The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is inviting interested citizens to attend an information session and public hearing regarding the public water supply owned and operated by the City of Three Rivers.  This event will be held at the Three Rivers Community Center's "Freedom I" room on Tuesday, January 26, 2010.  The Three Rivers Community Center is located at 103 South Douglas Avenue. 

The information session will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. with presentations by both the DNRE and city officials, followed by an opportunity for questions and comments from attendees.

On November 12, 2009, former Department of Environmental Quality
Director Steven E. Chester ordered the city to undertake immediate improvements to the city's public water supply to ensure that residents and businesses are provided healthy water that meets state standards.  November's administrative consent order required that the city continuously disinfect its public water supply through interim use of existing chlorination equipment, while permanent water treatment is designed, permitted, and installed. 

City officials chose to request a public hearing as provided by state law, and in so doing, delayed final effect of the order that is currently considered "preliminary" to a final decision to be made by DNRE Director Rebecca Humphries.

Three Rivers has a long history of violations involving the presence of total coliform bacteria in the city's water supply, and is one of very few systems of similar size in Michigan that does not chlorinate as a means of disinfecting water prior to distribution to customers.

A copy of the proposed order is available at either the Three Rivers Public Library or the DNRE Web site at http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313---,00.htmlunder the "Spotlight" section.   All comments or objections to the preliminary order received by February 5, 2010, will be considered by the DNRE prior to issuance of a final decision on this matter.  Written comments may be submitted to:  Nicole Zacharda, Water Bureau, Enforcement Unit, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, P.O. Box 30273, Lansing, Michigan 48909, or via electronic mail to zachardan@michigan.gov.  Ms. Zacharda may also be reached at 517-241-4115.

Editor's note:  DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"