Water Infrastructure Holdings (WIH) is continuing to make progress in modifying the route for the extended waterline. Over the summer, the WIH technical team completed field work and evaluations necessary to modify the waterline route, and this fall the design package was revised to reflect the modified route. The design has been submitted to the Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to obtain the necessary permit. WIH is also working with the Village of Metamora to complete a revised Agreement for connection to the Village water system. We hope to obtain the EGLE permit and Village Agreement so that construction can be bid in early 2024 and begin in spring 2024.
The Water Infrastructure Holdings, LLC (“WIH”) potable waterline extension design continues to move forward. A majority of easements has been received, and WIH has begun the process of submitting permit applications to the Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the Lapeer County Road Commission.
To support the design work, a geotechnical boring program will be conducted along the path of the waterline. Borings will be installed by an all-terrain vehicle-mounted drill rig along the shoulders of Hawk High Hill Drive, Markins Drive, Shalimar Ridge, Stock Road, and Woodside Trail. The borings will be two inches in diameter installed to a depth of about 10 feet. Soil samples will be collected from each boring, and the holes will be backfilled. This investigation will provide a description of soil types, relative density, consistency, grain size, and other subsurface conditions needed for design and construction of the waterline. All work will be done during work hours with minimum disruption.
To prepare for the boring program, the location of each boring will be identified with a wooden stake installed by a field technician on November 30. The boring program will begin on December 5 and be completed by the end of the week. Each boring task will be completed in one to two hours.
As we continue to design the potable water system, Water Infrastructure Holdings (WIH) representatives met with customers two times regarding the design of customer piping from the water main to their homes. We reviewed the location of the current water well, connections to indoor plumbing and outdoor spigots, and other utilities to determine the best path for the service connection piping from the water main to customer homes. A private utility locator will visit prior to the start of construction to ensure our design avoids any utilities on the property.
WIH is also working with customers, Lapeer County and the Village of Metamora to secure easements to allow construction of the water system and allow WIH to have future access to those portions of the system that will remain the responsibility of WIH, such as the water main and curb boxes. We cannot complete the design of the waterline until we have obtained all of the easements.
WIH recently made a decision to install customer piping using directional drilling techniques. The piping will be installed approximately five feet below ground surface. The ground surface above the pipeline, including any driveway, landscaping and associated structures, will not be disturbed by installing the customer piping using directional drilling and can continue to be used. Pits will be dug at each end of the line to allow drilling. Some digging will be necessary for the connection into customer homes.
Water Infrastructure Holdings, LLC, (“WIH”) is pleased to have received connection agreements from all residents interested in receiving water from the potable waterline.
We are in the design phase of the project. The projected time frame to complete the design is approximately 6-9 months. Field work, which includes customer interviews, property surveys and a geotechnical soil investigation, will begin this Spring. The field work will support the ongoing design of the water main, customer piping and connections, the pump station, and other key components of the waterline. By the end of the year, we plan to have bid packages ready for construction.
Water Infrastructure Holdings, LLC’s objective is to have the waterline extension installed as soon as possible. With this in mind, WIH has retained an engineering firm to design the water distribution system, and that work is now getting under way. As the first task to be completed, the engineering firm completed a survey and is developing the layout for the water mains.
Water Infrastructure Holdings, LLC’s objective is to have the waterline extension installed as soon as possible. With this in mind, WIH has retained an engineering firm to design the water distribution system, and that work is now getting under way. As the first task to be completed, the engineering firm will be performing utility clearance and surveying the area. Neighbors may notice a drone flying overhead and field crews by the side of the road. The survey will provide information used to design the path of the pipeline. Forms allowing WIH access to complete the survey were mailed out to neighbors in the service area. Once all residents have signed and returned the permission for access form, we will schedule the work.
- The projected time needed to complete design is approximately 6 to 9 months, which includes the following:
- Field work, including conceptual layout of the pipeline, survey, and soils investigation
- Design and permitting
- This design schedule is dependent upon prompt permit approvals, prompt and reasonable reviews by Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the Village of Metamora, finding no unexpected conditions during the soils investigation, cooperation from property owners along the anticipated route of the pipeline, etc.