The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) will increase the amount spent on replacing the aging drinking water systems in the state.
Sen. Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo), chair of the EGLE appropriations subcommittee, said the $48 million for lead line replacement grants and to upgrade treatment facilities was just a part of the “environmental puzzle.”
“A lot of our wastewater facilities are old and crumbling, and if there is a way we can get grant money to those folks, long term, this is one of those times where, ‘let’s do it, we’ve got the dollars now.’ Let’s spend it wisely,” Bumstead said.
Lead lines and wastewater weren’t the only issues EGLE’s $729 million budget addresses.
Drinking water monitoring and oversight projects saw a $3 million increase, with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Non-storm water program getting a $1.2 million increase and seven additional jobs.
Environmental health is getting a nearly $8 million increase to help local health departments monitor and test drinking water. Drinking water is also getting $1.8 million and will hire seven more positions to help strengthen oversight.
A program to test private drinking wells received $5 million. $3 million was assigned to conducting the Michigan Geological Survey and another water project gets $10 million to remove mining sludge from Lake Superior in Keweenaw County.
