Water & Sewer Improvements
Contact
Department of Municipal Utilities
Phone
(231) 922-4900
As the City continues to focus on the improvement of water systems, five year project plans for drinking water and clean water (wastewater) have been developed resulting in $48 million investment.
The City Commission's 2022 adopted their Goals and Objectives identified water systems as a strategic priority with a goal to proactively and consistently maintain, conserve, and manage water and water systems to reduce harm to the systems themselves as well as public health and safety.
Current & Completed Projects
Boardman River Wall Stabilization & Sewer Relocation Project: Complete
Water Service Line Replacement Project: Active
Michigan's 2017 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) declares that a galvanized water service is a lead service line if it "is or ever was" connected to a lead gooseneck, and requires the water utility to pay for replacing private water services from the curb stop near the right of way into the building or home. A lead gooseneck is a 3-foot-long piece of lead pipe used as a transition between the brass connection to the water main and a threaded galvanized pipe. These were installed prior to the mid-1940's. Since then, the City has been installing copper services for the City-owned portion between the water main and the curb stop. The City has no known fully lead services (lead pipes). Not all private galvanized water service lines need to be replaced. For example, if a private galvanized service line was originally connected to a City-owned copper service from the water main, it was never connected to a lead gooseneck, so it doesn't need to be replaced.
The City received a DWSRF loan for $3,510,500 and DWI grant for $1,504,500 in 2022 (total $5,015,000) for a 3-year project that included replacement of an estimated 300 private galvanized water services that were previously connected to a lead gooseneck. In 2023 (year one), 118 replacements were completed. It is estimated that approximately 700 more service lines will need replacement outside of this project. Last fall, the City was awarded an additional $2 million grant from the Michigan Department of Great Lakes and Energy to replace private galvanized water services under the LCR criteria. This grant will help to replace a portion of the remaining private service lines.
The 2024 project kicked off on April 1, 2024 on the east side of town along Boyd, Lincoln, and Rose Street. Additional locations will include parcels in the northern Traverse Heights Neighborhood and Central Neighborhood, south of Seventh Street. This year's work is anticipated to be completed in all identified locations in October 2024. Letters to residents impacted have been distributed. Work will result in sidewalk closures and intermittent street closures.
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
In June 2021, the City Commission approved developing a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Project Plan. The Project Plan identifies improvements to the Water Treatment Plant, the Distribution System, and projects related to aging infrastructure, water quality, and improved treatment of efficiency and electrical energy reduction. The total estimated cost of potential improvements is $20,261,500 over a 5 year period.
The total estimated cost of potential improvements is $20,261,500 over a 5 year period. EGLE provides a low-interest loan financing program to assist qualified municipalities with the construction or upgrade of drinking water infrastructure.
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Project Plan
Clean Water State Revolving Fund
The Project Plan for the City of Traverse City Wastewater Improvements Program has been prepared using the Project Plan Preparation Guidance of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Administrative Rules.
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Project Plan was a result of conditions found during recent Stormwater, Asset Management, and Wastewater System (SAW) Programs, and other evaluations completed. Several of the sanitary sewer collection system projects are needed to ensure the sanitary collection system and Wastewater Treatment Plant operates properly. Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) and Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) that have were also considered with the project plan. The total estimated cost of potential improvements is $28,734,260 over a 5 year period.
Clean Water State State Revolving Fund Project Plan
Project 1: Boardman River Wall Stablization & Sewer Relocation Project
Water Reliability Study
The City also conducted a Water Reliability Study in 2021. The existing and future demands for the projected 5-year and 20-year conditions demonstrate that the current maximum demand can be met by the firm water supply capacity (19.7 mgd) of the Water Treatment Plant, but the 20-year maximum daily demand will be approaching the firm water supply capacity.
Funding
Approximlately $28.5 million in Clean Water (wastewater) projects are being planned over the next five years, the bulk of which – $17 million – is for upgrades at the wastewater treatment plant.
The City is also targeting over $20 million in repairs to its Drinking Water (water) system over the next years, including its water treatment plant and distribution lines.
The DWSRF and the CWSRF projects are being funded by State Revolving Fund (SRF) low-interest loans (1.85%). For the first year, 30% of the DWSRF loan and 15% of the CWSRF loan will be forgiven through grants from the state.
At their August 15, 2022 meeting, the City Commission approved up to $8 million in bonds for year 1 in drinking and clean water project plans. The DWSRF Project Plan received approval for up to $4.5 million in bonds for the Boardman River Wall Sanitary Sewer Relocation Project. The CWSRF Project Plan received approval for up to $3.5 million in bonds for the Service Line Replacement Project.