Michigan to improve rural water infrastructure with $33 million in USDA funding
(UI) – On March 13, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Michigan Brandon Fewins announced nearly $33 million in funding to improve water infrastructure in six rural Michigan communities.
According to a USDA statement, the funding is in addition to $2.5 million allocated for water and sewer infrastructure improvements in the Upper Peninsula and nearly $17 million in Thumb, bringing statewide investment to over $52 million.
Notable projects include:
The Village of White Pigeon, in St. Joseph County: $11,765,000 loan to replace approximately 7,500 linear feet of drinking water mains that have outlived their useful lifespan and are undersized compared to current standards.
The project will also refurbish outdated elements of two wells and a third will be replaced/redrilled and reinstated on the system, increasing firm capacity and resiliency.
The City of Lowell, in Kent County: $3.9 million loan to replace approximately 4,825 linear feet of gravity fed wastewater collection mains. These mains are outdated in their age, useful life, and materials.
The vitrified clay mains will be replaced with PVC mains (including 19 manholes and risers as needed). This project will also increase the distance between the drinking water and wastewater mains to at least 10 feet of separation, which will decrease the chances of a break to one line impacting the other.
The project also will replace outdated and undersized water distribution mains along Washington, King, and Kent streets. The city is contributing funding to support the replacement of lead service lines identified during construction.
The Village of Mendon, also in St. Joseph County: $1.7 million loan to make necessary improvements to the drinking water system in the community. The project will conserve drinking water as well as energy used to treat the water. These upgrades support increased resiliency towards climate change.
The Village of Ellsworth, in Antrim County: $2.1 million loan and $5.5 million grant to build wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure. According to the USDA, the project is “necessary to alleviate health and sanitary violations cited by the local health department” and will “improve the community's resiliency against the impacts of climate change.”
The USDA is financing these projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to help governments, nonprofits and federally-recognized Tribes build and improve rural wastewater systems.
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