ALBION, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Six rural communities across Michigan, including one in Calhoun County and three in St. Joseph County are getting millions of dollars from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development agency for infrastructure improvements.
The City of Albion, in Calhoun County, will use a $1,146,000 loan to update and modify its wastewater treatment system. The project includes new headworks screening, influent pumping, grit removal and ferric chloride systems.
Control over aeration will be put in place to better manage energy costs, along with new high-efficiency blowers. The final clarifiers will be updated to allow better sludge blanket and solids draw-off controls. This investment will complete the funding package needed to support the project.
The Village of White Pigeon, in St. Joseph County, will use a $11,765,000 loan to support upgrades that will address cited deficiencies noted by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. The project will include the replacement of approximately 7,500 linear feet of drinking water mains that have outlived their useful lifespan and are undersized compared to current standards.
The project will also refurbish outdated elements of two wells and a third will be replaced/redrilled and reinstated on the system, increasing firm capacity and resiliency.
The Village of Mendon, also in St. Joseph County, will use a $1,751,000 loan to complete a previously funded project that will make necessary improvements to the drinking water system in the community. The project will result in the conservation of drinking water as well as energy used to treat the water.
The Village of Constantine, also in St. Joseph County, will use a $6,605,000 loan and $500,000 grant to complete the recommissioning of the shuttered wastewater treatment plant.
In 1997 the plant was decommissioned in favor of connecting to a regional system operated by the City of Three Rivers. Since the treatment contract has expired, Constantine determined that it was better to return to their system than continue with Three Rivers.
USDA says it is financing these projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to help state and local governments to expand access to clean and reliable drinking water, sanitary waste disposal, and storm water drainage.
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