Update on New Water and Wastewater Infrastructure in Our Community

As part of the development of the Marshall Area Jobs, Opportunity, and Recreation (MAJOR) campus, the city of Marshall will extend municipal water supply and sanitary sewer utilities across Interstate 69 (I-69) to serve the campus. Portions of the new infrastructure will pass through Marshall Township.

 

The MAJOR campus consists of approximately 1,900 acres situated west of the downtown area of the City of Marshall, southeast of the City of Battle Creek, bounded on the north by Michigan Avenue (M-96), the Kalamazoo River on the south, 12 Mile Road on the west, and Bear Creek on the east.

The first facility to receive water and sewer service will be Ford's BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. The BlueOval project location will occupy an approximate 700-acre portion of the MAJOR campus east of 13 Mile Road. The remainder of the MAJOR campus will be used for future developments and recreational space that will also be served by the public water and sewer infrastructure referenced in this document. The map below shows the overall project vicinity and layout with major project components.

 

New Infrastructure Operations
The City of Marshall will ultimately become the majority owner of the constructed improvements within Marshall Township and the City proper. The City of Marshall will operate and maintain the constructed
improvements after final acceptance by the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA).

The City of Battle Creek will provide water supply to support the City of Marshall in providing water supply services to the BlueOval site. Battle Creek will continue to own and operate the upgraded Verona Pump Station.

Emmett Township has been preparing the design of a new water pipeline prior to the start of BlueOval. The Emmett Township Loop pipeline will provide a portion of the water flow needed for the City of Battle Creek to serve the BlueOval site.

These communities and agencies are also stakeholders in the MAJOR campus and BlueOval: Marshall Township, Calhoun County, the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

New Infrastructure at a Glance

  • 14 miles of water transmission main
  • 4.5 million gallon water storage tank
  • 1 new and 1 upgraded water pump station
  • 2 miles of wastewater force main
  • 1 new sanitary pump station
  • Water treatment plant upgrades
  • Wastewater treatment plant upgrade

Benefits to the Community

Investment in water and wastewater infrastructure expansion is crucial for the health of our community as well as ongoing efforts to protect our lakes, rivers and streams. Here are some key reasons why water and wastewater infrastructure expansion is important to a community:

  • PUBLIC HEALTH: Water infrastructure systems are vital assets shared by all members of a community. By ensuring the availability of safe and clean water, local officials play a unique role in safeguarding public health. Improved infrastructure establishes greater connectivity in the pipeline systems resulting in more reliable water and wastewater service to customers.
  • ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH: Investment in water infrastructure can stimulate job creation and economic growth. It can lead to the creation of quality, good-paying jobs while fostering economic prosperity. The infrastructure improvements particularly along the Michigan Avenue corridor will help draw new businesses to the region.
  • PROTECTION OF LOCAL WATER RESOURCES: Expanding water and wastewater infrastructure helps preserve local water resources. It enables communities to maintain the quality and availability of their water sources, benefiting both people and wildlife.
  • HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE: Sustainable water infrastructure contributes to an overall high quality of life. It ensures communities like ours have access to clean water for various purposes, such as drinking, sanitation, recreation, and more. Investing in water and wastewater infrastructure is essential for growing our community and our region, helping us thrive economically, socially, and environmentally.