Ann Arbor Water

Wondering where, and how, you could build a rain garden? Get an expert consultation in your own yard.Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner staff give advice to homeowners to design and install rain gardens on their property. Residents who build a rain garden after the consultation can receive a free rain garden sign and t-shirt.

The Huron River receives fewer fertilizers, chemicals, and other harmful runoff. Each residential rain garden does its part. Altogether, residential rain gardens in Washtenaw County capture more than 20 million gallons of water a year - preventing pollution and sewer overflows.

Schedule a free visit for drainage and rain garden advice in your yard. To schedule please book us online at MasterRainGardener.org.

Funding for this program is provided by the City of Ann Arbor.

Last spring, staff at the Water Treatment Plant spent three days collecting debris from Barton Dam, and what they found told a familiar story. Plastics, wrappers, and fragments of all kinds had made their way into one of our most important drinking water sources, carried there by wind, rain, and everyday carelessness.

Rather than simply disposing of the debris, Water Treatment Plant employees Nick Baran and Mark MacArthur transformed it into something far more powerful: two hands-on educational displays that show visitors exactly how common litter breaks down into microplastics over time. Since then, those displays have become a centerpiece of our facility tours, helping guests of all ages understand why source water protection matters and how their habits connect directly to the water flowing from their taps.

One of the displays earned a wider audience as part of a display at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History as part of a special exhibit on microplastics, which opened this past March and will run for a full year.

Streets can have several storm drains, which all play an important role in managing the rain that falls in Ann Arbor. Storm drains move water from streets into the city’s stormwater system, which deposits rain water into the Huron River. But storm drains work best when they are free of debris.

Looking after a storm drain in your neighborhood is a great way to spend time outdoors while helping contribute to cleaner, safer water in the community. Take part in protecting local rivers and streams, and reducing localized flooding, by adopting a storm drain today!

Learn more at www.a2gov.org/stormwater and via the city’s partner, the Huron River Watershed Council.

2026 is one of Ann Arbor's busiest construction seasons in memory. Much of what gets built or maintained this year runs underground, unseen but essential, touching every resident every single day who turns the tap, flushes the toilet or watches rain fall.

• 11 major infrastructure projects involving water underway
• 30+ feet underground — the deepest shaft being dug on First Street
• 100+ years old — some water mains being replaced this year

For information on these and other projects, please visit Engage Ann Arbor. 

Sewer Trunkline Capacity Improvements, First and Washington

A tunneling machine will drill more than 30 feet underground along First Street and Washington Street to install a new 5-foot diameter conduit — big enough to house a 3-foot sanitary sewer pipe inside it. The project expands sewer capacity to support U-M's new Central Campus residential complex, opening Fall 2026. The First & Washington intersection will be closed for the duration of construction.

Ann Street Improvements, North First to North Fifth

A century-old, undersized water main gets replaced with a new 12-inch main. Oversized infiltrating storm sewers will capture the first inch of rainfall — pulling runoff out of the stressed Allen Creek watershed and sending it back into the earth. New concrete bump-outs, replaced trees, and a resurfaced road round out the project.

Ingalls/Kingsley Water Main and State to Ingalls

An aging, break-prone 6-inch main is upsized to a 12-inch main to improve reliability and water pressure. The project also resurfaces streets and is considering restoring two-way traffic on Kingsley Street between State and Ingalls.

North University and Thayer Improvements

Two aging water mains become one. A new infiltration trench filters stormwater into the aquifer instead of sending it directly to the Huron River. Eastbound transit gets a dedicated lane, complementing the northbound transit lane on State Street completed in Fall 2025. Cyclists keep their bike lanes. A new raised crosswalk at Ingalls Mall improves pedestrian safety.

Packard Street from South Main to State

A new 12-inch water main replaces aging infrastructure under Packard. The street is resurfaced, sidewalk ramps are brought up to ADA standards, signals at Fourth and Fifth are upgraded to mast arm standards, and the quick-build bike lanes become permanent, all aligned with the city's Vision Zero plan.

