That doesn’t account for the billions in other infrastructure needs, from drinking water and sewers to roads and bridges.
Federal estimates say fixes and updates to the nation’s water infrastructure system could cost $188 billion over the next 20 years, said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters Great Lakes Consortium, which focuses on Great Lakes restoration issues. Michigan’s share of that is about $15 billion.
“That’s not even taking the disasters and increased precipitation into account,” Rubin said. “We know we’ve been under-investing in it.”
The infrastructure bill now under consideration in Congress would spend $1.2 trillion on a range of projects, including roads, bridges, broadband and public transportation. It would also include $55 billion toward water improvement.
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Emily Finnell, Office of the Great Lakes, FinnellE@Michigan.gov, 517-599-1330
Gov. Whitmer issues proclamation marking annual event
Michiganders are drawn to the water, whether it s the Great Lakes, one of the state s more than 11,000 inland lakes and ponds or 36,000 miles of rivers and streams. To raise awareness of Michigan s water resources, Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week - June 5-13 - will celebrate our lakes and rivers around the themes of Appreciate, Educate and Recreate. From Saugatuck to Saginaw and from Kalamazoo to the Keweenaw, Michiganders treasure their water resources. Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week is a timely opportunity to raise awareness of how much we rely on and treasure this resource that impacts Michiganders in so many ways, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. Our MI Clean Water Plan will invest $500 million in water infrastructure from source to tap, and make improvements in wastewater systems to prevent sewage from getting into our lakes and rivers. We are
Southeast Michigan has first Ozone Action Day of 2021
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Friday is the first Ozone Action Day of 2021 in southeast Michigan, according to officials with the state and an association of municipal governments.
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said its latest Air Quality Index is orange, meaning there are elevated levels of ozone in the air over the region. As a result, the air could cause problems for children, senior citizens and people with asthma.
Ozone is natural and man-made gas found in the Earth s upper atmosphere. And while it blocks harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun, breathing it in can cause serious health problems.