March 1, 2006

Residents in portions of Sanilac Township will soon see improved drinking water at their homes, thanks to an agreement to extend water from the village of Lexington. The four-mile extension through Lexington Township will end Sanilac Township’s reliance on hauled drinking water systems and shallow beach wells subject to contamination. The water system will extend ten miles from the southern to the northern border of Sanilac Township, mainly along M-25.

The extension project is the result of a coordinated effort between the Department of Environmental Quality, Sanilac Township, the village of Lexington, and the Lexington Worth Township Utilities Authority. This project will not only provide a higher quality source of drinking water for Sanilac residents, but will also increase fire protection in the community due to the installation of fire hydrants, a ground storage tank, and a fire booster pump.

“This project is an example of what can be achieved through partnership efforts,” said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. “By providing Sanilac Township with a high quality source of drinking water, we are protecting the health of the residents and the future success of the community.”

The source of water is treated and filtered Lake Huron water. Anticipated funding for the project, due to begin construction this year, will be through an $8.1 million loan from the DEQ Drinking Water Revolving Fund which provides low interest loans to new and existing community water supplies.

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”

Revised March 1, 2006 by Pat Watson