Congress sends $6.6 million to Oakland Co. for water infrastructure

Three major water-infrastructure projects will move forward, fueled by $6.6 million in Congressional funding.

Holly and Groveland townships will get some relief after a joint project with Genesee County, said Jim Nash, Oakland County’s water commissioner.

This is for a $1 million the design and engineering of a sanitary sewer extension along Dixie Highway to Grange Hall Road, to serve Holly and Groveland townships. These services will be extended in the future to include Brandon Township and the Village of Ortonville, Nash said

“One in four or one in five septic systems are failing in this state,” he said. “Some businesses have had to close because their septic systems don’t work. They have a limited sewer system, mostly in commercial areas.”

In Royal Oak Township, $1.6 million will go toward replacing aging water systems to ensure residents have safe and reliable drinking water. Most of the current pipes were installed in the 1920s or 1930s, Nash said, adding that piecemeal repairs are costly.

The bulk of the money will create a park-like resource when $4 million is spent on the Evergreen-Farmington sanitary drain corrective-action plan. The goal will be sanitary sewer overflows while maintaining clean water. Instead of overtaxing the flow of wastewater to the treatment plant in Detroit, this project will create a park that can take in 100 million gallons of overflow.

“That will be absorbed into the ground to control flooding and help reduce pollution issues. This is green infrastructure versus gray infrastructure,” Nash said. “Everyone saves money and these aren’t bridges to nowhere. We’re doing needed projects.”

Nash gave credit to U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters as well as U.S. Representatives Brenda Lawrence and Elissa Slotkin for their roles in funding these projects as part of the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill.

“I cannot thank our partners in Congress enough,” said Nash. “Through their support, they have shown a tremendous understanding of the importance of protecting public health and the safety of our residents and the environment. The needs for these funds are numerous. We will continue to look to our representatives in Congress to help us advocate for more funds like these in the future.”

Most of these projects, he said, will have little to no effect on consumers’ costs for water services.