Governor Gretchen Whitmer awarded more than $5 million under the MI Clean Water Plan to six communities to improve drinking water systems.
“The MI Clean Water Plan continues to make investments empowering communities to identify and replace lead water lines, clean up toxic contamination, expand sewer systems, address failing septic systems, and keep water affordable always,” said Governor Whitmer in the news release. “We have invested over $120 million under the MI Clean Water Plan into water infrastructure, and the Building Michigan Together Plan I signed earlier this year will invest nearly an additional $2 billion, ensuring that we can deliver clean drinking water to every Michigan family, school, and small business. I will work with anyone to build up Michigan’s water infrastructure and protect every Michigander’s right to clean, affordable drinking water.”
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) awarded Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants (DWI) to the four communities:
- City of Ann Arbor: $1.38 million for projects to facilitate overall drinking water system upgrades;
- East Lansing – Meridian Water and Sewer Authority: $2 million for projects to facilitate overall drinking water system upgrades;
- City of Owosso: $403,500 for projects to facilitate overall drinking water system upgrades;
- Village of Shelby: $621,000 for projects to facilitate overall drinking water system upgrades;
- $56.4 million for 19 municipalities for lead service line replacement;
- $35.5 million for 105 communities to study their water systems infrastructure and identify potential hazards;
- $21.6 million for 10 communities to reduce PFAS contamination;
- $8.6 million for eight communities to improve their drinking water infrastructure; And
- $1.9 million for 27 communities to implement water rate plans to support their asset management plan, or watershed plans supporting long-term infrastructure needs to address public health and environmental risks.
Benton Charter Township also received $690,000 in a Consolidation and Contamination Risk Reduction (C2R2) grant to remove or reduce per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other contaminants, reported the news release.
“The MI Clean Water Grant means a lot to the residents and community people who use our services in the township, ensuring a healthy work and living environment for all who drink or cook with our water,” said Township Supervisor Cathy Yates in the news release. “This is a priority for our township: to ensure all within the boundaries have access to clean and safe water.”
Addittionally, the city of Romulus received $456,300 in a Drinking Water Asset Management (DWAM) grant for drinking water suppliers to update asset management plans and work towards the removal of hazardous materials including lead service lines.
The 2020 MI Clean Water Plan directs $102.1 million in federal funds for lead service line replacement and $105 million for general fund programs that address PFAS or other contaminants, lead service line identification and more.
