Karegnondi Water Authority
| Karegnondi Water Authority | |
|---|---|
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | October 26, 2010 |
| Agency executives | Dayne Walling, Board Chair Jeff Wright, chief executive officer[1] |
| Website | |
| karegnondi.com | |
Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA) is a municipal corporation responsible for distributing water services in the Mid-Michigan and Thumb areas of the USA. Members of the authority are the cities of Flint, Lapeer, and counties of Genesee, Lapeer and Sanilac. Karegnondi is a word from the Petan Indian language meaning "lake"[2][3] and another early name for Lake Huron.[2][4]
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Background[edit]
For years, the City of Flint purchased Lake Huron water from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (Detroit Water)[3] under a now expired 30 year contract.[5] Flint resold the water to Genesee County Drain Commissioner who then sold it to municipalities in the county. Genesee County officials had disliked the high cost and usually high percentage increases of the Detroit Water which the Department's formula penalized the area for its elevation and distance from Detroit.[3] Detroit Water would never open discussions with Genesee County.[6] Sanilac County has never previously had a public water system depending on individual wells instead.[7] The City of Lapeer has been a member of the Greater Lapeer County Utilities Authority (GLCUA) which purchases water from Detroit Water.[8] Future members that are client of Detroit Water (Flint City, Genesee County and GLCUA) use 10% of the water but pay 21% of the costs.[9]
For years there has been talk amongst Genesee County officials about building a Lake Huron pipeline. The plan would build a pipeline from a 230 acre site located on the Sanilac-St. Clair County border.[10] In 2006, the Genesee County Drain Commission had a feasibility study done which reawakened talk of a new pipeline. While estimated costs of the pipeline is around $600 million, County officials indicated that an authority-owned pipeline would cost less than continued purchasing Detroit water in the long-term.[3]
Karegnondi Regional Water Planning Group[edit]
In May 2007, Genesee County Drain Commissioner and Oakland County Drain Commissioner chosen the name Karegnondi Regional Water Planning Group, fore runner planning group for the Authority.[2]
Environmental groups, such as Michigan Environmental Council and the Flint River Watershed Coalition, indicated in May 2009 that they did not have any issue with the Lake Huron pipeline plan as Genesee County Drain Commission files for the need permits.[11] In June, Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner Dennis G. Lennox II indicated that he might file a lawsuit to revoke a permit to use Lake Huron water if approved by Michigan Department of Environmental Quality believing that Lake Huron' future is jeporadized.[12] In August 2009, a permit was issued in compliance with the 2008 Great Lakes Compact and Agreement by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for the withdrawal of 85 million gallons per day of water as a public water supply for Genesee County, the City of Flint and other potential customers: the Counties of Lapeer and Sanilac and City of Lapeer.[7] Lennox filed an appeal of the issuance of the permit before the State Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules while in October Cheboygan County Board of Commissioners indicated that they were not supporting Lennox's appeal.[13] On August 17, the Lapeer City Commission unanimously voted to be active in the Karegnondi Planning Group.[10][14] Lapeer City's estimated share of the cost $100 million including a water treatment plant.[10] In late October 2009, representatives for possible authority members met to decide under which state law to form the authority. On November 5, a meeting was held regarding associated project.[13]
In March 2010, former pipeline supporter and Genesee County Drain Commissioner Ken Hardin came out against the project based on the City of Flint's poor financial condition. Instead, he recommended that the county seek a seat on a regional water board with Detroit. Request for bids was issued by the county for testing the Lake Huron pumping station's soil.[5] On March 2, 2010, Lennox filed to withdraw his appeal of the issuance of the water permit to KWA due to limited funds.[15] Lapeer City Commission approved the articles of incorporation in early April.[8] On On April 13, the Genesee County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the articles of incorporation. The Lapeer County Board of Commissioners voted to join the authority on April 24 followed by the Lapeer City Commission and Flint City Council on April 26.[7]
History[edit]
