Commissioner speaks on water infrastructure

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash will host a series of year-long Water Infrastructure 101 - “What You Need to Know Below and Beyond” discussions from June to September. He will visit many libraries across the county and provide insight regarding the issue of water resources and infrastructure.
From June 1 to June 9, he will also join the statewide effort to celebrate Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week by promoting One Water. One Water is a regional effort organized by the Freshwater Forum at the Cranbrook Institute of Science, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) and the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA).

The One Water campaign of “Keeping it Fresh and Keeping it Flowing” coincides with the statewide designated Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week’s annual celebration from June 1 to June 9.

“I am pleased to join with many stakeholders from across Michigan to celebrate Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week as it perfectly complements my office’s ongoing educational initiatives, such as the Water Infrastructure 101 series and our 6th Annual Art, Fish, Fun Festival, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Beaudette Park (the Old Mill Dam), located at 786 Orchard Lake Road in Pontiac, Michigan,” said Nash.

He further stated, “Protecting our fresh water resources is the focus of the Water Resources Commissioner’s office. We work with communities across the county and region, focusing on protecting our inland lakes and the Great Lakes from pollution from stormwater runoff and sanitary sewer system spills to protecting our drinking water resources.”

The public will have the opportunity to ask a variety of questions ranging from aging infrastructure, water quality, stormwater to lakes. Home infrastructure tips, Oakland County Water Commissioner infrastructure projects, employment opportunities and the Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP) are some of the topics that Commissioner Nash will also cover.

Future infrastructure library discussions are scheduled for the following dates:

—Thursday, June 20, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., West Bloomfield Public Library, 4600 Walnut Road in West Bloomfield.

—Monday, July 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hazel Park Public Library, 123 Nine Mile Road in Hazel Park.

—Thursday, July 11, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Hazel Park Public Library, 123 Nine Mile Road in Hazel Park.

—Monday, July 15, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Bloomfield Township Public Library, 1099 Lone Pine Road in Bloomfield Township, Michigan. This is an appearance where commissioner will join Senator Rosemary Bayer.

—Thursday, September 12, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Ferndale Public Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road in Ferndale.

Additional fall library meetings in Pontiac, Madison Heights, and Southfield will be scheduled. Potential meetings are being considered in libraries in the communities of Novi, Northville, and Orion Township. For additional information about the ongoing infrastructure library discussions, contact Julia Ruffin at 248-858-1404 or by email at ruffinj@oakgov.com.