Benton Township leaders are welcoming news of a $20 million state grant being awarded to the township for the construction of two new water towers.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has announced $19.9 million is going to the township via the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Benton Township Supervisor Kathy Yates tells us the grant is a “game changer” for the community’s water system.
“That’s going to allow us to be able to take down the two water towers we have that are gigantic and use two smaller ones because the water turnover is not happening like the engineer feels it should,” Yates said.
The plan is to build a 1-million-gallon tank on property off Euclid Road and a 500,000-gallon tank on a Zoschke Road site. Yates says the smaller towers will better suit the township water system.
“These smaller water towers are going to be more equivalent and our water plant is equipped and ready to handle it, ready for any demands.”
The township this year purchased the property off Euclid from Lake Michigan College for $25,000.
Yates says the $20 million from the state will cover the entire cost of the water tank project. Construction is set for next year.