On October 26, 2010,[1] the Karegnondi Board of Trustees met for the first time with representatives from the incorporating Cities of Flint (Mayor Dayne Walling), Lapeer (City Manger Dale Kerbyson), and County Drain Commissioners of Genesee (Jeff Wright), Lapeer (John Cosens) and Sanilac (Gregory L. Alexander).[3] Walling was elected chair. While Genesee County Drain Commissioner Wright was selected as the Agency's CEO and replaced on the Board by Genesee County Board of Commissioner Chair Jamie Curtis as Genesee County's representative.[1] Alexander was chosen as vice chair and Amy Planck of Lapeer County for secretary.[9] Ten additional Trustees were to be appointed based on expected water usage.[7]
In May 2011, DTE Energy indicated an interest in buying three million gallons of untreated lake water daily for its Greenwood electrical plant. St. Clair County also indicated that it is considering joining the Authority, while Flint still is considering whether or not to continue as a member.[16] In June, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department negotiated with the KWA. Expected online date of the new pipeline is 2015.[6] On September 7, Rowe Engineering reported to the Flint City Council that the most expensive option was to continue with Detroit Water with the next expensive option was upgrading the City's Flint River plant for 24 hour 7 days a week operations and the least expensive option was the KWA Lake Huron pipeline.[17] With Flint place under the control of an Emergency Manager in December, the authority wants a decision by year end on whether the city would continue with pipeline.[18]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Thorne, Blake (October 27, 2010). "Karegnondi Water Authority sets course for cutting ties with Detroit water". Flint Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ a b c Fonger, Ron (May 3, 2007). "Genesee, Oakland counties adopt historic name for water group". The Flint Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Fonger, Ron (October 23, 2010). "Years in the making, Karegnondi Water Authority is ready to set new course for water". Flint Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ Huron-Wendat, by Georges E. Sioui, Jane Brierley. UBC Press, 2000;ISBN 0-7748-0715-6. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
- ^ a b Fonger, Ron (April 1, 2010). "Former Genesee County drain commissioner: We can't afford a new water pipeline". The Flint Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ a b Fonger, Ron (June 20, 2011). "Pushing pause on the water pipeline: Flint, Genesee County return to talks with Detroit". The Flint Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ a b c d Shaw, Liz (August 28, 2009). "State Department of Environmental Quality issues permit for Lake Huron water withdrawal". Flint Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ a b Hogan, Jeff (June 16, 2010). "Lapeer signs onto water authority". The County Press. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
- ^ a b Elliott, Nancy R. (November 7, 2010). "Water authority makes official launch". The County Press. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
- ^ a b c Hogan, Jeff (August 19, 2009). "Lapeer officials back new regional water system". The County Press. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
- ^ Lawlor, Joe (May 28, 2009). "Pipeline for Genesee County appears to have little initial opposition". The Flint Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ Hughes, Clark (June 11, 2009). "Cheboygan issues absurd threat to stop proposed Genesee water pipeline". The Bay City Times. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ a b Fonger, Ron (November 5, 2009). "Cheboygan County administrator: Lennox doesn't speak for us on Genesee County pipeline". Flint Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ Shaw, Liz (August 21, 2009). "Lapeer joins regional water system agency for proposed Genesee County pipeline to Lake Huron". The Flint Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ Fonger, Ron (March 2, 2010). "Cheboygan County drain commissioner backs down in appeal of Genesee County's Lake Huron water withdrawal permit". The Flint Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ Fonger, Ron (May 10, 2011). "DTE Energy tells new regional authority it may want 3 million gallons of Lake Huron water daily". The Flint Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ Longley, Kristin (September 7, 2011). "Report: Buying in to new water pipeline from Lake Huron cheaper for Flint drinking water than treating river water". The Flint Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ Fonger, Ron (December 6, 2011). "Genesee County, others wait to see whether emergency manager will allow for Flint investment in water pipeline". The Flint Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
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