As part of the $22 million water system upgrade project in Independence Township, the first of several large water storage tanks was installed by workers on April 14 in the Deerwood Road area.
‘Everything is going well pretty much,? said Linda Richardson, director of Independence Township Department of Public Works. ‘You have your normal problems with this large of a project, but things are going well.
‘We had to wait on a few things, especially because of the frost laws and such, but everything is underway.?
The township water system began undergoing the upgrade project this past October. In March, the major construction projects, such as water main installation, got underway.
The project is slated to include three well sites with disinfection treatment centers; seven sites with iron removal, arsonic removal and disinfection treatment centers; two brand new well sites and two new wells at existing sites. In all, the township plans to add five new wells, while taking three off-line.
At this time, the holding tank at the site near the Deerwood Road area is the only one to receive work.
In addition to all this, the township is installing miles of new water main. Currently, construction is occurring on Andersonville Road, on I-75 from Mann to Clintonville, and on Sashabaw north of I-75.
Additional water mains include: on Sashabaw Road to Clarkston Road and down to Clintonville Road, south on Clintonville Road to finish at Oakhurst; a small portion on Waldon Road, near the Clarkston school buildings, to Snowapple; and on Clarkston Road to the village limits. Finally, a portion will take the water main from Waterford Hill all the way to Dixie Highway.
‘Everything should be up and running by the end of October, beginning of November,? said Richardson.
Finally, the most noticeable of the improvements is the new water tower clearly visible from I-75. At this time, the structure of the tower is complete and the water main is installed.
Crews are preparing to make the water connections with the structure, paint the inside and of course the outside. Richardson said the new tower will be painted ‘Fountain Blue.?
‘The water tower went very well,? she stated. ‘It won’t be functional until fall though with the rest of the system.?
The township is paying for the $22 million project through three different accounts:
? just over $18 million is from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund, a low-interest loan program;
? as of Monday, Richardson planned to go before the board at the April 19 meeting to request bonding of another $2 million; and
? the township’s own water fund will pay the remaining balance.