The state says it’s taking the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” to heart. It’s awarded 14-million dollars in grant funding to communities who are working to improve their water infrastructure.
The City of Sandusky has been awarded more than $400-thousand. It will use the money to purchase a new truck called a hydro-excavator. It allows workers to dig - with smaller holes and less mess - to check for lead service lines.
City manager Dave Faber said the recent grant funding will allow Sandusky to meet Michigan’s lead and copper guidelines without putting the financial burden on homeowners.
"This would probably double their water bills to be able to pull this project off. Or it would take us an extremely long time and by the time you get to the end of that, your data’s bad."
Faber said grant money will also be used to set up a better asset management system for the city. He says, in three years, when the project is done he will be able to show where water and sewer lines are for any house in the city, with an accuracy of a centimeter or less