Arbordale and Sherwood Streets

Ten-plus water main breaks in 15 years have made replacement unavoidable. Cast iron out, ductile iron in, upsized from 6 to 8 inches. Storm structures are replaced, the road is resurfaced, and new speed management devices are added to protect pedestrians and cyclists. A new fire hydrant fills a coverage gap.

South Maple Road Water Pressure, Breckenridge to Country Village Court

Low water pressure on the west side of South Maple gets addressed with a new 8-inch looping main and check valves at both ends, a targeted fix for a longstanding reliability issue.

Pittsfield Village Utility and Road Improvements

One of the most comprehensive projects of the season, touching every system at once. New storm infrastructure and detention ponds tackle surface flooding that has long plagued the neighborhood. Larger sanitary pipes and curb drains reduce the risk of basement backups. Water mains are upsized to improve fire protection and minimize service disruptions if a break occurs. And individual water meters replace outdated master meters on condominiums, giving residents and the city much better visibility into water use and a faster path to detecting leaks.

Nixon Corridor Complete Road Reconstruction

A full corridor rebuild that goes well below the surface, new water main and stormwater infrastructure accompany the complete road reconstruction, ensuring the street is built right from the ground up.

Medford / Needham / Buckingham: Pattengill Neighborhood

A continuation of multi-year investments in the Pattengill neighborhood, aging drinking water pipes replaced, stormwater infrastructure repaired to clear up chronic street drainage problems, and roads in poor condition brought back to life. Each year's work builds on the last.

Packard at Mallets Creek Water Main Replacement

A targeted but high-impact swap: the aging 12-inch cast iron main here is replaced with a 14-inch HDPE pipe, stronger, more flexible, and sized for the future. Getting the utilities right now also sets up the corridor for the planned Packard resurfacing project in 2027, avoiding a second round of excavation just a year later.

Did you know that the Ann Arbor Water Treatment Plant conducts ongoing research to improve the quality and reliability of your drinking water? This year, our work earned national recognition at the American Water Works Association’s Water Quality Technology Conference, where our team, led by Rebecca Lahr, the city’s Drinking Water Quality Manager, delivered five presentations—a notable achievement for a single utility. Our presence at this conference underscores Ann Arbor Water’s leadership in drinking water science and our active role in advancing best practices across the industry.

While we continue to meet all state and federal drinking water regulations, our commitment goes further. Research helps us refine our treatment processes, prepare for future challenges, and ensure that residents benefit from the latest advancements in water technology.

Current projects include:

• Evaluating our UV disinfection system to optimize performance
• Exploring new softening technologies as we plan upgrades to our historic 1930s softening basins
• Studying treatment approaches for emerging contaminants, ensuring we stay ahead of evolving water quality issues
• Improving the efficiency and reliability of our data management systems

Our research efforts bring together a strong team of Ann Arbor Water staff, University of Michigan faculty, staff, and students, along with experts from Jacobs and AECOM. We extend our thanks to all our collaborators for their partnership and contributions.

Together, we are working to ensure that Ann Arbor’s drinking water remains safe, reliable, and resilient for years to come.

You may not realize that the City of Ann Arbor already softens your drinking water, removing minerals at the treatment plant and carefully balancing what remains to protect a household’s plumbing.

Here’s the trick: When water leaves our plant, its chemistry is tuned to build a thin, protective mineral coating inside pipes. That tiny layer of scale—usually a white or tan calcium carbonate film—helps keep metals from leaching into your drinking water. We post daily data on calcium, alkalinity, pH and other measures that keep this balance just right.

So where do home water softeners come in?

Some residents choose to soften their water even further. That’s fine—but it does change the water chemistry after it enters your home. And when chemistry changes, your pipes notice.

A softener removes calcium, which is one of the key ingredients for that protective scale. Without it, the water flowing through your indoor plumbing may become more corrosive. This matters especially if you have:

• Older brass faucets (pre-2014) that may contain lead
• Copper pipes joined with lead solder

In these cases, an overly softened water supply can increase the chance of metals dissolving into your tap water.

