Kalamazoo approves series of water contracts, including consolidation of two pump stations and lead-service replacements

The Kalamazoo City Commission on Monday approved multiple contracts and budget amendments for drinking-water and related infrastructure projects, including work to consolidate Pump Stations 5 and 14, extend water mains to parts of Richland Township and continue lead service line replacements.

Public services director James Baker told commissioners the city was moving forward with a suite of linked projects and funding plans: "we've got about, about $94,000,000 of water infrastructure work that we're talking about here tonight," Baker said, and he outlined individual contracts and the construction schedule.

Baker said the package includes building a raw-water transmission line from Station 14 to Station 5 and constructing a new treatment plant that will serve flows from both stations, work to extend public water in PFAS-affected areas in Richland Township, 1,300 additional lead service line replacements in Edison, and a multifaceted reconstruction of Westnidge Avenue that also realigns Arcadia Creek. Baker described the treatment upgrades as adding iron removal and PFAS removal so…