The city of South Haven is getting ready to install a new one million gallon water tank near its public works building after about a year of preparations.
South Haven Public Works Director Dana Burd tells us a $9 million federal ARPA grant has helped make the new tank possible.
“We were able to secure some grant funding to demolish an old storage tank that’s about 100 years old,” Burd said. “It served the community well, but it was time to replace that.”
The tank will supply water to about 5,000 properties served by the South Haven Area Water-Sewer Authority, which consists of the city, South Haven Township, and Casco Township. Burd says the plan is to hoist the tank up to the top of its concrete pedestal this Friday as long as the weather allows. It’ll stand at 160 feet tall.
The tank was painted with the city logo and imagery of the lighthouse.
“We felt like the lighthouse and kind of the lakeshore feel was a great fit for South Haven. And so it was a great time to decide on a nice logo for the community because it’s something that we’re all going to have to look at every day. And it’s something that we want to be proud of, and it reminds us of what we like about the community.”
The elevated tower is expected to serve as a welcoming beacon, visible from nearby I-196 and Blue Star Highway.
Burd says the project is part of a larger $42 million capital improvement effort focused on water and sewer infrastructure being done over the next three years. He says grant opportunities made much of the long-needed work possible.
Photo: city staff, council members, and members of the South Haven Area Water-Sewer Authority pose in front of the tank Monday.
