Kalamazoo targets degraded WTP No. 25 wells in $385,500 design contract

Kalamazoo targets degraded WTP No. 25 wells in $385,500 design contractKalamazoo’s Water Division has recommended appointing Jones & Henry Engineers to design the replacement of four deteriorating wells at Water Treatment Plant No. 25. The project would preserve the plant’s existing 1,800gpm wellfield withdrawal capacity, which supports a broad eastern service area through district interconnections.

The proposed $385,500 professional services agreement with Jones & Henry Engineers covers full-service design for replacement of Wells 5-8 at Water Treatment Plant No. 25.

The four existing wells have a combined 1,800gpm capacity, but their performance has degraded; they would be replaced by two 900gpm wells.

The 1978 plant near Campbell Lake in Comstock Township is a baseload station for Kalamazoo’s Eastside High and High Pressure districts.

Project funding is available from the city’s 2026 Water Capital Improvement Budget.

The item was listed on the October 5 consent agenda, but the supplied meeting transcript does not record a vote on the agreement.

Kalamazoo is moving to address deteriorating groundwater production assets at Water Treatment Plant No. 25, with a proposed $385,500 engineering agreement intended to restore the facility’s existing wellfield capacity. City staff recommended that the City Commission approve a professional services agreement with Jones & Henry Engineers, Ltd. for full-service design of the Wells 5-8 Replacement Project. The agreement was included as item G.5 on the commission’s October 5 consent agenda. However, the supplied transcript covers the preceding Committee of the Whole meeting and does not record a commission vote on the item. The work concerns four wells whose capacity and performance have degraded. Collectively, Wells 5, 6, 7 and 8 have 1,800 gallons per minute of capacity. Public Services proposes replacing them with two wells rated at 900gpm each, retaining the wellfield’s current total withdrawal capacity rather than increasing it. Each new well would be located within a well structure and equipped with associated piping and appurtenances. The city said the wells would be sized to minimise water velocity through the well screen, with a stated useful life of 40 to 60 years. Built in 1978 near Campbell Lake in Comstock Township, Water Treatment Plant No. 25 is a baseload station serving the Eastside High and High Pressure districts. It is identified by the city as the primary drinking-water source for Comstock Township, Richland Township, the Village of Richland, Cooper Township, Kalamazoo Township and the City of Kalamazoo. The facility also supplies the City of Parchment, the area of Portage north of I-94, Pavilion Township, Oshtemo Township and Texas Township through district interconnects. The proposed design contract is to be funded through Kalamazoo’s 2026 Water Capital Improvement Budget, under account wat0100016-04-988.000. The agenda report said Jones & Henry had performed well on other city projects and that Public Services recommended its appointment.