemeanor violation could result in up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine per day.
Authorities allege that on at least six occasions during 2023, Douglas Environmental through Powell falsified test results for water systems at Moon Lake Mobile Home Park (Shiawassee County), Thornapple Lake Estates (Barry County), and Fenton Harbor Condominiums (Genesee County). Additionally, Powell is accused of failing to report elevated contaminant levels between 2020 and 2023 at several other locations including Hickory Hills Mobile Homes (Calhoun County) and Green Brook Estates (Livingston County).
The Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division and the Environmental Crime Unit investigated after the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy found discrepancies between reported data from Douglas Environmental and their own records. Testing by EGLE indicated that no harm came to the public as a result.
“Safe drinking water relies on honest testing,” said Attorney General Nessel. “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.”
EGLE Director Phil Roos said: “Ensuring the safety of Michigan’s drinking water is fundamental to protecting public health, and that starts with accurate, reliable data. 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.”
Powell’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 5 before Judge Daniel B. Bain in the 55th District Court.
A criminal charge remains an allegation until proven otherwise; defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty.
