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$30 a quarter to protect the water we drink, bathe in, cook with, clean, and wash our clothes in is not optional. These funds are restricted and specifically allocated to safeguard our drinking water through an Enterprise Fund. Removing this fee would be fiscally irresponsible, reckless, and dangerous, threatening a vital drinking water asset management program. This is not just a financial issue; it’s a serious safety concern for our family's drinking water. We all know that costly repairs, amounting to millions of dollars, are inevitable.

 

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Clay Township charges a $30 per quarter ($10/month) water debt charge on every home with water service, collected through the Water Fund, an Enterprise fund. The Water Fund purchases water from Algonac and imposes user fees to cover usage, administration, infrastructure, capital equipment, labor for maintaining the township's water distribution system, and a portion of Algonac Water Plant's capital expenses. The water debt charge is restricted to debt payments and is currently allocated to the M29 water main replacement project (replacing the original main from the 1940s) and installing a second water line to Harsens Island. Pre-engineering for this critical infrastructure upgrade is already underway, with the project expected to begin in 2025.

 

These improvements will replace the aging mainland waterline, improve system pressure, and create a second water feed to the island. The township has secured two federal earmarks totaling $3.5 million towards the estimated $8+ million project cost. The resolution to amend the water ordinance for fees, rates, and charges was first passed on September 14, 1987, stating: "From and after the effective date of this ordinance, customers of the water supply system and/or applicants for connection to the water supply system shall be liable for the following fees, rates, and charges, as established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Township." The most recent amendment, dated October 27, 2017, sets the water debt charge at $120 per unit annually, billed quarterly.

 

​Eliminating the water debt charge is financially irresponsible for several key reasons!

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First, the water debt charge is not solely for past debts; it is an essential component in maintaining, upgrading, and securing our water system for the future. Water infrastructure is costly, requiring constant improvements—such as new water lines, upgraded meters, and maintaining the water plant itself. Without this charge, the township will be unable to meet these financial obligations, leading to deteriorating systems and ultimately higher costs for emergency repairs and replacements.

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Second, this $10 monthly fee is minimal, especially compared to other non-essential expenses like streaming services or fast food. For less than two cups of coffee, every resident contributes to the safety and reliability of their water supply, which is a fundamental necessity. Ensuring clean, reliable drinking water is not something that can be sacrificed or deferred. Water systems must be proactively maintained to avoid greater, costlier failures down the line.

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Finally, if the water debt charge is removed, these necessary upgrades and repairs won’t disappear; the financial burden will simply be shifted through higher taxes or increased fees later. It’s financially prudent to address these needs steadily and responsibly, rather than waiting for crises that would demand sudden, steep increases in costs.