FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 25, 2022 Contact: [email protected]
Gov. Whitmer Announces 100th Drinking Water Grant Awarded Under MI Clean Water Plan to Provide Clean Drinking Water to Michiganders
LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced that Michigan has reached a milestone in ensuring families have access to clean, affordable water by awarding the 100th MI Clean Water Grant through the Water Infrastructure Finance Section of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to the city of Southgate in Wayne County.
“The MI Clean Water Plan has made critical investments in communities across Michigan to ensure access to safe, affordable water and is part of our ongoing effort to rebuild our infrastructure and get things done,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Together, we will keep replacing lead service lines, lowering the cost of water, and removing toxic contaminants. Let’s build on the 100 grants we have invested in communities across Michigan with the federal resources we have and shore up water infrastructure so every family can save money and have safer water.”
The grants support work including replacing lead service lines, enhancing water affordability plans, and connecting homes with contaminated drinking water wells to safe community water supplies. The MI Clean Water plan is an $500 million investment announced by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last year to rebuild the state’s water infrastructure to help provide clean, affordable water to Michiganders through investments in communities.
MI Clean Water addresses water infrastructure issues 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.
The Water Infrastructure Finance Section has awarded over $50 million to 100 Michigan cities, villages, and townships to help them achieve safe, clean drinking water for their residents.
The MI Clean Water Grant program consists of Drinking Water Asset Management (DWAM) grants, with $36.5 million in funding available, and Consolidation and Contamination Remediation (C2R2) grants, with $25 million available.
DWAM grants support drinking water suppliers in completing their Distribution System Material Inventories as required by Michigan’s revised Lead and Copper Rule, and support asset management plan development and updates. So far, $30,501,821 has been awarded to a total of 92 communities around the state.
C2R2 provides assistance to drinking water systems for removal or reduction of PFAS or other contaminants. The program has awarded $19,815,215 to eight Michigan communities.
“Water safety and integrity are vital for any community,” said Southgate Mayor Joseph G. Kuspa. “As we look to replace lead service lines in our neighborhoods, this DWAM grant will be instrumental in identifying potential hazardous infrastructure and enhancing our ability to correct those situations in a timely manner. Special thanks to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy for making these much-needed grants available.”
More than half of EGLE’s budget flows back to communities in the form of loans and grants to help them protect the environment and public health.
|
Whitmer Announces 100th Drinking Water Grant Awarded
