The DPS staff is responsible for maintaining the Village's water treatment and distribution system. Several employees hold various levels of certifications as required by the State of Michigan for the treatment and monitoring processes necessary to operate the water system. All employees assist in emergency situations such as repair of broken water mains. The DPS is also responsible for reading and repairing water meters, and maintaining fire hydrants and gate valves.
Water Supply System
Wells, treatment and distribution system:
Wells Installed 1961 - and 2010 - One 12-inch well, and one 16-inch well, both 114 feet deep. The water from these wells is pumped to a 40,000 gallon holding tank (clear well) which is then pumped through the iron filters, treated, and pumped into the distribution system. Average daily pumpage is 760,000 gallons. A 3rd production well, 16”diameter, has been drilled for future use.
Iron Removal Plant - An iron removal plant was built in 1974. Three - 75-horsepower high service pumps send treated water to distribution. There are 3 filter cells that filter the water through an anthracite (charcoal) and gravel media to remove iron. Chlorine is added at up to 1 part per million or 4-5 pounds a day. Fluoride is also added at .80 parts per million or 25 pounds a day.
South standpipe - One 495,000-gallon steel standpipe was installed in 2002. Two 10-hp horizontal centrifugal booster pumps boost water pressure into the southern pressure zone, along with one 50-hp horizontal centrifugal fire booster pump.
North standpipe - One 650,000-gallon steel standpipe was installed in 2001 and stands 56 feet tall. Two 10-hp horizontal centrifugal booster pumps and one 50-hp horizontal centrifugal fire booster pump boost water pressure into the northern pressure zone.
Eagle Nest Booster Pump Station - Eagle Nest Booster Pump Station was installed in 2001. Two 10-hp inline booster pumps boost the water pressure from the Winding Way area to the higher elevation at Eagle Nest condo site.
Distribution system - There are approximately 143,400 feet (27.2 miles) of existing water main ranging from 2 inch to 12 inch in diameter. The smallest water main size allowed today is 8 inch. The mains are either cast iron, ductile iron, or HDPE. All mains are cement lined inside. The joints are either lead joint, mechanical or push on (bell and spigot type).
Fire hydrants - 324 fire hydrants are serviced by the D.P.S. All fire hydrants are dry barrel type, inspected and operated each fall. Each hydrant has its own auxiliary gate valve that is used to isolate the hydrant from the system for service.
Gate valves - Most water main valves are bronze double-disk gate valves inside with cast or ductile iron casings outside. There are gate valves at nearly every intersection in the village. All valves are accessed through a 5-inch diameter D-box or a large gate well which are generally 4 - 6 feet in diameter.
Service lines - Customer services lines are of different sizes ranging from 3/4 inch to 6 inch in diameter. Pipe materials are k-type soft copper, galvanized steel, cast iron or ductile iron. Very few galvanized lines are being used today and any that are found are replaced by the Village up to the property line.
Water meters - There are currently 2,500 water customers in the system, some of which use the water for lawn irrigation as well as human consumption. We have one meter reader who reads meters two weeks out of every month and who installs new meters and repairs existing meters and outside readers in the system. The meter sizes range from 5/8 inch to 6 inch. All meters over 1 inch in size are purchased and maintained by the building owners.
Quality control - As mandated by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, we collect 9 water samples from the wells and distribution system monthly to test for bacteria. The wells and distribution system are sampled every 3 months since low levels of organic chemicals were discovered in 1989. All new installations and repairs are disinfected and repairs to the mains are performed under positive pressures to eliminate the chance of contamination of the system. The Village has an aggressive cross connection program that inspects all businesses, commercial and industrial water users for plumbing defects or improper installations that may cause a connection with non-potable water to the potable drinking water.
Wellhead Protection Program - The Village developed a Wellhead Protection Program (WHP) designed to protect the groundwater aquifer that provides drinking water to the residents of the Village. Through the WHP process we have determined the land area called the Wellhead Protection Area, which is the landmass that contributes groundwater to the municipal wells. This area extends outside the Village limits in Milford and Highland Townships. Through a Hazardous Substance Overlay ordinance and continual public education, we educate the public of the need to protect the groundwater aquifer that supplies this community with its drinking water. An advisory committee made up of Village staff, a Milford Township representative, state and local Public Health Departments, Milford Fire Department, Village and Township residents, and business owners meet quarterly to discuss and plan the continual education of the residents of our communities on the importance of preserving this precious resource, drinking water.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Christian Wuerth - Village Manager
Wells, treatment and distribution system:
Wells Installed 1961 - and 2010 - One 12-inch well, and one 16-inch well, both 114 feet deep. The water from these wells is pumped to a 40,000 gallon holding tank (clear well) which is then pumped through the iron filters, treated, and pumped into the distribution system. Average daily pumpage is 760,000 gallons. A 3rd production well, 16”diameter, has been drilled for future use.
