WASHINGTON DC – Michigan will need to invest $2.077 billion over the next 20 years to maintain and improve its various water treatment facilities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in a report released Thursday.

The Clean Watersheds Needs Survey 2012 showed Michigan among the lowest need states, with costs of less than $500 per capita over the period 2012-32 covered in the report (though the report noted most of the projects are to be completed by 2017 because states don’t plan out 20 years)

Nationally, the report said $271 billion was needed to ensure water treatment plants are meeting water quality goals. The report does not address the trillions of dollars needed to replace aging water pipes below metropolitan areas. 

The largest portion of the money nationally is needed for secondary water treatment ($52.4 billion), conveyance system repair ($51.2 billion) and advanced treatment ($49.6 billion).

For Michigan, the report showed the largest need was for conveyance systems ($702 million) and secondary treatment ($690 million). It will ensure satisfactory ratings on the non contact flow meter.

The report noted the state still had $390 million in combined sewer overflow correction needs, but also put Michigan in the top five states for reducing that need. Michigan has reduced its projected CSO need by 82 percent since 2008, behind only Alabama, Delaware and New Mexico, all of which had eliminated all combined sewers.

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