September 18, 2006

Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester announced today that 43 communities across Michigan will be receiving more than $677,000 through the Wellhead Protection Grant Program to safeguard public water supply systems. The program provides communities with financial assistance to protect their groundwater supplies from contamination by defining the land area contributing drinking water to their public wells, identifying potential contaminants within that area, and implementing management strategies and educational activities to protect the water supply.

“Nearly half of Michigan’s citizens rely on groundwater for their drinking water supply,” said Director Chester. “These grants give our communities the tools they need to ensure that those water supplies are safe.”

Grant recipients include:

WATER SUPPLY                                                          AMOUNT

Adams Township                                                           $7,812.00
Andrews University                                                        $5,000.00
City of Battle Creek                                                      $63,171.50
Village of Bear Lake                                                       $2,500.00
Village of Berrien Springs                                                $3,600.00
Blair Township                                                               $2,750.00
Briley Township                                                              $3,750.00
Burt Township                                                                $7,500.00
Township of Charleston                                                   $7,500.00
City of Charlotte                                                             $4,207.00
City of Clare                                                                   $4,500.00
Crystal Falls Township                                                   $20,000.00
City of Davison                                                                $2,025.00
Delta Township                                                              $59,500.00
City of Eaton Rapids                                                      $17,396.75
Village of Elkton                                                                 $750.00
Village of Ellsworth                                                          $2,500.00
City of Evart                                                                  $25,000.00
City of Frankfort                                                              $3,500.00
City of Grayling                                                             $15,000.00
City of Hartford                                                                $7,379.00
Independence Township                                                 $70,000.00
City of Kalamazoo                                                         $70,000.00
City of Lake City                                                             $7,000.00
Lansing Board of Water & Light                                      $70,000.00
Charter Township of Marquette                                       $22,045.00
City of Marshall                                                              $1,946.62
Village of Martin                                                              $7,500.00
Village of Mattawan                                                         $4,227.50
City of McBain                                                                $2,750.00
Village of Milford                                                            $10,800.00
Village of Newberry                                                          $7,500.00
Osceola Township                                                           $4,000.00
Village of Paw Paw                                                          $7,400.00
Village of Pewamo                                                           $1,232.00
Plainfield Charter Township                                               $8,000.00
City of Portland                                                                $9,983.50
City of South Lyon                                                          $24,902.82
Skandia-West Branch Township Water Authority                $7,500.00
City of Sturgis                                                                  $5,250.00
Village of Vermontville                                                     $10,000.00
Waterford Township                                                        $47,750.00
Watersmeet Township                                                    $12,500.00
TOTAL                                                                        $677,628.69

The next round of applications will be solicited from public water supply systems in May 2007. Questions regarding the program can be directed to Scott Ross, Chief, Source Water Protection Unit, at 517-335-3385.

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 September 18, 2006 by Pat Watson