Iron Removal Plant - An iron removal plant was built in 1974. Three - 75-horsepower high service pumps send treated water to distribution. There are 3 filter cells that filter the water through an anthracite (charcoal) and gravel media to remove iron. Chlorine is added at up to 1 part per million or 4-5 pounds a day. Fluoride is also added at .80 parts per million or 25 pounds a day.
South standpipe - One 495,000-gallon steel standpipe was installed in 2002. Two 10-hp horizontal centrifugal booster pumps boost water pressure into the southern pressure zone, along with one 50-hp horizontal centrifugal fire booster pump.
North standpipe - One 650,000-gallon steel standpipe was installed in 2001 and stands 56 feet tall. Two 10-hp horizontal centrifugal booster pumps and one 50-hp horizontal centrifugal fire booster pump boost water pressure into the northern pressure zone.
Eagle Nest Booster Pump Station - Eagle Nest Booster Pump Station was installed in 2001. Two 10-hp inline booster pumps boost the water pressure from the Winding Way area to the higher elevation at Eagle Nest condo site.
Distribution system - There are approximately 143,400 feet (27.2 miles) of existing water main ranging from 2 inch to 12 inch in diameter. The smallest water main size allowed today is 8 inch. The mains are either cast iron, ductile iron, or HDPE. All mains are cement lined inside. The joints are either lead joint, mechanical or push on (bell and spigot type).
Fire hydrants - 324 fire hydrants are serviced by the D.P.S. All fire hydrants are dry barrel type, inspected and operated each fall. Each hydrant has its own auxiliary gate valve that is used to isolate the hydrant from the system for service.
Gate valves - Most water main valves are bronze double-disk gate valves inside with cast or ductile iron casings outside. There are gate valves at nearly every intersection in the village. All valves are accessed through a 5-inch diameter D-box or a large gate well which are generally 4 - 6 feet in diameter.
Service lines - Customer services lines are of different sizes ranging from 3/4 inch to 6 inch in diameter. Pipe materials are k-type soft copper, galvanized steel, cast iron or ductile iron. Very few galvanized lines are being used today and any that are found are replaced by the Village up to the property line.
Water meters - There are currently 2,500 water customers in the system, some of which use the water for lawn irrigation as well as human consumption. We have one meter reader who reads meters two weeks out of every month and who installs new meters and repairs existing meters and outside readers in the system. The meter sizes range from 5/8 inch to 6 inch. All meters over 1 inch in size are purchased and maintained by the building owners.
Quality control - As mandated by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, we collect 9 water samples from the wells and distribution system monthly to test for bacteria. The wells and distribution system are sampled every 3 months since low levels of organic chemicals were discovered in 1989. All new installations and repairs are disinfected and repairs to the mains are performed under positive pressures to eliminate the chance of contamination of the system. The Village has an aggressive cross connection program that inspects all businesses, commercial and industrial water users for plumbing defects or improper installations that may cause a connection with non-potable water to the potable drinking water.
Wellhead Protection Program - The Village developed a Wellhead Protection Program (WHP) designed to protect the groundwater aquifer that provides drinking water to the residents of the Village. Through the WHP process we have determined the land area called the Wellhead Protection Area, which is the landmass that contributes groundwater to the municipal wells. This area extends outside the Village limits in Milford and Highland Townships. Through a Hazardous Substance Overlay ordinance and continual public education, we educate the public of the need to protect the groundwater aquifer that supplies this community with its drinking water. An advisory committee made up of Village staff, a Milford Township representative, state and local Public Health Departments, Milford Fire Department, Village and Township residents, and business owners meet quarterly to discuss and plan the continual education of the residents of our communities on the importance of preserving this precious resource, drinking water.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Christian Wuerth - Village Manager
Mike Karll - Director of Public Services
Kathy Frazer - Oakland County Public Health
John McInnis - Arcadis/TRW Site Consultant
Randy Sapelak - Village Building Official
Donald Green - Milford Township Supervisor
Frederick Morin - Retired Public Services Director
Rob Dewyre - AMEC Environmental Consultant
Perry Culham - Village Resident
Janice Ouellette -Township Resident
Tom Moore - Milford Fire Chief
For more information, please visit the Wellhead Protection page.
Kathy Frazer - Oakland County Public Health
John McInnis - Arcadis/TRW Site Consultant
Randy Sapelak - Village Building Official
Donald Green - Milford Township Supervisor
Frederick Morin - Retired Public Services Director
Rob Dewyre - AMEC Environmental Consultant
Perry Culham - Village Resident
Janice Ouellette -Township Resident
Tom Moore - Milford Fire Chief
For more information, please visit the Wellhead Protection page.