The City of Auburn is one of 11 municipalities across the state that have been tapped by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to receive grants aimed at improving drinking water quality.
This week, in announcing the awards totaling nearly $5 million that fall under the umbrella of the MI Clean Water Plan, Whitmer said the plan reflects the state’s commitment to ensuring residents have safe, clean tap water. This is accomplished by helping local water suppliers move toward reducing the risks associated with lead in drinking water and making other improvements.
Removing lead and other impurities from water lines may be the critical piece of this undertaking, but there are other benefits as well.
“Investing in water infrastructure creates tens of thousands of great-paying jobs, protects access to safe drinking water for communities, and drives down costs for families, “ said Whitmer. “The MI Clean Water plan helps us put Michiganders first, and we should continue building on it to replace lead service lines statewide, tackle toxic contaminants and cut utility costs for families.”
Auburn has been awarded $229,300, funds that it used toward the purchase of a Hydro Excavation Truck, commonly referred to as a Hydrovac. As the name implies, this piece of equipment uses vacuum excavation techniques and pressurized water rather than traditional excavation techniques such as a backhoe or manual digging. It’s a safer, more efficient and non-destructive method to excavate, city officials said.
“It’s the difference between a surgeon cutting you with a knife or using technology to make a microscopic incision,” said David Haag, Auburn City Administrator. “We have 191 water connections to inspect, and if we had to go in with a backhoe, even on the outlawn, we’d have 191 unhappy residents because their lawns would be ripped up. It would be a mess. The Hydrovac is going to be far less invasive to people’s property.”
The state’s Clean Water Plan is a $500 million investment to rebuild Michigan’s water infrastructure. Issued through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), the grants support work that includes replacing lead service lines, enhancing water affordability plans, and connecting homes that are plagued with contaminated drinking water wells to safe community water supplies.
“The reality is, EGLE determines who gets funding and what they will and won’t fund,” Haag said. “We’re ecstatic. We proposed the idea of a Hydro Truck to EGLE, and they agreed to pay about 25% of its cost and 25% of a pickup truck and a few other pieces of equipment. This is a game-changer for Auburn.”
Haag notes that the water line inspections are a state requirement, so Auburn was going to have to absorb the cost one way or another. Haag sold the city commission on the idea of purchasing the Hydrovac during a special workshop, emphasizing the cost savings involved and the versatility of the Hydrovac.
“We can use it for all kinds of things,” Haag said. “EGLE has specific functions that each community must conduct and comply with for ensuring safe drinking water. This award positions the city to conduct its own inspections and inventory water supply lines versus contracting these services out. If we farmed this out, we would be looking at a nearly $1 million bill. By purchasing our own equipment and doing it ourselves, we’re saving the city anywhere from $350,000 to $400,000. This is equipment that can be used throughout the city in our normal day-to-day maintenance of city infrastructure.”
Once the commission agreed to accept the state grant and approved the Hydrovac purchase, “That night, immediately after the meeting, Ashlie House (Auburn’s Department of Public Works Director) made a phone call to secure the Hydrovac. They only had two and weren’t going to hold one any longer,” Haag said.
Having served in Auburn’s top post for about four years now, Haag has made it a priority to aggressively seek grant funding for citywide improvements, which include a number of upgrades that continue at Auburn City Park.
“In my tenure, we have solicited grant commitments of over $1 million,” he said. “We’re always seeking ways to improve the city for our residents.”
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Originally Appeared Here