Saline MI
8-18-2025 10:57am

Community Effort Required to Keep Water System Running

City workers and contractors are completing critical repairs to the city's major source of drinking water from the aquifer.

Well 5, which was supposed to undergo improvements upon the completion of Well 7, has failed.

All residents and businesses within the city have been asked to reduce water consumption.

Repairing Well 5 is necessary to ensure the water system continues to meet essential household and community needs, according to the city.

Acting City Manager Elle Cole said that Well 5 and Well 3 generally produce more than enough water for the city.

"We need about 1.3-1.4 million gallons a day," Cole said. "Right now, we are using wells 2, 3 and 6 for 1 million gallons a day. So we have a shortfall of .3 to .4 million each day."

And that's why the city has called for a reduction in water consumption. 

According to the city, until Well 5 is online:

  • Please refrain from all irrigation and lawn watering.
  • Limit or avoid washing vehicles, filling pools, or other non-essential outdoor water use.
  • Use water indoors only for essential needs such as drinking, cooking, cleaning and sanitation.

There is no estimate yet for how long the repair of Well 5 might take.

“We know this is an inconvenience, and we sincerely appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our residents. By working together, we can ensure every household and business has reliable access to water while we finish this vital repair,” Cole said.

Recently, city council members expressed disappointment at learning that efforts to bring the new well, Well 7, online were delayed after the state demanded tougher construction standards.'

Cole said the top-water users in the business community have been contacted and they've agreed to reduce consumption.

"This will require a community effort," Cole said.

"The safety of the water we provide our residents is of our utmost importance. There is no need to boil water currently. Should a boil water notice be enacted, residences and businesses will be notified directly," the press release said.

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8-18-2025 4:40pm

And yet we need a lazy river, gathering places and other unnecessary things???  The city can’t supply us with clean water and now maybe no water at all. How does this even make any sense?  City Government continues to fail Saline taxpayers!  Maybe we need to hire more consultants and spend even more money 🤪.  
I hope the state gets involved. I think we all need to reach out to our representatives in Lansing!  Marl and his cronies are continuing to neglect our necessities and failing infrastructure while continuing to push their pet projects and spending taxpayers money.  

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8-19-2025 8:02am

Not a great situation and not mad at the City. City administrators have done their job. Well 7 was introduced and under construction to meet the needs of the City. As the article indicates, the state introduced new requirements and, according to the article and acting City Administrator, it is those requirements that led to a delay in completion of that well. Not much the City could have done about that. The article also indicates that repairs to well 5 were previously identified and planned once 7 was online (thereby avoiding a shortfall when 5 was shutdown for repair as 7 would be operational thereby ensuring sufficient water - so, we are back to the new requirements from the state which delayed 7 being the issue). So, if you want to write your representatives in Lansing it should be regarding the introduction of new requirements which, again, the article cites as the reason for the delay in 7 and therefore this situation.  As for the lazy river? None is planned. If the rest of your genearlized complaint tied to the $180M being spent on school upgrades (many of which I would not consider critical/necessary but clearly the voters did), that came from the School Board and District and, more to the point, would not have moved forward had the residents of Saline not voted for it - so again, not the City but the residents.

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8-19-2025 2:52pm

You obviously think the city bears no responsibility ever for anything!  That’s ok. You can continue to point fingers, deny accountability and make excuses but what I know is that when I pay my water bill it’s made out to “The City of Saline” so as far as I’m concerned the buck ultimately stops there!

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8-19-2025 4:31pm

Interesting statement regarding pointing fingers from the individual doing just that repeatedly. We are also not talking about no responsibility ever for anything but rather, a specific unfortunate situation. At any rate, we simply try to base our reactions to things and perceptions on facts at hand rather than emotions. Mother nature seems to be cooperating with a little rain for the lawns today helping the cause as well and before we know it we will be out of this and have both 5 and the new well 7 working together in full force. 

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8-19-2025 8:07pm

Yup. And when I pay the city for water and they set restrictions.  Darn straight I'll point fingers at those who take my money for a service that they then limit.  Are we going to see credits for partial service?  Of course not!  If I pay anyone for a service and they do not supply the complete service who do I point at?  If I pay someone to paint my house and they tell me they ran out of paint, am I going to blame the paint company or the painter I hired ??

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8-20-2025 9:48am

No need for credits. Water charges almost entirely based on usage. So, use less, there's your credit for using less. And, that meter you pay about $8 for every other month is still there and doing its job. 

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8-22-2025 6:40pm

No update on the city’s website. I realize there might not be any definitive information as of yet but at least update your citizens as to what is being done. The city website information has not changed. Does that mean that they aren’t doing anything?  I doubt that, but COMMUNICATION is important.  Unfortunately our city officials most often fail to communicate effectively with its residents. 

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