Water Services

Water Services Banner

The CBPU is committed to providing you with safe, clean, and reliable utility products and services. The Water Department currently offers four services. You can learn about each service below. 

To start, stop or change your service, please call our Customer Service Department at 517-279-9531. We're available Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5 PM or come to our office at One Grand Street, Coldwater.

Related Documents

BPU Water Building

Water Treatment

Coldwater's water treatment plant was designed to remove iron and manganese but not soften municipally supplied water. The water utility is protecting the water supply with a wellhead protection program. It is one of the first of its kind in the state of Michigan. The wellhead protection program identifies which lands impact the water-producing aquifer and establishes guidelines for informing the public and governmental agencies on protecting the watershed.  

Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF)

The CBPU's Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) is responsible for treating all residential and commercial sanitary sewage generated in the City limits. The main focus for the WRRF is to protect the environment by removing impurities in the water used by the community. Organic matter removed from wastewater is applied to agricultural land. The cleaned and filtered water is then returned to the environment through the local lake-chain.

The WRRF Department staff is responsible for repairs and maintenance to the equipment at the plant as well as monitoring and performing laboratory analysis on the sewage as it undergoes treatment. The treated sewage must meet stringent State and Federal Standards before it can be discharged. The plant is responsible for treating 8 million gallons of wastewater per day. 

History of the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF)

The first wastewater treatment plant was constructed in Coldwater in 1951-52. It consisted of primary treatment, secondary biological trickling filters, final settling, and anaerobic digestion of sludge solids. It provided the community with a treatment capacity of 1.5 MGD (million gallons per day). All of the original 1951-52 plant components are still in use today, with major upgrades occurring in 1972, 1986, 1990, and 2001. The plant now treats 3.2 MGD on an average daily basis and peak flows up to 8.0 MGD. Major improvements over the years have included:

  • Advanced wastewater filtration
  • All new pumping facilities
  • Chemical phosphorus removal
  • Fine bubble activated sludge secondary treatment
  • New headworks building with improved grit removal
  • One million gallon sludge storage tank
  • Renovation of the original trickling filters
  • State-certified water quality control laboratory
  • State-of-the-art instrumentation and alarm system (SCADA)
  • Ultraviolet disinfection

These improvements have been funded through Federal, State, and local funds. In 1972, the U.S. Congress passed amendments to the Water Pollution Control Act which required communities to upgrade their wastewater treatment plants. The Congress provided substantial financial assistance to help with this phase of construction. Since then, all the improvements have been funded through locally-funded bond issues. The total investment in this facility is over $10,000,000.

Water Resource Recovery Facility
Hydrant Flushing Banner

Hydrant Flushing

The CBPU performs City wide hydrant flushing twice a year. Flushing will start with ward 1, then 4, 2 and finally 3. We recommend doing laundry once crews have flushed hydrants in your area. Also, this is a good time to flush hot water heaters - improving the quality and efficiency. Motorists should use caution in and around areas where hydrant operation is taking place. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 517-279-9531. 

Septage Receiving

The Coldwater Board of Public Utilities Wastewater Treatment Plant has a dedicated receiving facility to accept domestic septage from Branch County for treatment hauled by licensed septage haulers. All septage haulers that use the facility are issued a key card that gives them access to the receiving station. With this system, billing is based on the gallons received, as measured by the flow meter incorporated in the automated dump station. This automated station allows the wastewater treatment plant staff to monitor the receiving station through its SCADA computer system.

Note: No commercial waste nor grease trap waste will be accepted.

Receiving Station
The receiving station hours of operation are:
Monday - Friday
8:00 A.M. - 3:45 P.M. EST

Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays
8:00 A.M. - 11:45 A.M. EST

For further information call the wastewater treatment plant at 517-278-4118.