Use federal funds to bolster Michigan water infrastructure
LANSING — Republicans in the Michigan Senate have introduced a plan to use mostly federal funding to put $2.5 billion into improving the state’s water infrastructure.
Senate Bill 565 would pump about $2.2 billion in funds sent to Michigan by federal coronavirus relief packages along with $290 million in restructured state funds into dam infrastructure, lead pipe replacement, removing toxic chemicals and other water quality and infrastructure areas.
The full appropriations bill, introduced June 24, includes:
- $700 million for upgrading local drinking water and wastewater facilities
- $680 million to create grant and loan programs to upgrade and repair dams in Michigan
- $600 million to create grant programs for lead pipe replacement
- $100 million to create grant programs for PFAS-contaminant cleanup
- $85 million for healthy drinking water programs in Michigan’s schools
- $20 million to implement groundwater conservation recommendations made by the Michigan Water Use Advisory Council
- $15 million to support the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program
- $10 million for wetland mitigation
The federal funding was made available through a series of coronavirus relief packages passed by Congress, most recently the American Recue Plan. The ARP allocated close to $6.5 billion to Michigan’s state government, along with billions from relief plans passed in 2020.
More:Michigan lawmakers compromise, allocate more than $6.6 billion in federal pandemic funds
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States, for the most part, have discretion over what federal funding can be spent on. In addition to spending on items related to the pandemic, infrastructure spending is also possible for ARP funds.
“This one-time, once-in-a-lifetime funding from the federal government should be used to make drastic, long-term investments that will benefit the good people of Michigan for generations to come,” Sen. Roger Victory, R-Hudsonville, said in a statement. “This plan will do that while preserving our greatest natural resource — our water.”
Michigan, known for its water and the surrounding Great Lakes, has had notable issues with water quality in recent years. The Flint Water Crisis gripped national attention, after state leaders switched the city’s water supply to the Flint River, leading to a contamination of water offered to residents.
PFAS are chemicals that can cause health issues. The “forever chemicals” are found in firefighting foams, paints, cleaning materials and more. In recent years, officials at the state and the federal level have worked to clean up the contaminants. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has estimated PFAS could be found at more than 11,300 sites in Michigan, many of which are old industrial sites.
More:Upton, Dingell introduce legislation to enact national PFAS clean drinking water standard
A 2018 report found over 260 million gallons of groundwater, the water trapped underneath Michigan, is drawn daily in the state. Close to 45 percent of Michiganders rely on groundwater pumped through wells for drinking water.
Locally, there have been issues with groundwater. Ottawa County has been dealing with a groundwater shortage for years — which affects farmers and residents, mostly in the northern and central parts of the county. Earlier this year, the county formed a board to explore solutions to its groundwater problem.
Neighboring Allegan County doesn’t have the same shortage issues that Ottawa County does, although a study published by Allegan County earlier this year found there are some issues, such as elevated levels of nitrate and chloride along with more groundwater usage.
Ultimately, Senate Republicans will have to reach agreement on the water spending plan with the House, also controlled by Republicans, as well as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Whitmer, a Democrat, visited Detroit Monday to examine flood damage that occurred over the weekend.
Last year, Whitmer announced a $500 million plan, called MI Clean Water, which targeted upgrading water infrastructure.
“Protecting our natural resources and drinking water are two issues I think most can agree on,” Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, said in a statement. “We’ve made a great deal of progress monitoring, cleaning up and improving access to clean water in recent years. These funds will provide a major boost to these efforts and improve our knowledge and ability to manage our resources.”
— Contact reporter Arpan Lobo at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @arpanlobo.
