LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Two U.P. communities are set to receive over $3 million each to update water distribution and sewer systems. Marquette County and the City of Ironwood are both recipients of water and wastewater disposal loans and grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The funding is a part of Biden’s investing in America agenda and an overall $42 million that Michigan will receive to update water systems.
The state’s Chief Infrastructure Officer, Zachary Kolodin, said the money will help Marquette County make required updates to the water distribution system around KI Sawyer. While Ironwood will be replacing sanitary sewer mains, storm sewer mains, and manholes.
“Many rural communities in Michigan don’t have quite the same tax base that they did when the water systems were initially laid down and require additional assistance in order to maintain their systems and continue to provide a high quality of life for Michiganders.” Kolodinsaid. “This ensures that we’re able to handle wastewater responsibly, that we don’t end up with bad situations like sewer backflows, and also that we are continuing to see clean water coming out of the tap.”
The state overall has had a focus on improving water infrastructure statewide. With more severe weather, water systems need a higher capacity to deal with the increase in rain and snow melt across the U.P. Kolodin said they also anticipate more Michiganders looking to move further north as temperatures rise. He said increasing capacity when it comes to water systems in the U.P. will be an important part of its population and economic growth.
Marquette County has been awarded a $3,740,000 loan to make required updates to the water distribution system in and around the former Ki Sawyer Air Force Base. this includes repairing three storage tanks, replacing around 6,000 linear feet of asbestos cement pipes, replacing and increasing the capacity of the generator, replacing and adding more valves, and upgrading or repairing well houses.
The City of Ironwood has been awarded a $3,348,000 grant and a $1,540,000 loan to replace sanitary sewer mains, storm sewer mains, and manholes within an economically distressed area.
This funding is part of the USDA’s water and waste disposal loans and grants program, totaling $1.3 billion to support projects in 30 states. The investments in michigan are among 116 projects nationwide that will impact millions of people living in remote areas of the country by providing high-speed internet access, cleaner drinking water, and a range of support for rural families, agricultural producers, and small businesses.
The Funds aim to support projects that expand access to drinking water, sanitary waste disposal, and stormwater drainage while ensuring water infrastructure is sustainable and more resilient to the impacts of climate change and severe weather.
