The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) held a press conference today with an update for residents affected by the water main break at their Metcalf Road plant. Due to the need for additional replacement pipes to repair the damage, they have added one week to the projected date the pipe will be fixed.

GLWA initially ordered a section of pipe to replace the damaged section. After fully inspecting the broken pipe, they determined the damage was more extensive than originally thought, and 48 more feet of pipe was needed. The new pipe is currently being manufactured, and it is expected to arrive on August 23, 2022.

Once the new pipe arrives and is installed, it will undergo pressure testing. After that, a water quality testing process will ensure that water is safe for residents to drink.

The new projected date for water service to return to normal for affected residents is September 3, 2022.

Boil Water Advisories are still in effect for Almont, Bruce Township, Burtchville Township, Imlay City, Rochester, Shelby Township, and Washington Township.

GLWA officials are still unsure what caused this water main to break. The nature of water pipes being completely underwater makes them challenging to inspect, but they are hoping that new technology can help better understand the condition of water pipes throughout the state in the future.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Holograms are a very unique medium that involves using light beams or lasers to create a virtual three-dimensional image. Our friends at The Carnegie Center will now feature a new exhibit titled, Holography: The Michigan Medium. The exhibit made its debut August 12th and will feature the works of 18 holographers from the United States and Europe.

Holography has a variety of uses, from displaying instrument information in transportation vehicles to being used to test products without damaging them. Developed in conjunction with Dimensional Imaging Consultants Inc., the exhibit is dedicated to revealing the role that a variety of individuals and institutions have played in the evolution of holography.

“The potential uses of holography are enormous!” says Douglas Tyler, President of Dimensional Imaging Consultants.

The exhibit will run through November 11, 2022. For more information regarding museum hours and availability visit https://www.phmuseum.org/.

Reporting for WGRT –  Choze Powell

As Summer draws to a close, you don’t want to miss out on one of the Blue Water Area’s most fun and entertaining events. The NAACP Field Day & Southside Music Festival begins August 27th from 2 – 8 PM at Lincoln Park in Port Huron, MI.

Sponsored by St. Clair County Community Foundation and multiple other local organizations, the event will feature live musical performances from groups such as Metro Soul Band, Denis Davis and the Motor City Sensations, The Thomason Band, and more.

Food vendors will be present with a variety of treats from cotton candy and cookies, to ribs and tacos. Information and resources will be available from the St. Clair County Health Department, and kids can enjoy a mobile video game station from 3 – 5 PM.

Blue Water Transit will be offering free rides to the event between 1:30 and 5:30 PM. There will be prizes and giveaways happening as well, so don’t miss out on this fun-filled event for all ages. For more information, contact Cynthia Bankston at PortHuronNAACP@gmail.com.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

After a water main break at the Great Lakes Water Authority’s (GLWA) Metcalf Road plant on Saturday, the break has been isolated and repairs are underway.

After the break, areas around the site were flooded, and today, GLWA reported that all water was removed from the site so engineers can now begin to inspect the damaged pipe. A replacement pipe arrived yesterday.

The Boil Water Advisory has been lifted in Chesterfield Township, Lenox Township, Mayfield Township, Macomb Township, and the Village of New Haven, but there are still 133,000 people affected by low to no water pressure.

Suzanne R. Coffey, GLWA Chief Executive Officer, said, “GLWA understands the real-life impact that this water main break is having on the hundreds of thousands of people in the affected communities and we truly appreciate their patience and understanding as we work to implement the necessary repairs. I am grateful for the GLWA team who has been working tirelessly to restore water pressure to all communities and working as quickly as possible to restore service.”

GLWA is projecting 2 weeks for service to be fully restored. They project one week to repair the damaged pipeline and one week to test the water for safety.

The cause of the water main break is under investigation, and GLWA will notify affected communities when the Boil Water Advisory is lifted.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Governor Whitmer wants to remind Michigan families to sign their 4-year-olds up for free preschool programs through the Great Start Readiness Program. The deadline to register for programs in St. Clair County is September 1, 2022.

Locally, families can apply for multiple early childhood education programs by filling out one application for their children who are infants up to age 5.

The application covers admission to Early Head Start, for expectant mothers and kids under 3; Head Start, for 3 or 4-year-olds; and the Great Start Readiness Program, for 4-year-olds.  All programs are state-funded and free for families.

Whitmer said, “Access to high-quality preschool makes a huge difference for kids, increasing their kindergarten readiness, putting them on track for 3rd grade reading proficiency, and boosting eventual high school graduation rates.”

Families who apply for early childhood education programs in St. Clair County should first complete the application on St. Clair County RESA’s website <HERE>.  Then they will be contacted to complete the eligibility and verification process.

Kids must have a health appraisal completed by their physician, along with proof of residency, income, and vaccination.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand