The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has announced the recipients of $267 million in grants to water systems across the state to improve water infrastructure, including in four Northern Michigan counties.
According to a Sept. 19 news release, EGLE reports that 70% of Michiganders are served by more than 1,000 community wastewater systems and a similar percentage get drinking water from community water systems.
Those systems often struggle to find resources to address legacy issues like aging drinking water and stormwater facilities and emerging challenges like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals.” The MI Clean Water Plan offers support to communities and water systems through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the American Rescue Plan Act to address those issues ensuring healthy drinking water and protection of Michigan’s environment.
More than half of EGLE’s budget has traditionally passed through to Michigan cities, towns, villages and other local government agencies to finance critical improvements that help them better protect residents and our natural resources.
Northern Michigan grants recipients through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund include:
- City of Sault Ste. Marie for $17,512,500
- This project consists of disconnection of storm and sanitary sewer lines in the Peck and Meridian Streets service area. Approximately 3,000 linear feet of sanitary sewer will be replaced, and sections of existing storm sewer will be re-utilized. New storm sewers will be installed in areas without existing sewers.
- The city will also complete wastewater treatment plant improvements including replacement of influent pumping and screening system equipment; upgrades to grit removal system and scum handling concentration tank; replacement of chemical storage and feed system; replacement of secondary clarifier mechanisms, rotating biological contactor components, and various pumps; installation of new sodium hypochlorite disinfection system and chlorine contact tank; and complete Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System, electrical distribution system and other upgrades.
Northern Michigan grant recipients through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund include:
- City of Newaygo for $689,500
- Replacement of approximately 250 public and private side lead and galvanized water service lines throughout the city. The project also includes replacing approximately 2,000 linear feet of water main located on Wood Street, including corresponding hydrants, valves and taps.
- City of Reed City for $3,787,920
- This project includes the demolition, abandonment, and replacement of two water wells. This includes consolidating the White Birch Estates mobile home park to the municipal system and abandoning their onsite wells. Additionally, this project includes replacing approximately 8,500 linear feet of water main, replacing approximately 170 public and private side lead and galvanized water service lines, installing new water meters throughout the city and making repairs and improvements to the elevated storage tank on 225th Ave.
- Charter Township of Oscoda for $1,565,065
- This project will remove and replace old, undersized water mains, complete water main loops for reliability, and remove and replace hydrants on the former Air Force Base subject to cross-contamination from PFAS substances.
Click on the links for more information about the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, the Technical, Managerial and Financial grants, and EGLE’s Grants and Loans Dashboard.