The pipes keep breaking while the promises keep coming

KALAMAZOO — Another water main break. The city crews came out Tuesday to dig up Tamrack Street and Fir Avenue, working through frozen ground and rushing water to restore service in the neighborhood.

This is the latest in what has become an annual pattern: 25 water main breaks in 2026 so far, according to the Department of Public Services. Around this time last year, there were approximately 50 breaks — a decline officials attribute in part to proactive pipe replacement and lining projects.

But the city's own numbers tell a different story. Kalamazoo had 70 water main breaks as of February 27, 2025. That's about two per day since then, Public Services Director James Baker said.

"We're prioritizing getting water restored to customers," Baker said. "Crews are working overtime to stay on and complete those main break repairs."

Every break brings another expense. Digging up the street to access water mains requires asphalt patching. City commissioners approved a $316,000 contract with A1 Asphalt to repair such roads during its March 3, 2025 meeting. When the city plans road work, it prioritizes areas with older water mains in need of replacement, Baker said.

"A water main break can unexpectedly close down any city street for repairs at any time," Baker explained. "That's the difference between planned work and emergency repairs."

The aging pipes are decades old

State officials say aging infrastructure and shifting soil are primary causes of water main breaks. Current frost depths of three feet or more can further contribute to those conditions, according to a department statement sent to News Channel 3.

"Some cast iron pipes beneath the city are estimated to be between 62 and 85 years old," the department said. These increasing likelihood of failures as temperatures fluctuate.

Although the recent break did not result in a boil water advisory, officials say those notices are commonly issued when water pressure must be temporarily reduced to complete repairs or connect new pipes.

"Public water systems are typically kept under constant pressure to prevent outside contaminants from entering," the department explained. "When pressure drops, the system becomes less protected — prompting precautionary advisories while testing is completed."

During that time, affected residents are advised to boil tap water for at least two minutes before consuming it or use bottled water. City crews perform two separate rounds of water quality testing before lifting an advisory.

The city promises major upgrades

Despite the constant emergency repairs, the city is promoting a $770 million water quality and system reliability improvement plan. Public Services Director James Baker told city commissioners in December that drinking water rates are expected to rise 5% to 7% per year over the next five years to fund these improvements.

The city is investing more than $2.5 million in odor reduction at the Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant in the coming year. It also plans to implement a sludge-drying process in the plant in 2026, which will save the city about $15 million a year on sludge disposal. Wastewater rate increases will drop when the sludge project is complete in 2031.

But the most prominent project is a $60 million Eastside Water Treatment and Water Main Project, scheduled to begin September 8, 2025. The project includes:

  • Construction of a new $50 million treatment facility
  • $10 million in water main replacements
  • Removal of PFAS, iron, and manganese
  • Consolidation of water stations

"Construction of the new treatment plant will occur between 2025 and 2028," the city said in a release. "The project is expected to fully be completed by November 2028, with work expected to begin no later than spring 2026."

Funding for the project is being provided through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, a state loan program. Without any financial assistance, the city would have needed to raise water rates significantly more.

The corrosion control switch

In late February 2026, the city announced another change: transitioning from polyphosphate to orthophosphate treatment. Since 1956, the city has used phosphate treatment to control corrosion and sequester naturally occurring iron in drinking water.

"After nearly a decade of study and testing, the City, working in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, will transition to what they are calling a more optimized corrosion control approach tailored to Kalamazoo's groundwater chemistry and water system," the city said.

The new treatment will primarily use orthophosphate, which is more effective at forming a protective lining on the inside of pipes. The protective lining is designed to reduce direct contact between water and metal surfaces, significantly lowering the risk of metals, especially lead, leaching into drinking water from older pipes, service lines, plumbing solder, or fixtures.

In addition to this treatment update, the City of Kalamazoo plans to replace every lead water service line in the system. The total project investment is approximately $13 million, funded through the City's water utility and supported by customer water rates.

During the transition, some customers may notice temporary aesthetic changes, such as discolored water. The city says those changes are not a health concern and may occur when mineral deposits inside pipes are disturbed. Discoloration does not affect the safety of the drinking water.

Customers can find a searchable rollout map at www.kalamazoocity.org/CorrosionControl.

The rates keep climbing

With new rates in place, city customers can expect to pay about $69 a month for water and sewer in 2026, up from $64 per month in 2025. Township residents will pay another $4.40 per month.

"That's about $2.38 more a month for drinking water and $2.02 to $2.69 more a month for sewer services," Public Services Director James Baker said.

The increases will fund modernization of the water treatment system across the city. Wastewater rate increases will drop when the sludge project is complete in 2031.

What residents are experiencing

The disconnect is stark. Residents are dealing with:

  • 25 water main breaks in 2026 so far
  • Unexpected street closures for emergency repairs
  • Boil water advisories when pressure drops during repairs
  • Discolored water from flushing old pipes
  • Rising rates every year

Meanwhile, the city is promising:

  • A $770 million infrastructure plan
  • Completion of a $60 million Eastside treatment plant by November 2028
  • Replacement of all lead service lines
  • Sludge-drying process that will save $15 million annually
  • Transition to orthophosphate treatment

The city replaced over 8 miles of water main in 2024 and is planning to replace 2.7 miles of water main this year. In addition to replacement, the city plans to line 1.7 miles of pipes in the Knollwood neighborhood with a fiberglass-reinforced plastic this spring.

The question remains: will these investments prevent the next wave of water main breaks, or will Kalamazoo residents continue paying higher rates for repairs that happen anyway?

Sources

  • https://wwmt.com/news/local/kalamazoo-water-main-breaks-aging-infrastructure-winter-strain-system-boil-advisory-residents-city-west-michigan-old-pipes-frost-weather
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2025/03/kalamazoo-already-has-more-water-main-breaks-in-2025-than-all-of-2024.html
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2025/12/see-how-much-your-kalamazoo-water-sewer-bills-will-go-up-in-2026.html
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2024/05/theres-pfas-in-kalamazoos-drinking-water-the-city-needs-51m-to-address-it.html
  • https://wkzo.com/2026/02/20/893092/