LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Mark Huizenga on Thursday voted for legislation to invest $3.34 billion in making critical improvements to the state’s water quality and infrastructure.
“The Protect MI Water plan puts our once-in-a-lifetime federal funding to positive use making generational improvements to our state rather than making unnecessary and unsustainable increases in government,” said Huizenga, R-Walker. “The people of Kent County know all too well about the harmful impact of PFAS. As we learn more about these chemicals and how to best protect our families, this plan dedicates $100 million to help remove them from orphaned sites across our state.
“In addition to the PFAS cleanup funding, this plan would make historic investments to improve our aging water infrastructure, protect our greatest natural resource, and ensure our families and students have access to clean drinking water.”
Senate Bill 565 features $1 billion to replace lead pipes throughout the state, $700 million to upgrade local drinking water and wastewater facilities, $680 million for dam infrastructure, and $85 million for filtered water stations in schools.
Under the plan, $50 million would be dedicated for grants to help private well water users connect to a community water system or increase the depth of their well if their water was contaminated or their well failed or install a whole-house or point-of-use filtration system as the result of contamination.
SB 565 now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
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