OC Achieves LEED Gold in Environmental Leadership

OC Achieves LEED Gold in Environmental Leadership

by | Aug 30, 2024 | Environmental

Oakland County Achieves LEED Gold in Environmental Leadership

Post Date:08/28/2024 3:40 PM
  • Oakland County earned LEED Gold® certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
  • The USGBC recognizes the county’s commitment to social, economic and environmental sustainability practices.
  • Oakland County is part of a growing group of governments certified using the LEED for Cities & Communities rating system.

Pontiac, Mich. – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has certified all of Oakland County as LEED® Gold because of its commitment to improving holistic, county-wide sustainability practices.

The LEED Gold recognition means Oakland County earned high scores countywide for its green spaces, natural resource conservation and restoration efforts, as well as resilience and emergency planning. Many other factors are included in the measurement such as quality of life aspects including low unemployment rates, high education completion rates, favorable median air quality index numbers and low incidences of violent crimes.

Environmental sustainability is one of eight strategic goals by County Executive Dave Coulter’s administration that guide Oakland County.

“Oakland County’s achievement of LEED Gold certification underscores our deep commitment to sustainability and reflects County Executive Dave Coulter’s vision of fostering healthier, more resilient communities,” Chief Sustainability Officer Erin Quetell said. “This recognition is a testament to the county and its communities driving real, measurable change in environmental stewardship and quality of life for our residents.”

Local governments and communities achieve the certification by implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at improving sustainability and the standard of living for residents. LEED is designed to help buildings, communities and cities achieve high performance in key areas of social, economic and environmental sustainability.

During certification, communities implement plans to reduce their energy consumption, carbon emissions, and more to improve air and water quality, foster better health outcomes, and create green jobs. LEED also helps communities track and measure their efforts against key quality of life metrics, such as education, safety, prosperity and equitability.

Oakland County also earned gold certification for its environmental leadership from the statewide Michigan Green Communities (MGC) program in May.

About the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to transforming how buildings and communities are designed, built and operated to create thriving, healthy, equitable and resilient places that advance human and environmental wellbeing. USGBC leads market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

EGLE announces $9.7 million in MI Clean Water grants

EGLE announces $9.7 million in MI Clean Water grants

by | Jul 29, 2024 | Environmental

 
EGLE Main GovD banner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2024
EGLE Media Office, [email protected], 517-284-9278

EGLE announces $9.7 million in MI Clean Water grants to help Michigan communities upgrade water infrastructure, protect health, environment

Combined sewer separation in Dearborn, protection from PFAS near Cadillac, and work toward lead service line removals in 13 communities are among $9.7 million in state grants recently awarded to Michigan cities, villages, and townships to protect public health and Michigan’s water resources.

The MI Clean Water Plan grants through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), and support from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) aim to help communities upgrade aging infrastructure, ensure healthy drinking water, and protect Michigan’s environment.

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. Those systems often struggle to find resources to address legacy issues like aging drinking water and storm water facilities and emerging challenges like new standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals.”

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan Legislature, and federal agencies have ramped up funding for aging water infrastructure – a critical move to help ensure those water systems continue to protect public health and the environment, including Michigan’s unmatched freshwater resources.

More than half of EGLE’s budget has traditionally passed through to Michigan cities, towns, villages, and other local government agencies to finance critical improvements that help them better protect residents and our natural resources.

“Working with Michigan’s villages, towns, and cities to improve critical water systems is incredibly gratifying,” said Phil Roos, EGLE director. “We’re helping fill a critical need that will help protect people and ease the financial strain on communities.”

Grant roundup

Grants through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund:

  • City of Dearborn Heights for $2,487,500. The project is for separation of combined sewers associated with Combined Sewer Overflow Outfall L-41. This includes construction of approximately 6,125 linear feet of storm sewers ranging from 12 to 36 inches in diameter.

