$23.7 million project to improve water quality in Hesperia

Open house Saturday to present plans to the community

HESPERIA — Design work is underway for a $23.7 million water system improvement project in the village, and an open house Saturday March 23 from noon to 2 p.m. at the village hall will focus on the project.

Construction could begin as early as fall of 2024 on a new well, water main replacement, water meters, replacement of lead service lines, a new iron removal plant and water tank improvements.

The improvements will be funded with a $20 million state grant and the balance in subsidized low interest loans from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program which is administered by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), states a press release from the village.

“Fleis VandenBrink assisted the village with the funding application and engineering for the project,” states the press release. “The new water supply, distribution, meters, service lines and water treatment improvements will improve the drinking water quality and odor, and address health and safety concerns.” 

The scope of the project includes:

• Replacing a well contaminated with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) to provide safe drinking water;
• Replacing 17,000 feet of aging, undersized, leaky, asbestos 6-inch cement mains that have exceeded their design life to provide better flow and fire protection;
• Replacing 163 residential and 61 commercial outdated water meters with meters that provide new remote-read capabilities and installing radio-read devices on 163 new touch meters recently updated;
• Replacing service lines to alleviate concerns over lead and to meet EGLE requirement that communities replace a minimum of 5 percent lead service lines annually to comply with the new lead and copper rules by 2040;
• Construction of a new iron removal plant to alleviate elevated levels of iron causing odors in water produced from two wells;
• Repairing and re-coating the water storage tank, including re-coating the wet interior and exterior with a three-coat epoxy and replacing discharge screens and the roof vent.

“We’ve never treated our water here in the village, so our water is really hard,” said Village President Mike Farber. “There have been rust problems with it and it has a smell to it, too.” 

The majority of the work will take place during the summer of 2025, said Farber. 

“The village is holding an open house to better explain to everyone the scope of the work and to celebrate this wonderful news,” states the press release. 

Sandwiches, cupcakes and light refreshments will be available.

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