The Village of Freeport’s water system serves nearly 200 homes and businesses in this small rural community in Barry County. In 2000, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality deemed the village’s water system severely deficient in supply and distribution capacity.

The Village of Freeport’s necessary water system improvements involved:

• Directing the drilling of a test production well, which indicated availability of a new water supply source with adequate quantity and quality.
  
  
• Developing and constructing two new groundwater wells and new wellhouse as well as providing a backup generator. The new wells are capable of providing 150 gpm each, improving system capacity and water quality.
  
  
• Using hydraulic modeling. Williams & Works designed improvements to the water system, eliminating small diameter asbestos cement pipe with many dead ends and inadequate valving. The improved design increased available flows and system reliability. Approximately 10,000 feet of new watermain was installed.
  
  
• Recoating of the interior of the village’s water tank.
  
  
• Coordinating financing for the $1.3 million water system improvements through village funds and grants and loans from local, state, and federal agencies.