LANSING, Mich. — The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved a budget supplemental bill sponsored by Sen. Jon Bumstead that would invest over $3.3 billion in total funding to preserve and protect Michigan’s water quality, infrastructure and the environment.
“I appreciate my colleagues for their dedication to making such a major investment in our state’s water infrastructure,” said Bumstead, R-Newaygo, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. “From lead in water, to dams in critical condition and beyond, Michigan has very serious concerns that must be addressed as soon as possible. This unprecedented investment in water infrastructure presents us with a historic opportunity to make major improvements across the board. I believe this legislation is necessary, so we can leave this state to our children and grandchildren in better condition than when we inherited it.”
Senate Bill 565 would provide $1 billion to replace lead pipes across the state, $700 million to upgrade local drinking water and wastewater facilities and $85 million to ensure students have access to safe water by installing filtered water stations inside schools. The plan also addresses the harmful impacts of PFAS chemicals and would dedicate $100 million in grants to remove the chemicals from so-called orphaned sites.
Bumstead’s water plan would also dedicate hundreds of millions of dollars to:
- Repair dams in critical condition to mitigate and avoid costly catastrophes like what happened in Midland last year;
- Assist communities with upgrading and replacing water treatment infrastructure and help homeowners replace failing septic systems;
- Conduct surface water monitoring, including for wetland mitigation; and
- Implement recommendations included in the Groundwater Use Advisory Council Report.
The bill now advances to the full Senate for consideration.
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