 

Grants through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund:

  • City of Garden City for $445,495. This project will replace approximately 9,200 linear feet of water main along Marquette Street and install approximately 3,600 linear feet of water main for looping along Radcliff Street and Cherry Hill Road. The project will also replace an estimated 20 lead service lines (LSL) on Marquette Street, in addition to an estimated 180 LSLs throughout Garden City, focusing on areas west of Merriman Road and south of Marquette Street.

 

Technical, Managerial, and Financial grants:

Eight water systems received grants for work in identifying or verifying lead service lines in preparation for replacement. The process to accomplish this effort includes hydrovacing on either side of each curb stop and performing in-building investigation to document service line materials. These projects include restoration to original condition of hydrovaced locations. Hydrovacing involves a piece of equipment using high-pressure water to cut and liquefy the soil, while simultaneously using a high-volume vacuum to remove the soil from the excavation.

Recipients and their respective amounts:

  • Carrollton Township: $600,000
  • City of Cheboygan: $570,000
  • Village of Maple Rapids: $130,300
  • City of Pontiac (through Oakland County): $580,700
  • Bergland Township: $89,035
  • Village of Mayville: $479,349
  • City of Ecorse: $600,000
  • City of Utica: $512,500
  • Detroit Water and Sewerage Department: $600,000
  • Village of Paw Paw: $137,500
  • Village of St. Charles: $597,327
  • City of Ironwood: $598,000
  • Village of Chesaning: $507,000

 

Affordability and Planning grants (assisting communities in planning and affording water infrastructure improvements including lead service line replacements): 

  • Summit Township: $39,000
  • City of Hamtramck: $183,829
  • City of Highland Park: $500,000

***(Reminder: Register for EGLE’s Great Lakes Drinking Water Conference, September 25-26 in Novi.)

Descriptions of funding sources

 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: Low-interest loan program to help public water systems finance the costs of replacement and repair of drinking water infrastructure to protect public health and achieve or maintain compliance with federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. The DWSRF provides loans to water systems for eligible infrastructure projects. As water systems repay their loans, the repayments and interest flow back into the DWSRF to support new loans. ARPA funding operates as a grant and may be used in combination with loan dollars to reduce the financial burden on communities to pay for capital improvement debt. ARPA funded grants awarded this fiscal year: $218,398,719.

 Clean Water State Revolving Fund: Used by local municipalities to finance construction of water pollution control projects. These projects include wastewater treatment plant upgrades and expansions, combined or sanitary sewer overflow abatement, new sewers designed to reduce existing sources of pollution, and other publicly owned wastewater treatment efforts that improve water quality. The CWSRF can also finance storm water infrastructure projects to reduce nonpoint sources of water pollution caused by things like agricultural runoff to lakes, streams, and wetlands. As with the DWSRF, ARPA funds can be used in conjunction with CWSRF loan dollars, thereby reducing the debt communities pay for infrastructure improvements. ARPA-funded grants awarded this fiscal year: $137,982,009.

 Drinking Water Asset Management Program: Provides grant funding to assist drinking water suppliers with asset management plan development and updates, and/or distribution system materials inventories as defined in Michigan’s revised Lead and Copper Rule. Awarded this fiscal year: $19,695,817.

 Consolidation and Contamination Risk Reduction Program: Established to aid drinking water systems to help remove or reduce PFAS or other contaminants. Awarded this fiscal year: $20,336,215.

 Substantial Public Health Risk Project Program: Protects public and environmental health by removing direct and continuous discharges of wastewater from surface water or groundwater. Awarded this fiscal year: $8,000,000.

 Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program: Provides states and territories with grants to public water systems in small or disadvantaged communities to address emerging contaminants, including PFAS.

 Technical, Managerial, and Financial Grants: Funds for work related to the physical verification of service lines at properties where lead is suspected but not confirmed or where service line material is unknown but likely contains lead.

 Affordability and Planning Grants: These grants are designed to assist communities in planning and affording water infrastructure improvements including lead service line replacements.

