In the Delmar, Littlefield & Merrimac neighborhood we have 43 neighbors recommended by the Kalamazoo Health Department to drink only from filters issued from the Kalamazoo Health Department. Residents only get one (1) filter per home, to be changed every 6 months. In Ross, we have a total of 88 neighbors who are in this same position. City of Kalamazoo’s James Baker, PE, presented this update on the request made to the State of Michigan for 4 key water improvement projects. Ross Township’s Delmar, Littlefield & Merrimac was one area he requested grant support for, and was just awarded 100% grant funding.

What does this mean? First, the Ross Township Board must vote to allow the grant to proceed. Before that vote occurs on November 19, we are hosting a Town Hall to learn more and share more information with residents. This also means that ONLY FOR neighbors in the Delmar, Littlefield and Merrimac neighborhood, they will be given the chance to choose to connect to municipal water for five (5) years without any connection expense. They can also choose not to connect. During this 5 years’ time, the EPA is expected to change acceptable levels of PFAS/PFOA, and there continues to be groundwater monitoring for PFAS/PFOA levels by EGLE, which is also expected to change.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN: Municipal water is going around Gull Lake: NO. That is a rumor. Nor does it mean connecting to municipal water is mandatory in Ross Township. That is also rumor. There is no State Mandate to connect to water the way there is a State Mandate to connect to available public sewer.

What is next? The Ross Township Board will be hosting a 90 minute Town Hall style meeting November 12, 2024 at 5:30 pm in the Ross-Augusta Fire Barn. This will be similar to last year’s Town Hall meeting where we had EGLE, James Baker from the City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Health Department, and Ross Township’s Attorney all present. It will be Q&A style format so send your questions ahead of time to [email protected] or bring them to ask the experts directly.

In the meantime: Stay current by signing up for Ross Township email updates and watch Ross Township Board Meetings recorded on YouTube to stay connected to the facts in our community.