Oakland County water and sewer infrastructure upgrades in Pontiac will take millions of dollars and another 15 years to complete, according to Jim Nash, Oakland County’s water resources commissioner.

But he’s worried that important federal grants may be at risk. Federal grants do not have to be repaid and can help county and local governments tackle major projects. Last month, the Trump administration ordered a federal freeze on payments for grants and other types of aid. A judge issued a temporary stay, but the matter remains unresolved, which concerns Nash and other county officials.

The WRC provides water and sewer services to 24 communities, which includes maintaining and upgrading the culverts, water and sewer pipes, facilities and equipment as needed.

Water and sewer bill payments account for more than 98% of WRC project funding, Nash said. But millions of federal dollars are poured into Oakland County for water and sewer improvements via grants.

Among projects underway that could lose funding is an electrical system upgrade at the Clinton River Water Resources Recovery Facility in Pontiac, which treats 30 million gallons of stormwater and sanitary sewage each day, serving the communities of Auburn Hills, Independence Township, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion, Oakland Township, Orion Township, Oxford Township, the Village of Oxford, Pontiac, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Waterford Township and West Bloomfield Township. This water-treatment plan is slated to receive an $11 million hazard mitigation grant, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he said.

“We are one year into this three-year project,” Nash said. “Our concern is we might lose a significant amount of that grant if things are frozen in Washington.”

Some of a $2.2 million federal hazard mitigation grant for the Mainland Drain, which carries stormwater from the county campus to the Clinton River in Pontiac, has been spent. Nash said it appears the grant is “on hold, for now.”

“We have already done bidding and construction contracts,” Nash said, adding that he’s concerned that the project would be delayed and contracts canceled.

The work still needs to be done, he said, but the months of legal wrangling to regain the funding means current contracts may lapse and have to be rebid.

These two projects are intended to reduce flood risks.

“These … grants are to reduce damage from potential flooding, which has become more likely as climate change brings more extreme weather to our Great Lakes region,” Nash said, recalling more than 100 water main breaks that occurred during the 2015 winter and more than 100 more during 2016’s winter. All were repaired on an emergency basis.

With or without federal grants, the WRC will continue pursuing improvements, he said.

“If you don’t do the work in a scheduled way, then you’re doing emergency work and that costs more because it’s an emergency,” he said. “Having a long-term plan is way, way cheaper than managing disaster after disaster.”

In the meantime, the county has been replacing water mains and updating the sewer systems by cleaning, repairing and in some cases inserting new liners. The WRC coordinates water and sewer improvements with the city’s road improvement plans to stretch project dollars while minimizing disruptions to area residents and drivers.

Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel said in a statement that the combined initiative “have benefitted the health and safety of residents.”

The most recent projects were part of a $55 million upgrade. That includes a $9 million project to replace lead water lines and sewer pipes in Pontiac started in 2023. The WRC worked in the Seminole Hills subdivision and along Bagley Street on the city’s south side, replacing lead water lines and upgrading sewer systems.

The WRC received a federal grant for $800,000 specifically for lead water line replacements in Pontiac, some of which was used in Seminole Hills. Overall, the improvements will:

• reduce service disruptions

• improve water quality and water pressure

• reduce sewer backups and overflows

The WRC used new technology for replacing underground pipes without having to dig trenches, which also saved money. Learn more about the WRC at oakgov.com/water