 

Additional Background 

  • Since January 2019 the State of Michigan has invested over $4 billion to upgrade drinking water, storm water, and wastewater facilities across the state, supporting over 57,000 jobs.
  • In 2022, Governor Whitmer signed a package of bills to help communities access funding for water infrastructure.
Seven Michigan water systems receive national fluoridation awards

Seven Michigan water systems receive national fluoridation awards

by | Jul 29, 2024 | Environmental

MDHHS banner with logo no names

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2024

CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Seven Michigan water systems receive national fluoridation awards

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announces seven Michigan water systems have been awarded the 2023 Community Water Fluoridation 50 Year Award from the American Dental Association, Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The seven systems are Allegan, Bangor, Blissfield, Boyne City, Manchester, New Buffalo and Portage.

Recipients are recognized for continuously adjusting and maintaining the amount of fluoride in drinking water for the prevention of tooth decay in adults and children. The award is given to those communities that achieved excellence in community water fluoridation by maintaining a consistent level of fluoride in drinking water for 50 consecutive years, starting in 1973.

“MDHHS celebrates the Michigan communities exceeding CDC recommendations by having 90 percent of our population on community water systems accessing fluoridated water,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “These awards demonstrate the commitment to high quality water determined by CDC. Water fluoridation has proven its effectiveness in preventing tooth decay throughout one’s lifetime and keeping Michigan residents healthy.”

Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in the water to a level that is optimal for preventing tooth decay. It has been recognized by the CDC as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century. The CDC recommends water fluoridation as a safe, effective and inexpensive method of preventing decay.

In 2023, a total of 86 public water systems in 26 states received these awards, including seven communities in Michigan. Nationally, nearly 75% (more than 211 million people) served by community water systems have access to optimally fluoridated tap water.

For more information about community water fluoridation, visit the CDC website.
EGLE: grants to drive Lake Michigan Circuit program

EGLE: grants to drive Lake Michigan Circuit program

by | Jul 17, 2024 | Environmental
EGLE Main GovD banner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
July 17, 2024
Jeff Johnston, EGLE Public Information Officer, [email protected], 616-231-9304
Jake Wilkinson, Supervisor, Energy Services, Recycling and Energy Section, EGLE Materials Management Division, [email protected], 517-290-7995

Accelerating an EV road trip: EGLE announces grants to drive Lake Michigan Circuit program

Awards of more than $900,000 will support charging stations

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has awarded 17 grants totaling $905,567 for electric vehicle charging stations to continue development of the multistate Lake Michigan Circuit initiative.

These grants support Michigan’s efforts to build out reliable, accessible charging infrastructure, supporting the goals of the state’s MI Healthy Climate Plan and MI Future Mobility Plan.

“Michiganders who have made the transition to electric vehicles need to know accessible, reliable charging stations are available to them as they enjoy everything our state has to offer,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “The Lake Michigan Circuit will allow travelers to experience Lake Michigan and visit our coastal communities and attractions along and around the route. This is not only a step in building out our charging infrastructure, it’s an opportunity to offer the best new road trip for electric vehicle owners across the country.”

The Lake Michigan Circuit is an electric vehicle (EV) charging initiative along 1,100 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline to support coastal tourism in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. The states have partnered to create a scenic route with reliable charging stations at recreational areas, hospitality businesses, and entertainment attractions to provide EV drivers a long-distance road trip free from range anxiety.

EGLE participates in the effort in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification.

“The Lake Michigan Circuit perfectly aligns with our state’s vision of providing greater access to charging infrastructure for all Michiganders.” said Michigan Chief Mobility Officer Justine Johnson. “Together, we are committed to collaborating across state government and with our partners in education and industry to advance our promise of accessible and sustainable mobility options.”

The newly announced grants will help install direct charge/fast charging (DCFC) stations and Level 2 chargers along the west coast of Michigan. Funding was awarded through EGLE’s Materials Management Division (MMD) Sustainability Section’s Charge Up Michigan program and made available through the Volkswagen Settlement Trust for fiscal year (FY) 2024.

