Thanks to a grant through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, or DWSRF, Muskegon Heights will be receiving nearly $20 million in updates to the city’s water system.
The project includes the replacement of aging water mains along Broadway Avenue from Glade to Reynolds Street, as well as water main replacement along Sanford Street from Oakwood to Norton Avenue. This work includes replacing 7,000 feet of cast iron watermain and the replacement of 81 lead service lines, as well as 530 additional lead line replacements in other parts of the city.
EGLE says these projects will improve water flow and reliability.
The DWSRF is a low-interest loan program that helps public water systems finance the costs of replacing and repairing their drinking water infrastructure. Grants from these programs aim to help communities ensure healthy drinking water and protect the environment.
Seventy percent of Michiganders are served by more than 1,000 community wastewater systems. A similar percentage also gets its drinking water from community water systems. Those areas often struggle to find the necessary funds to upgrade their aging infrastructure.
No word yet on when these improvements will take place in Muskegon Heights.