POWELL TOWNSHIP WATER DEPARTMENT
EMERGENCY/CONTINGENCY PLAN
(Revised April, 2021)
In the event of an emergency: The Water Operator, Township Custodian, Township Supervisor and Emergency Manager should be made aware of emergency conditions immediately. The Water Operator and Township Custodian shall initiate legal and practical response to the emergency, in consultation with the Township Supervisor if possible.
As of : October, 2024
Water Operator: Open 906-345-9345 ext. 10
Township Custodian: Scott DeMoulin 906-345-9345 ext. 13
Township Supervisor: Darlene Turner 345-9467
Emergency Manager: Kim Bourgeois 362-7275
Boil Advisory:
In the event of pressure loss from a broken main, construction or other event, a boil water advisory shall be posted in the following locations and on the following radio and television stations:
Cram’s General Store -Lumberjack Tavern – Thunder Bay Inn – U.S. Post Office – Township Hall – Powell Township School – Bay Cliff health Camp – Perkins Park
Television Stations
WLUC – TV6 475-4161
WJMN – TV3 1-920-437-5411
WNMU – TV13 1-800-227-9668
Radio Stations
92.3 FM WJPD 225-1313 Hotline: 1-906-225-1440
107.7 FM WMQT 225-9100
90.1 FM WNMU 227-2600 Hotline: 1-800-227-9668
103.3 FM WFXD 227-8888
97.1 FM WGLQ 228-9700
101.9 FM WKQS 227-7777
94.1 FM WUPK 225-1313
Other Emergencies
In the event of any situation that may cause the water source to become contaminated or cause the Water Department to seek a secondary water source, the following persons and/or agencies need to be notified and/or consulted.
State of Michigan
DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Gwinn Office 1-906-346-8300
*DEQ Emergency Number 1-800-662-9278
Michigan’s 24 hour Pollution Emergency System (PEAS) 1-800-292-4706
Locally
Powell Twp. Fire Dept. 906-345-9400
Powell Twp. EMS
Tyler Vargo, Coordinator 362-0382
Water Sample Testing
After a pressure drop, pipeline break, construction, or other interruption of service, the Water Department must receive the results from two consecutive clean bacterial samples taken 24 hours apart before the system or the affected part of the system may go back on line. Water samples are sent to the DEQ Lab in Lansing. Always check the sample bottle for the holding time, especially if sending it to Lansing. Express mail may be required. During an emergency it is best to utilize the City of Marquette Lab on Lakeshore Blvd..This allows faster results, permitting the water system to go back on line sooner. It is best to call in advance and explain the situation so they will be expecting you. The people there have always been very cooperative when we have needed to utilize their facilities.
City of Marquette Lab 228-0488
D.E.Q. Lansing Lab 517-335-8184
Special Equipment in Powell Township
The Powell Township Water Department has a PRESSURE REDUCING VALVE that is stored on a shelf in the Township Custodian’s office. There are also TWO ELECTRIC WATER CHLORINATORS that are kept in a box on a shelf in the Township Garage.
Power Outages
Power outages are fairly frequent in Powell Township. When one occurs, the generator in the pump starts automatically. It must be tested periodically. The generator runs on propane. The propane storage tank should never fall below 40%, and should be filled before the onset of winter because of snow that may make it difficult to access. To order fuel, call Cram’s General Store 345-0075
During a power outage the telephone, in the township hall, alarms will have to be deactivated . The water level in the tower must be assessed. Use the depth chart in the pump house to determine the level of water in the tank when the power outage occurred. It can also be calculated by checking the pressure gauge in the water tower (11’= empty, 91’= overflow). Each pump produces about 33,000 gallons/hour and the water tower holds 25,000 gallons.
DURING THE WINTER, DO NOT LET THE TOWER WATER LEVEL EXCEED 65% FULL (14.3’) BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF FREEZING. IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE TOWER HAS ENOUGH WATER IN IT TO LAST AWHILE, TURN OFF THE GENERATOR AND CHECK BACK IN A FEW HOURS.
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