The Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA) is the pet project of Jeff Wright, the Genesee County Water Resources Commissioner. “Karegnondi” is a Petan (Wyandot) Indian word meaning “big lake,” associated especially with Lake Huron, the source of KWA’s water.
The Authority is intended to provide potable water to communities in Genesee County and points eastward in Lapeer and Sanilac counties, along the pipeline from Lake Huron. It was created to replace service from the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department (DWSD) in those counties.
Wright and other promoters expect savings to residents and businesses in the service area to be significant, encouraging economic growth.
Construction of the water intake facility on Lake Huron just began. The intake contractor is L. D'Agostini & Sons Inc.
The entire project is scheduled to be completed in 2016. In the meantime, water will be drawn from the Flint River and treated or purchased from DWSD.
