Genesee County is planning to build a connector to the Karegnondi Water Authority pipeline in order to start treating Lake Huron water and allow the city of Flint to continue receiving Detroit water.
The Flint Journal reports the county Water and Waste Services Advisory Board voted in support of the 7-mile connector Wednesday.
The connector would make it possible for Flint to keep buying pre-treated water from the Great Lake Water Authority until at least 2019. The county could then focus on treating raw Lake Huron water this year.
The connector construction is expected to begin in May and cost at least $12 million. County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright says the county would have to otherwise spend over $60 million on Great Lake Water Authority while waiting for Flint to decide on future permanent water sources.
