LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Several Michigan communities will be the beneficiaries of grants totaling more than $41 million across the state designated to help upgrade water systems. 

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According to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) the majority of Michigan residents are served by community wastewater systems. 

“Seventy percent of Michiganders are served by more than 1,000 community wastewater systems and a similar percentage get drinking water from community water systems,” EGLE officials said, “Those systems often struggle to find resources to address legacy issues like aging drinking water and stormwater facilities and emerging challenges like new standards for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals.”

The MI Clean Water Plan grants come through the EGLE’ Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), and has highlighted some of the recent recipients of grants: 

  • Detroit Water and Sewerage Department for $17,262,795. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department distribution water system improvements project includes the rehabilitation and replacement of cast iron water main pipe and associated lead service lines located east of Livernois Avenue in the Martin Park, Pilgrim Village, University District, and Grixdale Farms neighborhoods.  
  • Detroit Water and Sewerage Department for $15,762,827.  The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department distribution water system improvements project includes the rehabilitation and replacement of cast iron water main pipe and associated lead service lines located west of Livernois Avenue in the Warrendale, McDowell, Brightmoor, Claytown, Springwells, Crary/St. Mary’s, and Grandmont neighborhoods.
  • City of Jackson for $8,437,255.  The project includes installation of mechanical jet mixers in the east and west elevated storage tanks, well pump motor replacement, miscellaneous water treatment plant (WTP) projects, water main replacement, and replacement of approximately 1,125 lead service lines. WTP projects include lime and soda ash fill line replacement, drain system replacement, and installation of a return flow meter.

PFAS has been detected in the drinking water of nearly 2 million Michiganders, and even in the Great Lakes according to the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network.  The “forever chemicals” have been linked to cancer, thyroid problems, autoimmune disorders, and reproductive challenges. 

A recent Department of Defense ruling from last Wednesday which would require two new groundwater treatment systems to be installed near the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda has also been declared a win for some Michiganders who have been particularly affected by PFAS contamination. 

“Our community has grappled with PFAS contamination stemming from the Wurtsmith Air Force base for years, and this latest announcement is a big step forward for protecting our health and cleaning up the Au Sable River, Van Etten Lake and Lake Huron,” said Cathy Wusterbarth, co-founder of Need Our Water (NOW) and a leader in Great Lakes PFAS Network (GLPAN). “Countless meetings, negotiations, public awareness events and steadfast advocacy led to these actions. We are grateful for our members of Congress for keeping the pressure on the Department of Defense, and the dedicated PFAS activists in Oscoda and across Michigan for keeping this issue front and center for our leaders.”

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Residents and advocacy groups including the GLPAN have been seeking assistance from government entities after years of PFAS testing levels remaining higher than safety regulations around and near the retired Air Force base.