$ 80 million wastewater treatment plant project to begin in spring

DELTA TOWNSHIP OF MICH. – Delta Township plans to spend $ 80 million to expand and modernize its wastewater treatment plant, saying the project is necessary due to aging infrastructure and increased state standards.

Construction is expected to start in May 2022.

The plant currently processes about 6 million gallons of water per day. With the upgrade, this will increase to 8 million gallons per day.

Delta Township Manager Brian Reed said the expansion was not due to population growth, “but to industry and major water users.

“So over the years we’re currently processing about 80% of our current design, and generally when you hit that mark, the state of Michigan wants you to start considering upgrading your plant,” Reed explains.

Cali Montana, FOX 47 News, 2021

Amazon recently announced that its first Mid-Michigan distribution center will be located in Delta Township, but Reed said the township started planning to expand the wastewater treatment plant more than three years.

“Obviously, we anticipate different types of growth in terms of industry, business, residency in design, but that hasn’t directly impacted our plans,” Reed said.

Cali Montana, FOX 47 News, 2021

The most recent pieces of equipment at the plant are 35 years old, and some sections of the facility date from the 1960s and 1970s.

Rick Kane, the township’s utility manager, said they had experienced equipment failures in recent years but were able to complete the repairs in a short period of time. Looking to the future, he said it made sense to replace the equipment and stay ahead of the game.

“Small repairs are something that can be done relatively easily,” Kane said. “But as the equipment ages and the outages become more catastrophic or more extensive, it just takes more manpower and more funding to keep the old equipment operational.”

Cali Montana, FOX 47 News, 2021

Wastewater tariffs will increase to pay for the project. Reed said residents saw a 7.25% increase last year and will continue to increase that amount over the next four to five years.

“It’s part of the infrastructure that people don’t see,” Reed said. “When you turn on your faucet and flush the toilet or the water flows down the drain, you don’t want to have to think about it. So maintaining our infrastructure has been the main focus.”

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