Image by BreakDownPictures from Pixabay
After decades of underinvestment in Michigan’s infrastructure, on Oct. 1, a $500 million comprehensive water infrastructure investment in Michigan’s water systems from source to tap was introduced by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, along with bipartisan and bicameral partners.
MI Clean Water confronts the large infrastructure issues that Michigan faces, such as lead-laden water service lines, toxic contamination like Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), undersized sewers, failing septic systems, unaffordable water rates and constrained local budgets. MI Clean Water will reduce barriers for communities and allow them to access needed funds for necessary and timely infrastructure upgrades.
The MI Clean Water investment is a unified approach to cleaner, more affordable water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this provides direct investments for communities, helps provide safe, clean water to residents and will support over 7,500 Michigan jobs.
The MI Clean Water investment will be done without raising the taxes of Michiganders.
“ Sewage overflows in Southeast Michigan impacting Lake St. Clair, PFAS and dioxane found in multiple drinking water sources, and, of course, the lasting impact of the Flint Water Crisis are just some of the impacts we’re already facing, and we need to act now to prevent further harm,” said Representative Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores.
“This plan will allow us to address these issues while creating thousands of good-paying jobs,” Hertel added. “I am excited to put Michiganders to work to clean up our state.”
The investment includes a proposal combining federal dollars for lead service line replacement in low-income communities ($102.1 million) with bonding authority for water quality protection ($290 million), one-time general fund appropriation for drinking water infrastructure and innovation ($105 million) and asset management grants ($2.9 million) to help communities develop, update and improve their plans for wastewater and stormwater systems resulting in a comprehensive water infrastructure investment of $500 million in Michigan’s water systems.
A $207.1 million investment in drinking water quality including:
- Lead Service Line Replacement in Disadvantaged Communities Program – $102 million
- Lead and Copper – Drinking Water Asset Management Grants – $37.5 million
- PFAS and Emerging Contaminants – Contamination and Consolidation Grants – $25 million
- Non-Lead Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants – $35 million
- Affordability and Planning Grants – $7.5 million
A $293 million investment in wastewater protection, including:
- Clean Water Infrastructure Grants (eliminating sanitary sewer overflows; correcting combined sewer overflows; increasing green infrastructure) – $235 million
- Substantial Public Health Risk Grants (removing direct and continuous discharges of raw sewage from surface or ground water) – $20 million
- Failing Septic System Elimination Program – $35 million
- Stormwater, Asset Management, and Wastewater Grants – $3 million
Whitmer said she was calling on the legislature to authorize EGLE to use the remainder of the voter-approved 2002 Great Lakes Water Quality bond during this legislative session.
“The MI Clean Water Plan is a critical part of the solution, but the work cannot stop here,” Whitmer said. “I look forward to working with the legislature to find creative solutions to address our water infrastructure backlog. Everyone must remain committed to ensuring that every Michigander has access to clean water.”
It is proactive investments like this that will prevent future public health crises, reduce inequities, and ensure the promise of generations of Michiganders to come,” said Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, MSU College of Human Medicine pediatrician and professor.
