Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday announced a plan to invest $500-million in Michigan’s water infrastructure.
Michigan has repeatedly received failing grades on its infrastructure report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Amy Epkey is the Senior Deputy Director at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. She said the planned investment hopes to change that.
“I think this is a great opportunity,” she said. “$500-million while it seems like a large number and it is a large number there is a lot of need out there and we feel like this is a good step forward.”
The plan calls for both state and federal dollars to be applied to a variety of programs - including lead pipe removal in disadvantaged communities and improvements to sewer and sanitary systems.
Epkey said the plan will specifically put funds towards helping disadvantaged communities update infrastructure.
“This $102-million that is specifically allocated for lead service line replacement will be targeted towards disadvantaged communities,” she said.”Really, communities that can’t replace them on their own.”
The plan has bipartisan support and officials say work will be done without raising taxes. The plan does, however, require legislative approval.