Water fix for Fennville?

FENNVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) - Cleaner Fennville city water could flow to people living in nearby townships with contaminated private wells.

"Anything to get folks clean water is a good thing," said Kari Craton, who has dealt with well contamination in her home near Fennville. Craton brought the problem she and her neighbors have experienced to the attention of well-known environmental activist Erin Brockovich.

The plan pushed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture has been under discussion for a couple of months, city officials told 24 Hour News 8, but was announced Wednesday in a statement from Birds Eye Foods.

Some private wells at homes in Clyde and Manlius townships, near where the Fennville Birds Eye plant sprays its wastewater, are contaminated with heavy metals such as arsenic, manganese and iron. The DEQ has determined that organic compounds released in the wastewater have allowed the heavy metals to enter the water.

A Birds Eye spokeswoman said the plan would "address the water quality issues in the broader Fennville area, not only those that may be related to our facility."

The company statement said the plan would include a system to remove iron from the city's water in addition to extending the service area. That could address concerns from Craton and others about city water quality.

In addition to the push to extend city water, Birds Eye is planning a $3.5 million upgrade to its wastewater system, pending DEQ approval, according to a company statement. The upgrade is expected to "nearly eliminate" organic matter in the wastewater.

Pumping city water to affected residents could be a long-term solution, since cleaning up the groundwater heavy metal issue could take many years. Birds Eye has been providing bottled water to some residents.

The Birds Eye statement said the company is working with several state agencies, along with the city and townships, to obtain grant funding for the project. A spokeswoman said Birds Eye has agreed to pay for "engineering and other design work before the grant is approved, to help expedite the project."