Water and Sewer Services

Townships may construct, improve and maintain water systems, sewage systems, and storm or sanitary sewers.

Townships may provide or contract with other municipalities to provide water and sewage services to their residents, and may charge fees for those services. The Water Furnished Outside Territorial Limits Act, Public Act 34 of 1917, MCL 123.141, et seq., authorizes municipalities to sell and contract for water services and limits water rates.

Many townships operate their own water/sewer systems. Some do so with an in-house public works department, while others contract with outside engineerig or facilities management firms.

MTA Sample Water and Sewer Service Ordinance

Liens

Ishpeming Township and City of Ishpeming Water Mutual Aid Agreement 1995(.pdf)

Delta Charter Township and Lansing Board of Water & Light Agreement 1995 (.pdf)

Owosso Charter Township and City of Owosso Draft Water Agreement 2005 (.pdf) 

The following Web pages are only a few examples of what Michigan townships are doing to provide water and sewer services, individually and jointly:

Grand Haven Charter Township Water Distribution System

Livingston Community Water Authority Charter Township of Brighton, Green Oak Charter Township, and Hamburg Township (Livingston County)

Kochville Township, Saginaw County, Department of Public Works

Waterford Charter Township, Oakland County, Public Works

Water and Sewer Service Information:

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Drinking Water
Web portal (including information on federal Safe Drinking Water Act enforcement)

MDEQ Part 41 Wastewater Contruction Permits Web page

Funding Sources 

For more information about special assessments, purchase the MTA publication titled: Special Assessments: A Technical Manual for Townships.

USDA Rural Development Michigan Community Programs Guide (.pdf)

Information on grants and loans

MTA Web page on Borrowing and Financing Capital Improvements

EPA Environmental Finance Program

Links to Asset Management Tools

MSU Institute of Water Research 

Institute of Public Utilities

Check Up Program for Small Systems (CUPSS)

EPA Wastewater in Small Communities