In March of 1995 Lansing’s Board of Water and Light Partnered with Lansing Township’s West Side Water Department, entering into a wholesale water purchase agreement.
West Side Water had difficulty meeting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules on copper levels in the water. The Township evaluated three alternatives to enable the water system to meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
It was determined the most cost effective way was to purchase water from Lansing’s Board of Water & Light.
Under the terms of the contract Lansing Township would buy softened, fluoridated water from BWL. The Township would also sell 2 million gallons a day of untreated water to the BWL, offsetting some of the capitol costs.
After 4 months of construction, an interconnecting water line was completed. Total cost savings can be proven but difficult to measure; however, there were many implied benefits resulting from this collaboration and geographic consolidation and a quid pro quo relationship was launched. Township users were pleased because they were able to benefit from the use of softened, fluoridated water and were able to save money by selling their water softeners, and no longer were responsible for purchasing salt. All of this was accomplished at a monthly cost savings to township users.
Estimated savings are immeasurable and pale in comparison to the benefits West Side Water customers receive and that fact that Lansing Township is collaborating with a neighboring agency.