The following applicants received awards this grant cycle:

  • Adelaide Point Qualified Opportunity Zone Business, Muskegon: $70,000 toward one 200 kilowatt (kW) DCFC ($113,245 match funding).
  • Chateau Chantal Winery & Inn, Traverse City: $5,000 toward one 7.2 kW Level 2 charger ($18,317 match funding).
  • Cloverland Electric Cooperative:
    • Manistique: $96,285 toward one 180 kW DCFC ($60,800 match funding).
    • St. Ignace: $96,285 toward one 180 kW DCFC ($58,733 match funding).
  • City of Frankfort: $5,000 toward one 19.9 kW Level 2 charger ($22,000 match funding).
  • City of Manistee: $10,000 toward two 12 kW Level 2 chargers ($32,736 match funding), $10,000 toward a second location with two 12 kW Level 2 chargers ($32,736 match funding), and $63,960 toward one 160 kW DCFC ($128,112 match funding).
  • Red E Charging:
    • Bridgman: $135,831 toward two 320 kW DCFC ($272,069 match funding).
    • Grand Haven: $57,619 toward one 240 kW DCFC ($138,721 match funding).
    • New Buffalo: Two awards of $10,000 each toward two 19.2 kW Level 2 chargers ($23,630 match funding each).
    • South Haven: $255,344 toward four 320 kW DCFC ($511,456 match funding).
  • City of South Haven: $10,000 toward one 19.2 kW Level 2 charger ($23,630 match funding).
  • Universal EV: 
    • Grand Haven: $60,278 toward one 90 kW DCFC $122,382 match funding).
    • Muskegon: $4,985 toward one 11.2 kW Level 2 charger ($10,125 match funding).
    • South Haven: $4,980 toward one 11.2 kW Level 2 charger ($10,110 match funding).

These awards come after the announcement of a FY 2025 budget deal that included over $30 million to build out Michigan’s electric vehicle charging network as well as resources to support hydrogen fueling, inductive charging, and fleet transition efforts.
Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness June 30 – July 6

Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness June 30 – July 6

by | Jul 1, 2024 | Environmental

 
Michigan Invasive Species Program banner

News Release
The following news release was issued earlier today by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. 

June 28, 2024
EGLE Media Office, [email protected], 517-284-9278
Kevin Walters, Aquatic Biologist, [email protected], 616-250-8637

Boating, fishing outreach events to mark Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week June 30 – July 6

Over 50 boat landing events are planned across the state to mark this year’s Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Awareness Week, June 30 to July 6. Public awareness about the impacts of harmful, nonnative aquatic plants and animals is critical to protecting Michigan’s ecosystems, tourism, and economy.

At a landing blitz, two men standing near the motor of a trailered small boat in a parking lot. A woman and a child are standing behind the boat.The boat landing events are part of the 11th Annual AIS Landing Blitz in which local partners such as lake associations and cooperative invasive species management areas (CISMA) give boaters tips to prevent the spread of AIS and comply with laws for recreational boating. The regional Landing Blitz web site allows you to search for an event near you. Similar AIS Landing Blitz events will be held in each of the Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has issued a proclamation to mark AIS Awareness Week raising awareness about this important issue to stop the spread of invasive aquatic plants and organisms.

What you can do

All boaters and anglers can help prevent the spread of AIS by following some simple steps.
Required actions – it’s the law in Michigan:

  • Remove all aquatic organisms, including plants, from watercraft and trailers before launching or transporting.
  • Remove all drain plugs and drain all water from bilges, ballast tanks, and live wells before transporting a watercraft.
  • Dispose of unused bait in the trash, not in the water.