If you choose to install a softener, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and keep an eye on your plumbing for signs of corrosion. If you’re seeing white scale on faucets or in your dishwasher, that’s normal and easily removed with vinegar or a limescale cleaner.

For more information about protecting your home plumbing, visit our Lead and Copper webpage: www.a2gov.org/lcr

If you have more questions about your tap water, check out our Drinking Water FAQ to learn about:

• Tracking water use or leak alerts with AquaHawk
• What faucet aerators are—and how to clean them
• Why backflow prevention matters
• What to do if your water looks, tastes, or smells “off”
• And much more

On Dec. 10, staff responded to reports of mysterious foam along Liberty Road near Zion Church. Out of an abundance of caution, city crews placed absorbent booms to capture any possible contaminants and collected samples of the sudsy substance for testing. 

Our initial investigation identified a far less alarming—though surprisingly fascinating—culprit. The bubbles appear to be saponins, natural compounds released from the seed pods of the many honey locust trees lining the corridor. When the pods or leaves get soaked and agitated (say, after a rainstorm), they can foam up in a way that looks straight out of a car wash.

Fun fact: the Asian relative of the honey locust, Gleditsia sinensis, is sometimes called the “soap pod” tree because its bark and seeds were traditionally used as a natural cleanser. So, while it’s not exactly a new cleaning product on the market, nature seems to be creating a street based bubble bath.

Test results that came in later supported our first impression, low level surfactants from the seed pods. 

Winter can mean slippery surfaces. Therefore, residents and property owners are responsible for clearing snow/ice from adjacent sidewalks, crosswalk ramps and bus stops. 

Keeping sidewalks safe can be aided by a variety by de-icing products. Ultimately each de-icing option has benefits, limitations and drawbacks.

Salt can be the least expensive and is the most abundant material for ridding surfaces of ice. However, its effectiveness drops as walking surfaces fall below 18 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, overuse can pollute water supplies.

The city provides city residents with up to 5 gallons of a sand/salt mixture, per visit at these locations:

• ​Veterans Memorial Park
• Gallu​p Park
• All​mendinger Park
• Buhr Park
• Burns Park
• Leslie Park ​

Residents should bring their own shovel and bucket, and load material themselves from the ​marked pile. This material is not for contractors. ​For more information, and maps to help you find the material, please visit www.a2gov.org/snow.   

There are several kinds of non-toxic materials available for purchase, which if you have pets, can be a good choice. Some solutions, like products containing calcium chloride (CaCl2), can melt snow at lower temperatures, is less harmful to plants and animals, but eats into metal and concrete. In addition, CaCl2 binds to water and can’t be separated, which has the potential to do permanent harm to the environment.

Products that contain potassium acetate can block ice from forming at very low temperatures, are noncorrosive and biodegradable, however, these products lower oxygen levels in water and can harm fish and plants in our waterways.

Various brines can help prevent ice from sticking to surfaces, alternatively using a bit of sugar in salt can lower the temperature at which it’s effective. When in doubt, the best course of action is to use as little de-icer as possible and, if feasible, use physical labor to remove ice or snow.

Winter can cause havoc on anything at your residence that carries water. Check pipes and all spigots on the outside of your home during extreme cold spells to prevent them from freezing.

Here are some winter tips to remember:

• For pipes located within cabinets, open the doors to allow warm air to circulate. If you have young children, move chemicals or cleaners so they remain out of reach.
• Insulate any outdoor spigots or pipes.
• Let your faucet drip to keep water moving through pipes.
• Set your thermostat to the same temperature day and night. A slightly higher heating bill is far less expensive than the expense of a broken pipe and possible flooding.
• If you are away from home, set your thermostat no lower than 55 degrees.
• In the long term, consider moving exposed pipes inside and adding insulation to pipes in crawl spaces and attics.

Did you know that as a resident of Michigan you’re never more than 85 miles from a Great Lake? In fact, living in Michigan means you’re never more than six miles away from a body of water! Rivers, lakes, streams, creeks, water is always right at your fingertips. Which all means it is critical we’re always thinking about ways to protect it, both for our ecosystem and for drinking.

Learn how the city is using a One Water approach to plan and protect our source waters.