City staff outline water infrastructure projects: PFAS treatment, station consolidations and lead‑line removals

James Baker, the city public services director and city engineer, reviewed active and upcoming water infrastructure work to the Utility Policy Committee, highlighting a suite of projects meant to address PFAS, aging stations and service‑line replacement.

Baker listed active water main projects (Kalamazoo Ave starting next Monday; work at 28th Street and the Richland Township area) and explained a PFAS‑related expansion in Richland (main and services installation continues). He described Station 5 and Station 14 as consolidated projects that will add iron and PFAS removal treatment and provide baseline capacity for several districts; piping and electrical work are substantially complete and above‑ground work and wells/tanks are underway. Station 25 will receive a full mechanical and electrical replacement because the facility is about 45 years old; that project does not include iron removal.

On lead‑service lines, Baker said the city has increased removals and is seeing results fall: recent monitoring showed values around 3–5 parts per billion, down from higher values in earlier years. He credited both lead‑line replacement and the optimized corrosion control program for the improvement.

Baker also noted the 2025 water quality (consumer confidence) report was issued and “Kalamazoo water continues to meet all state and federal regulations,” and reminded members that the report and data tables are available online and will be mailed to customers.

Why this matters: the projects Baker described involve large capital expenditures and operational steps that affect service reliability and future rate assumptions; station consolidations that add PFAS treatment are especially consequential for long‑term operational costs.

The committee discussed bringing a draft CIP to the August meeting so UPC can provide input prior to formal rate development.