Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) recently awarded grants totaling $406,963 to 39 public water systems throughout the state. The funding will help support programs to protect clean water sources and to educate the public.
The funding ranges in awards from $1,050 to $70,000 for this year’s individual grants. The grants will support programs including updated plans to 11 wellhead protection areas, educate the public about their water sources, develop surface water intake programs, and other projects. The applicants are required to provide 50 percent matching funds for the projects, develop a water protection team, and demonstrate long-term commitment to their source water protection programs.
“EGLE is on the job every day working with Michigan’s 1,381 community water systems to deliver safe water to residents,” said Sara Pearson, source water unit supervisor with EGLE’s Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division (DWEHD). “But the first and most crucial step in the process is to ensure that the lakes, rivers, or groundwater wells that deliver that water are free of contaminants. These grants will help communities keep those water sources safe and reliable.”
The grants were announced in conjunction with Source Water Protection Week declared by the American Water Works Association Sept. 25 to Oct. 1, 2022.
The top ten awards are as follows:
| Kalamazoo | $70,000 |
| East Lansing Meridian Water & Sewer Authority | $46,573 |
| Owosso | $39,600 |
| Battle Creek | $16,000 |
| Plainfield Charter Township | $16,000 |
| Fenton | $15,985.99 |
| Grand Rapids | $15,000 |
| Milford | $12,450 |
| Vicksburg | $11,240 |
| Schoolcraft | $10,750 |
A full list of awardees is available here.
