A new cleaner water source for Bay County moved closer to reality Monday night

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Cleaner AuGres Water for Bay County Seen Result of New Treatment Plant

New $50 Million Membrane Treatment Plant, Fixing Present Facility Weighed

September 28, 2011
By: Dave Rogers

A new cleaner water source for Bay County moved closer to reality Monday night -- after nearly 90 years of discussions -- when the city commission went on record to build a new treatment plant.

Bay City and Bay County officials are stepping up talks to reach agreement with the Saginaw-Midland Water Supply Corporation on a new deep water source from Lake Huron at Whitestone Point, near Au Gres.

If this happens it will correct a blunder that occurred in 1944 when the AuGres plant was built by Saginaw-Midland, and Bay City rejected an opportunity to join.

Earlier, Saginaw had purchased land in Bangor Township but had declined to draw water from the Bay when faced with difficulty of treating supplies from an inferior low water source. Water from the shallow bay has historically needed heavy treatment to remove tastes and odors caused by algae.

Planning for the long-sought for new water source moved ahead when the Bay City Commission on Monday night agreed to build a new $50 million membrane treatment plant.

The Bay County Road Commission last Wednesday also gave the go ahead for a joint agreement with Bay City to seek the Whitestone Point source, according to County Executive Thomas L. Hickner. "This is a great step forward," said Mr. Hickner.

Renovation of the existing plant is still an option, according to City Manager Robert Belleman who said costs for renovating and for a new plant were in a similar range.

No details were forthcoming from either city or county officials about how the costs would be financed.

A new or renovated plant will give the city-county partnership the ability to process raw water from the S-M line, which runs through Bay County and has a pumping station on Three Mile Road in Monitor Township. The water then would be distributed through the existing system in the city and adjacent townships.

Saginaw and Midland each have three members on the water system board appointed by the respective city councils. Some observers feel a board similar to that of the Tri-City Airport and Delta College, both of which have three members from each community, would be appropriate for the combined water system.