Contact: press@michigan.gov 

Governor Whitmer Proposes $300 Million to Expand MI Clean Water Program  

The expansion will support up to 3,750 jobs, ensure that local communities have the resources needed to solve water infrastructure problems, and lead actions beyond standards.  

Lansing, Michigan-Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer (Gretchen Whitmer) proposed a US$300 million extension to the MI Clean Water Program based on the previously announced US$200 million expansion plan to use under the US Rescue Plan Federal funds provided to Michigan to replace major state-wide service lines. Between these two expansions and previous announcements, the governor proposed to invest $885 million to develop a series of comprehensive water plans that will combine state and federal funds to build water infrastructure in our communities, schools, and homes, while creating Thousands of high-paying jobs.    

"Every Michigan in every community deserves access to safe drinking water, and we now have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use federal funds that we must put Michigans first and make lasting investments in our water infrastructure," The governor said Gretchen Whitmer. "Together we can use the resources we have to create thousands of high-paying jobs, provide safe water for every family and school child, and strengthen our water infrastructure to make it more adaptable to extreme weather. I look forward to our U.S. $1.3 billion in federal funds earmarked for water from the bipartisan federal infrastructure plan."  

Since taking office, the Whitmer-Gilchrist government has invested $1. From 2014 to 2018, the combined amount of drinking water, wastewater, and rainwater was US$87 billion—more than the previous five years—and more than 26,700 jobs were created or supported.  

Liesl Clark, Director of the Environment Department, said: “Re-focus on lead in Michigan’s aging drinking water service lines and plumbing. These resources help provide communities with the tools they need to speed up the basic work of removing lead from the water supply system.” The Great Lakes and energy. "Resolving issues that were decades ago requires the commitment and teamwork of local, state, federal, and non-governmental partners. This strengthens these partnerships and commitments."  

"For a long time, lack of investment in water has caused our infrastructure to falter, unaffordable rates, lead pipes and toxic pollution. Now is the time to fund our water. We can't wait any longer," Lisa Wozniak said. Executive director of the Michigan League to Protect the Voters. "The investment proposed by Governor Whitmer is a step towards re-establishing Michigan as a national leader in protecting our water and our health, and we call on lawmakers at this critical moment to unite and invest now for future generations."  

"Clean drinking water and effective rainwater management are important to every resident of Michigan," said Douglas Stockwell, business manager of Operations Engineer 324. "Investing in ourselves and our residents through water infrastructure is not only necessary and wise, because it has an impact on our safety, but it is also an effective way to create jobs that support our communities."  

“Safe drinking water is a medical and public health necessity, but children in the state and the country continue to suffer the consequences of outdated and dangerous infrastructure,” said Dr. Mona Han na-Attisha. "Thanks to state and federal support, we are rapidly reversing decades of divestment and working hard to provide safe drinking water to all children and families in Michigan."  

MI Clean Water community support extension  

Invest 300 million US dollars to expand the MI Clean Water Program, investing in three key areas.    

Leadership action level surpasses community support program-100 million US dollars  

The law requires community water supply agencies to regularly sample a certain number of distribution points (such as households) to verify the presence of lead in drinking water. Behavioral level excess (ALE) occurs when the lead content in the water exceeds 15 ppb in more than 10% of the sample locations. The plan will allow the community to receive funding at any time of the year when it encounters ALE. It aims to provide immediate support for the replacement of water supply lines or other solutions for the community.   

This investment can create or support up to 1,500 jobs.  

Community Technical, Management and Financial Support Program-50 million USD  

The replacement of LSL and other water conservancy infrastructure upgrades require pre-engineering and project management. In some cases, the community cannot afford to pay the engineering company to complete this critical plan. These funds will support community planning and project management, and provide evaluation and advice for long-term technical, management and financial support. Priority will be given to disadvantaged groups and groups with ALE.    

Water Relief Program for Damaged Communities-US$150 million  

The plan aims to transfer individuals from contaminated water sources or poorly performing systems to alternative safe community water supplies. It helps communities address PFAS, arsenic, and other pollutants found in drinking water systems, and expands the existing programs established in the MI Clean Water Program. These funds will be allocated to community water supply providers to help them expand the system and connect homeowners, schools, daycare centers and others who currently draw water from contaminated non-community wells to the safe drinking water system of the community’s water supply. In addition, if there is no opportunity to integrate with other systems or systems with serious or persistent non-compliance, funds can be used to relocate contaminated or threatened community wells. The plan will supplement private wells and septic tank replacement plans for low-income homeowners (included in the MI Clean Water Plan), and provide comprehensive assistance to residents facing drinking water challenges.    

This investment can create or support up to 2,250 jobs.  

Outstanding water proposal  

MI Clean Water Program  

The MI Clean Water Program started with a US$500 million investment in drinking water, source water and wastewater infrastructure, which will support 7,500 high-paying jobs, address high water bills, lead-containing water supply lines, toxic pollutants such as PFAS, sewers, etc. problem. The demand cannot be met, and the septic tank system has failed. So far, US$210 million in the plan has been used to rebuild drinking water infrastructure, but US$290 million is still used to improve clean water infrastructure.  

Lead service line replacement extension  

A proposed expansion of the $200 million MI Clean Water Program to replace the statewide LSL to support 3,000 jobs.  

The governor's 2021 fiscal year implements the $55 million investment proposal in the budget proposal to install drinking water filtration stations in schools.   

A proposed $40 million investment to provide home repair and plumbing assistance to support the small housing and plumbing repair needs of residents whose income is less than 200% of the federal poverty level. Part of the larger MI Healthy Community Program is to expand family care, build facilities, and use federal relief funds from the U.S. Relief Program to invest in local public health.  

Water proposal table  

MI Clean Water Expands Community Support   

Support communities to provide clean water to residents   

American Rescue Plan   

MI Clean Water Program  

Rebuild rainwater and wastewater infrastructure, and improve asset management and planning.   

2002 Great Lakes Water Quality Bond   

MI Clean Water Expansion L SL replacement   

Install filter stations in schools  

Home plumbing and maintenance plan  

Improve household water supply infrastructure  

Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan​​  

Michigan is expected to receive approximately $1.3 billion from the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Employment Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan) dedicated to water infrastructure. The water recommendations listed above are separate from the water infrastructure funding that Michigan is expected to receive from the bipartisan infrastructure program.