Recommended additional actions to protect our waters:

  • Clean boats, trailers, and equipment by removing plants, debris and mud before leaving the access area. Dispose of the material in a trash receptacle or otherwise away from the water body, if possible.
  • Wash boats and trailers before leaving the access area, if possible, or at a nearby car wash or at home.
  • Dry boats and equipment for five days before launching into a different water body.
  • Disinfect live wells and bilges with a bleach solution (1/2 cup bleach to 5 gallons water).

An illustration of a boat on a trailer with labels indicating areas to look for and remove aquatic plants and debris.An EGLE NotMISpecies webinar titled, “Clean it Up, Drain it Out, Dry it Off: Boating Hygiene for the 21st Century,” (recorded earlier) shows how easy it is to clean, drain, and dry boats and trailers to help prevent the introduction and spread of AIS.

“Partners around the state are reminding boaters and anglers about the simple steps they can take to prevent the spread of AIS,” said Kevin Walters, Aquatic Biologist, Water Resources Division, EGLE. “If we all clean, drain, and dry our boats, trailers, and gear, we can reduce the likelihood of inadvertently moving AIS when we recreate.”

Events at boat launches are contingent on weather and volunteer availability. Contact Kevin Walters for a list of events.

AIS Awareness Week is sponsored by EGLE’s Water Resources Division, in partnership with the departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture and Rural Development, federal agencies, and private and nonprofit organizations. For more information about AIS Awareness Week or the AIS Landing Blitz visit Michigan’s invasive species Web site at Michigan.gov/Invasives.

Michigan’s Invasive Species Program is cooperatively implemented by the Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Natural Resources.

Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.

Landing blitz: Volunteers at an AIS landing blitz in Manistee show owners where to check for and remove aquatic plants and debris from a boat and trailer.

Zebra zapper: After trailering a boat, check these locations for aquatic plants and debris, and drain all bilges and live wells before leaving the launch area.

 
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EGLE $12.6 million in MI Clean Water grants

EGLE $12.6 million in MI Clean Water grants

by | Jul 1, 2024 | Environmental

EGLE Main GovD banner
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2024
EGLE Media Office, [email protected], 517-284-9278

EGLE announces $12.6 million in MI Clean Water grants to help communities upgrade water infrastructure, protect health & environment

A new water well in the Upper Peninsula and grants to assist 28 communities with planning for water system upgrades including lead service line replacements are among $12.6 million in state grants recently awarded to Michigan cities, villages, and townships to protect public health and Michigan’s water resources.

The MI Clean Water Plan grants through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), and support from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) aim to help communities upgrade aging infrastructure, ensure healthy drinking water, and protect Michigan’s environment.

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. Those systems often struggle to find resources to address legacy issues like aging drinking water and storm water facilities and emerging challenges like new standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals.”

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan Legislature, and federal agencies have ramped up funding for aging water infrastructure – a critical move to help ensure those water systems continue to protect public health and the environment, including Michigan’s unmatched freshwater resources.

More than half of EGLE’s budget has traditionally passed through to Michigan cities, towns, villages, and other local government agencies to finance critical improvements that help them better protect residents and our natural resources.

“Surrounded by 20 percent of the planet’s fresh surface water, Michigan is blessed to have quality streams, lakes, and groundwater providing drinking water for 10 million residents,” said Phil Roos, EGLE director. “Maintaining modern, efficient treatment systems is vital to ensuring that Michiganders’ health is protected. These grants help communities meet that challenge.”

 

Grant roundup

Recent grants through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF): 

  • Negaunee/Ishpeming Water Authority for $930,000. This involves constructing a new drinking water production well. The project also includes constructing a new wellhouse with supervisory control and data acquisition and an associated control system, installing a potassium permanganate treatment system, and installing approximately 5,400 feet of transmission piping to connect the new well to the existing system. The water authority will abandon the existing well once the new well is operational.

 

Affordability and Planning Grants:

 These grants provide funding to assist communities in planning and affording water infrastructure needs statewide.

