Kalamazoo water system extended to avoid landfill contamination.
KALAMAZOO, MI — A $1.4 million extension of the Kalamazoo municipal water system will connect Oshtemo Township residents to city water.
The City Commission authorized the City Manager to execute a proposed agreement with Oshtemo Township and Pfizer to extend the city water system.
The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners voted 10-1 Tuesday to establish a restricted groundwater zone in an area near the contaminated KL Avenue landfill.
Township residents in that area will be connected to the city water system at no additional cost.
There is the potential for groundwater contamination from the old KL Avenue Landfill, said Kalamazoo Director of Public Services James Baker.
The KLA Group, which includes Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County, the city of Kalamazoo and Pfizer Inc., have worked under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency oversight since 1992 to complete cleanup on the site.
A $986,114 contract was awarded to Balkema Construction, and construction on the water main was scheduled to begin on June 5.
The city will be seeking bids for the construction of pressure reducing station, which is estimated to cost $266,886.
In 2010, the KLA Group paid $1.23 million for water mains to be installed that allowed nearly 60 residential properties to connect to city water.