Saginaw-Midland has agreed to furnish up to 22 million gallons of untreated water through its pipeline that already runs through Bay County.
HISTORIC H-2-O PACT: Whitestone Water, New Plant to Serve Most Bay County
40-Year Pact Slated to Be Signed by 15 Local Units Next Wednesday
January 26, 2013
By: Dave Rogers
After more than half a century of indecision, it appears Bay County is on the verge of getting better water from Lake Huron at AuGres through the Saginaw-Midland system.
Bay County officials finally have come together after years of declining water quality from Saginaw Bay and need to increase treatment.
County Executive Thomas L. Hickner, Bay City Mayor Chris Shannon and Tom Paige, director of the Bay County Department of Water and Sewer were key officials in securing the pact, along with former City Manager Robert V. Belleman, now with Saginaw County.
Continuing problems have been experienced with bay water because of low levels. Heavy treatment has often been required, especially during summer months, causing chemical taste and turbidity in the water.
Many residents have installed home water filtration devices or purchase bottled water to deal with the continuing problems.
The existing intake two miles into the bay off Linwood will no longer be used when the Saginaw-Midland water is received, although officials offered no estimated timetable.
Saginaw-Midland has agreed to furnish up to 22 million gallons of untreated water through its pipeline that already runs through Bay County.
A 40-year agreement is slated to be signed Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. by the County Road Commission, the cities of Bay City, Essexville and Pinconning, and 11 townships.
Township parties to the agreement include Hampton, Monitor, Bangor, Frankenlust, Williams, Merritt, Fraser, Portsmouth, Pinconning, Beaver and Kawkawlin.
Sparsely populated Garfield, Mt. Forest and Gibson townships are not included in the project since many residents are served with well water.
A new $59.6 million Bay Area Water Treatment Plant, using advanced membrane filtration technology, is planned on Euclid Avenue Road near the present Bay City plant.
Bay County will own the plant until bonds are repaid, at which time ownership will be transferred to the parties to the agreement.
Financing will be provided through the State of Michigan Drinking Water Revolving Bond Fund and bonds issued on the full faith and credit of the 15 participating governmental entities.
Neither the cost of water from S-M nor the estimated cost to customers is revealed in the proposed inter-governmental contract to be forged at the offices of the Bay County Road Commission on Beaver Road next Wednesday.
Costs of decommissioning the present city water plant at 2691 N. Euclid will be shared by the parties, according to the proposed pact.
Wholesale water rates to each unit will be based on raw water costs, debt service, operation and maintenance and reserves.
A 15-member advisory committee will run the new Bay system, with voting weighted according to the percentage of water use.
The proposed 26-page agreement provides for mediation and arbitration in case of disputes.
Some problems with aging systems will not be changed by improving the water source. Old lead pipes in plumbing of many city homes and businesses led to additional ortho/poly phosphate corrosion control additives to the water beginning last year. About 20 percent of water systems use such additives, according to city officials.
The Saginaw-Midland Municipal Water Supply Corporation (Corporation) for more than 65 years has been providing a high-quality source of Lake Huron drinking water to its owners and customers.
The Corporation's annual production has neared 20 billion gallons with peak days climbing close to 100 million gallons.
The Corporation operates with three plants and is a bulk supplier of high quality raw water to its owners and customers eventually resulting in service to over 260,000 residents in 30 cities or communities in six (6) Michigan counties.