  • City of Saline: $81,000
  • City of Muskegon: $122,500
  • City of Detroit: $500,000
  • Village of Hillman: $ 90,000
  • City of Ecorse: $500,000

 

Technical, Managerial, and Financial grants:

Twenty-three water systems received grants for work in identifying or verifying lead service lines in preparation for replacement. The process to accomplish this effort includes hydrovacing on either side of each curb stop and performing in-building investigation to document service line materials. This project includes applicable restoration to original condition of hydrovaced locations. Hydrovacing involves a piece of equipment using high-pressure water to cut and liquefy the soil, while simultaneously using a high-volume vacuum to remove the soil from the excavation.

The recipients and their respective amounts:

  • City of Munising: $319,830
  • City of Eaton Rapids: $564,000
  • Village of Romeo: $334,100
  • Village of Grosse Pointe Shores: $342,700
  • City of Galesburg: $600,000
  • Village of Beverly Hills: $350,900
  • City of East Jordan: $537,189
  • City of Marysville: $589,900
  • City of Gaylord: $252,163
  • Village of Kalkaska: $372,049
  • City of North Muskegon: $599,680
  • City of Southfield: $555,700
  • Clair Township: $366,764
  • City of South Lyon: $384,530
  • City of Northville: $600,000
  • City of Ludington: $600,000
  • Village of Augusta: $404,600
  • Village of Blissfield: $483,000
  • City of Clawson: $600,000
  • City of Sylvan Lake: $264,900
  • City of Manistique: $423,617
  • Village of Waldron: $292,550
  • City of Berkley: $570,900

 

Descriptions of funding sources

 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: Low-interest loan program to help public water systems finance the costs of replacement and repair of drinking water infrastructure to protect public health and achieve or maintain compliance with federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. The DWSRF provides loans to water systems for eligible infrastructure projects. As water systems repay their loans, the repayments and interest flow back into the DWSRF to support new loans. ARPA funding operates as a grant and may be used in combination with loan dollars to reduce the financial burden on communities to pay for capital improvement debt. ARPA funded grants awarded this fiscal year: $218,398,719.

 Clean Water State Revolving Fund: Used by local municipalities to finance construction of water pollution control projects. These projects include wastewater treatment plant upgrades and expansions, combined or sanitary sewer overflow abatement, new sewers designed to reduce existing sources of pollution, and other publicly owned wastewater treatment efforts that improve water quality. The CWSRF can also finance storm water infrastructure projects to reduce nonpoint sources of water pollution caused by things like agricultural runoff to lakes, streams, and wetlands. As with the DWSRF, ARPA funds can be used in conjunction with CWSRF loan dollars, thereby reducing the debt communities pay for infrastructure improvements. ARPA-funded grants awarded this fiscal year: $137,982,009.

 Drinking Water Asset Management Program: Provides grant funding to assist drinking water suppliers with asset management plan development and updates, and/or distribution system materials inventories as defined in Michigan’s revised Lead and Copper Rule. Awarded this fiscal year: $19,695,817.

 Consolidation and Contamination Risk Reduction Program: Established to aid drinking water systems to help remove or reduce PFAS or other contaminants. Awarded this fiscal year: $20,336,215.

 Substantial Public Health Risk Project Program: Protects public and environmental health by removing direct and continuous discharges of wastewater from surface water or groundwater. Awarded this fiscal year: $8,000,000.

 Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program: Provides states and territories with grants to public water systems in small or disadvantaged communities to address emerging contaminants, including PFAS.

 Technical, Managerial, and Financial Grants: Funds for work related to the physical verification of service lines at properties where lead is suspected but not confirmed or where service line material is unknown but likely contains lead.

 Affordability and Planning Grants: These grants are designed to assist communities in planning and affording water infrastructure improvements including lead service line replacements.

Additional Background

 Since January 2019 the State of Michigan has invested over $4 billion to upgrade drinking water, storm water, and wastewater facilities across the state, supporting over 57,000 jobs.

  • In 2022, Governor Whitmer signed a package of bills to help communities access funding for water infrastructure.