State statute allows residents to petition the Township Board to provide public utilities by establishing a special assessment district. This would allow the project costs to be assessed to the property owners in that district – the ones who would benefit from those public utilities. Upon receipt of a petition, the Board determines whether the project is necessary, determines the project boundaries, and estimates the total project cost as well as the exact cost to be assessed to each property. Two public hearings are afforded the owners within the district, allowing residents to continue or to withdraw the request.

The Township has consistently allowed the property owners’ costs for connection to utilities to be spread over a ten or fifteen year period of time. If you compare the cost of public utilities payable on a time basis to the cost of installing a new septic system or new well on a cash basis, public utilities can be more affordable.

WATER -- The current water connection cost for a single family residential customer with 100 feet of property frontage and not included in a special assessment district, is $3,300.00 (one-inch tap size). Payments for these connection costs may be spread over a ten year period, and can be billed with the yearly December tax. 

Every year, meeting strict deadlines, the Water Department must present its Annual Water Quality Reports to the State of Michigan.  These in-depth reports cover all sorts of things -- like where the water comes from and how it's processed, how much and what kind of impurities may have been found in the water, levels of minerals, whether there were any significant problems during the year, etc.  The same reports are also available to consumers by stopping by the Townhall, or by clicking on the highlighted links here on our website.

SEWER -- The current sewer connection cost for a single family residential customer with 100 feet of property frontage and not included in a special assessment district, is $4,750.00. Payments for these connection costs may be spread over a fifteen year period, and can also be billed with the yearly December tax.

Water/sewer bills are sent out quarterly in October, January, April, and July.  They are due by the 15th of the following month.  Mail payment to the Water and Sewer Department, Pere Marquette Townhall, 1699 S. Pere Marquette Hwy., Ludington, MI, 49431.  Payment may also be made at the Treasurer's office in the Townhall.  Please keep in mind, if you wish to pay your bill in cash, please bring exact change -- or close to it! -- as the Treasurer's office does not have change on hand for large denominations of currency.

If you would like more information regarding the current locations of public utilities or how to petition, please call Sara Shelly-McCallum at the Township offices, 845-1278 or the Water/Sewer Department at 845-7640.