Wet weather sewer project aims to save Michigan’s capital city $230 million

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‘Wet Weather’ sewer project aims to save Lansing $230 million by Great Lakes Echo

Lansing residents have a chance to weigh in on the latest suggestion for dealing with city sewage and stormwater.  City administrators say the so-called “Wet Weather” project would combine Lansing’s 20-year old CSO, or “combined sewage overflow” project, with two other similar ones involving sanitary sewer overflow and stormwater. Chad Gamble is the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Public Service for the city, and he supports the “Wet Weather” project.  He and others maintain the three initiatives can be successfully combined and would save taxpayers approximately $350 million dollars.

Current State: Michigan’s groundwater at risk

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The Great Lakes’ record-low water levels are rightly receiving all of the attention now, but evidence is growing that Michigan’s fragile groundwater resources are quietly becoming a concern for the future. Robert Glennon, professor of law and public policy at the University of Arizona and author of “Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis and What to do About It,” knows Michigan well and shares his insights. Echo has reported on the consequences of drought on Great Lakes groundwater – which can also be seen on this map – and the challenge of measuring its effects. The need for better groundwater conservation continues to be a widely overlooked issue facing the Basin.  

Echo

Unwarranted

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(WI) Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel – Clean Wisconsin is right about one thing when it comes to Waukesha and water: The city’s possible application for Lake Michigan water will be a test case that will set precedent for communities around the Great Lakes. It needs to be done right, and that includes making sure Waukesha has an appropriate conservation plan in place, as required by the Great Lakes compact. But the environmental group didn’t have to insert itself as an intervenor in the city’s current water rate request to the state Public Service Commission or to ask that the city pay for the intervention. The environmental group could have gotten the same results without intervening, which carries a cost, the possibility of delay and the potential of creating ill will. More