Public Hearing Notice for FY2026 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Projects

The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) announces a Public Hearing regarding project plans for the following three projects: 1) Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) Improvements to the Sludge Feed System for Solids Processing 2) Hubbell Southfield Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Facility Improvements, and 3) CSO Facilities Improvements II. The projects are eligible for funding consideration through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan program, which provides low interest funding for wastewater projects. The purpose of this public hearing is not only to inform, but to allow an opportunity for public participation.

The following is a brief description of each project:

WRRF Improvements to the Sludge Feed System for Solids Processing project consists of improvements to the sludge feed system at the WRRF which conveys sludge from six (6) sludge storage tanks to three (3) dewatering facilities. The sludge feed system is a critical step in the WRRF’s ability to process solids and maintain the facility’s solids throughput capacity. The required improvements will replace aging pumping equipment and incorporate sludge feed conveyance loops to provide additional system flexibility, redundancy, and resiliency. Associated Civil, Structural, Architectural, Process Mechanical, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Plumbing, Electrical, and Instrumentation and Control (I&C) improvements will also be provided.

The temporary impact of construction activities will be minimized as work is planned to be completed within the WRRF and will be phased.

Adverse impacts on historical, archaeological, geographic, or cultural areas are not expected. However, if any potential impacts arise, construction will be halted, and the proper steps will be taken to proceed following all appropriate guidelines.

The total cost of this project is currently estimated at $18,655,000.

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Hubbell Southfield CSO Facility Improvements project includes upgrades to existing facility systems, which includes flushing, dewatering, chemical disinfection, screening, instrumentation and controls, architectural, HVAC, electrical, and site improvements, along with other miscellaneous enhancements.  Once upgraded, the facility will utilize river water instead of treated city water after wet weather events to flush settled solids from the basins, once any captured CSO water has been used for initial flushing. The facility is projected to save over $100,000 annually in treated city water costs by replacing treated city water with river water for continued flushing.

The project aims to bring the Hubbell-Southfield CSO Facility into compliance with current codes and standards, standardize equipment, enhance operational efficiency, improve reliability and resiliency, and strengthen safety measures. Additionally, it will lower and facilitate easier maintenance for facility operation and maintenance staff.

The temporary impact of construction activities will be minimized as all work is planned to occur within existing buildings and facilities.

Adverse impacts on historical, archaeological, geographic, or cultural areas are not expected. However, if any potential impacts arise, construction will be halted, and the proper steps will be taken to proceed following all appropriate guidelines.

The total cost of this project is currently estimated at $67,500,000.

CSO Facilities Improvements II project consists of safety improvements and building rehabilitation at all nine (9) CSO facilities. The safety improvements include fall protection, upgraded eyewash stations, and miscellaneous improvements based on site-specific requirements. The St. Aubin Screening Disinfection Facility improvements also include disinfection, screening, electrical, HVAC systems, as well as various site improvements. The control upgrades at Baby Creek and Belle Isle CSO facilities consists of installing new flow monitoring, improvements to the gas monitoring and communications equipment. The proposed improvements will increase facility reliability, flexibility, operation, and safety, and decrease maintenance at the facilities.

The temporary impact of construction activities will be minimized as all work is planned to occur within existing buildings and facilities. Regardless of construction work, proper facility operation will be ensured in cases of wet weather events.

Adverse impacts on historical, archaeological, geographic, or cultural areas are not expected.  However, if any potential impacts arise, construction will be halted, and the proper steps will be taken to proceed following all appropriate guidelines.

The total cost of this project is currently estimated at $23,500,000.

The Public Hearing on the proposed projects will be held for the purpose of receiving comments from interested persons. The presentations at the hearing will provide a description of the improvements, its evaluation, estimated costs, and cost per household impact for customer communities.  Comments and viewpoints from the public are requested. A copy of each draft project plan will be available for review online after April 8, 2025, on the GLWA website: https://www.glwater.org/.

THE MEETING WILL BE HELD ON:

DATE:              Wednesday, April 23, 2025

TIME:              2:00 PM, Eastern Time (US and Canada)

PLACE:            In person, Zoom Videoconferencing, and Telephonic Hearing

                              Join Zoom Meeting

                              https://glwater.zoom.us/j/87509654449?pwd=WrM8XT8wsXhXivlRVtQnarkM6od3De.1

Meeting ID:        875 0965 4449

                              Passcode:           688790

In Person (subject to capacity)

Board Room, 5^th Floor

735 Randolph Street

Detroit, Michigan 48226

Telephonic

Public Call-In Number: 877-853-5247 US Toll-Free

or 888-788-0099 US Toll-Free

Meeting ID:        875 0965 4449

Passcode:           688790

Members of the public may offer comments in the following manner:

By Zoom Videoconferencing:  Members of the public who wish to use Zoom videoconferencing to attend the meeting and/or offer public comment may utilize the following link to attend: https://glwater.zoom.us/j/87509654449?pwd=WrM8XT8wsXhXivlRVtQnarkM6od3De.1

During the portions of the hearing designated for public participation may “raise their hand” by using that feature within the software program.

In Person (subject to capacity):  Members of the public who, subject to capacity, wish to attend the meeting and/or off public comment in person may attend the meeting in the Board Room, 5^th Floor, 735 Randolph, Detroit, MI 48226.

By Telephone:  Members of the public who wish to attend the meeting and/or offer public comment by telephone should call in at the number indicated above, press *9 on their keypad to “raise their hand for public comment.” During other portions of the meeting, members of the public are asked to mute their line by pressing *6 on their keypad to mute or unmute their line.

By E-Mail: Members of the public may provide written comments to the Board by emailing those comments to CEO@glwater.org on or before 5:00 p.m. EST. on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, and should reference “April 23, 2025 Public Hearing on proposed FY 2026 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Projects” in the subject line of the e-mail. The opportunity to submit written comments by e-mail may remain open throughout the duration of the Public Hearing.

By U.S. Mail:  Members of the public may provide written comments by United States mail addressed to:

Suzanne R. Coffey, Chief Executive Officer

Great Lakes Water Authority

735 Randolph

Detroit, Michigan, 48226

Written comments by U.S. mail should reference “April 23, 2025 Public Hearing FY 2026 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Projects” in the letter. The opportunity to submit written comments by U.S. mail may remain open throughout the duration of the Public Hearing.

If a member of the public requires accommodation due to a disability, please contact CEO@glwater.org or (844) 455-GLWA (4592) not less than 72 hours prior to the date of the meeting.