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City outlines drinking-water main replacements and cross-connection inspection expansion

May 18, 2026 | Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan


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City outlines drinking-water main replacements and cross-connection inspection expansion
City staff presented an amendment to the drinking-water project plan and a separate briefing on an expanded cross-connection inspection program.

The presenter described two water-main segments targeted for replacement: Sheridan Avenue (constructed in the 1920s, about 3,600 linear feet, 87 services with roughly 31 potentially lead or galvanized) and East Genesee Avenue (originating in the late 19th century, about 4,400 linear feet, 180 services with roughly 125 potentially lead or galvanized). Staff said the selected alternative for both was to construct new mains, with estimated costs of about $3.5 million for Sheridan and just under $4.7 million for Genesee — a combined estimate of just under $8.2 million — and projected construction in 2027.

Michael Sampson from the city’s Maintenance and Service Division briefed council on the residential cross-connection inspection program, explaining the city will split the community into 10 sections on a 10-year rotation, hang green informational door tags and offer short inspections. "They take 10 to 15 minutes," Sampson said of the inspections, and staff showed a common protective device — a hose-bib vacuum breaker — which the city installs for a one-time $4.69 charge billed on the water account when crews install it during inspections.

On enforcement, staff described a notice sequence (initial card, 5-day and 15-day follow-ups and phone calls) and said unresolved violations could lead to shutoff actions under city procedures. Staff said the city conducted about 2,800 inspections last year across commercial and residential accounts and had completed roughly 1,000–1,200 residential inspections so far this year as part of the new rotation.

What happens next: Staff will post the presentation materials and an accompanying recorded presentation to the city website, pursue DWSRF and loan-forgiveness opportunities for the mains, and continue cross-connection inspections on the scheduled rotation.

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