Michigan
State Agencies Supporting Water System Partnerships
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
State Policies and Programs Regarding Water System Partnerships
DWSRF PRIORITIZATION OF CONSOLIDATION PROJECTS
Michigan’s DWSRF prioritization system awards a maximum of 1,000 points to projects that apply for funding. Points (up to 100) are awarded for projects that include consolidation of smaller, separate systems to achieve compliance (100 points), correct deficiencies (60 points), or serve other purposes (40 points). For comparison, up to 450 points are awarded for projects that will eliminate violations of water standards.
ENCOURAGING PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
Michigan’s capacity development strategy for existing systems includes encouraging partnerships among water systems to address TMF deficiencies. In the 2014 Capacity Development Report to the Governor, a partnership initiative for surface water systems was described. Surface Water Intake Protection Programs (SWIPP) encourage communities to develop partnerships with nearby communities to protect areas around the shared intake and the watershed as a whole. As of 2014, seven communities were involved in a SWIPP.
NEW SYSTEMS MUST CONSIDER INTERCONNECTION TO EXISTING SYSTEMS
As part of its new system approval process, the DEQ requires new privately-owned CWSs to submit proof of refusal to accept ownership or operational responsibility from the governing body of a city, county, village, township, or other governmental entity where the new system would be located. In addition, the owner of the privately-owned CWS must stipulate (prior to the DEQ issuing a permit) to transfer the ownership and operation of the system to a governing body of a city, village, or township, or its designated public entity (Michigan Safe Drinking Water Rules R 325.11705-11706), if connection to the publicly-owned system becomes practical.
Helpful Links to State Resources
- Michigan Drinking Water Program: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313_3675---,00.html
- Michigan Community Water Supply Program: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,4561,7-135-3313_3675_3691---,00.html
- DWSRF: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/1,1607,7-135-3307_3515_3517---,00.html
- Operator Certification: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3308_3333_4171-10155--,00.html
- Capacity Development: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313_3675_3691-61632--,00.html