Michigan communities benefit from $12.6 million in EGLE clean water grants

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A new well in the Upper Peninsula and grants to help 28 communities modernize their water systems, including replacing lead service lines, are part of $12.6 million in state grants recently awarded to Michigan cities, towns and townships to protect the state’s public health and water resources.

These MI Clean Water Plan grants, supported by the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), and the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), are designed to help communities modernize their aging infrastructure, ensure clean drinking water, and protect Michigan’s environment.

Over 70% of Michigan residents rely on over 1,000 municipal wastewater systems, and a similar percentage get their drinking water from municipal water systems. These systems often face challenges dealing with legacy issues such as outdated drinking water and stormwater systems, as well as new standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), “forever chemicals.”

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan State Legislature and federal agencies have increased funding for aging water infrastructure to ensure these systems continue to protect Michigan’s public health and freshwater resources.

More than half of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) budget traditionally supports local government agencies in funding critical improvements to protect residents and natural resources.

“Michigan is surrounded by 20 percent of the world’s fresh water and has high-quality rivers, lakes and groundwater that provide drinking water to 10 million residents,” said Phil Roos, EGLE Director. “Maintaining modern, efficient treatment systems is critical to protecting the health of Michiganders. These grants will help communities meet that challenge.”

Grant highlights:

Grants from the State Drinking Water Revolving Fund (DWSRF):

• Negaunee/Ishpeming Water Authority: $930,000 for a new drinking water well, a well house with a monitoring and data collection system, a potassium permanganate treatment system, and approximately 5,500 feet of transfer tubing. The existing well will be decommissioned once the new one is in service.

Financial support and planning grants:

• City of Saline: $81,000
• City of Muskegon: $122,500
• City of Detroit: $500,000
• Village of Hillman: $90,000
• City of Ecorse: $500,000

Technical, business and financial grants:

23 water systems received grants to identify or verify lead service lines that need to be replaced. This process includes cleaning water on both sides of each curb and conducting surveys in the building to document service line materials, with appropriate restoration to original condition.

Recipients and amounts include:

• City of Munising: $319,830
• City of Eaton Rapids: $564,000
• Romeo Village: $334,100
• Grosse Pointe Shores Village: $342,700
• City of Galesburg: $600,000
• Village of Beverly Hills: $350,900
• City of East Jordan: $537,189
• City of Marysville: $589,900
• City of Gaylord: $252,163
• Kalkaska Village: $372,049
• City of North Muskegon: $599,680
• City of Southfield: $555,700
• Clair Township: $366,764
• City of South Lyon: $384,530
• City of Northville: $600,000
• City of Ludington: $600,000
• Village of Augusta: $404,600
• Village of Blissfield: $483,000
• City of Clawson: $600,000
• City of Sylvan Lake: $264,900
• City of Manistique: $423,617
• Village of Waldron: $292,550
• City of Berkeley: $570,900