City of Dowagiac - Water Treatment Plant

Project Information

This project will replace our existing water treatment plant, which was constructed in the 1970’s. The work is being completed as part of a funding opportunity from the State of Michigan. The new WTP will result in more reliable removal of iron, and will not result in a decrease of pressure or flow in the system.

The new WTP will be located on New York Ave, south of Chestnut. The contractor RK Davis is planning to set up construction fencing and begin tree removal and grading in October 2025. They hope to complete the building enclosure and work inside during the winter and through 2026, and must be complete by April of 2027.

As part of the project, we will be working in New York Ave on moving utilities and connecting the new WTP to the existing water system.

Access/Traffic:

Access will be maintained to driveways on New York Ave. If construction is required blocking access, RK Davis will make every attempt to re-open the driveway(s) by the end of the day.

Mail:

Mail delivery, water service, and garbage pickup will not be affected by the project.

Contact

P&N Engineer
Ernie Sarkipato, Project Manager
616-364-8491 (Company Main)

P&N Construction Observer
TBD

Contractor
RK Davis
Scott Coburn
616-870-0024 (Company Main)

Client
Matt Newton, DPS Director
269-782-2195 (City Hall)

Progress Report:

The winter weather has slowed progress, but not stopped! The final concrete pour on the WTP foundation happened on February 3, 2026.

Upcoming Work:

While the contractor waits for blocks to be delivered to start on the walls, they will be focusing on the concrete detention tank that sits adjacent to the WTP.

Progress Report: Crews have started to pour the concrete walls of the foundation. This requires an additional pumper truck to lift the concrete into the forms, as seen in the photos.

Upcoming Work:  Continued work on the foundation.

Progress Report:

Work continues on the new Water Treatment Plant, even in the snow! The contractor continues to work on the building foundations.

Upcoming Work:

As progress on the concrete foundation continues, we hope to see walls start to go up in early 2026.

Progress Report: Crews are busy working on the new Water Treatment Plant! The treatment building and aeration tank are taking shape, with forms going in and pipes running into and out of the buildings.

Upcoming Work: The contractor intends to work into the winter to get the building enclosed, with the filters planned for installation in summer of 2026.

The contractor team continues to grade the site to capture stormwater runoff, and is working to install pipe underneath the buildings and excavate for foundations.

Progress Report:

The site has been cleared of vegetation, and the buried gas service has been moved to the other side of New York Avenue.

Upcoming Work:

The contractor is installing erosion control, temporary fencing, and will be using heavy machinery to start construction on the site. In addition, the utility poles will be moved to the other side of New York Avenue starting this week.

Progress Report: We are making way for the construction of a new Water Treatment Plant located at 505 New York Avenue. The work so far has included removal of two residential structures. After removing the foundations, the site was graded to get ready for the new building.

Upcoming Work: This week, we will be working in New York Avenue to move electrical utilities and buried natural gas lines, which will include removal of some trees on the north side of the road. In a couple weeks, we will be installing temporary construction fencing and removing additional trees and brush on the south side of New York Avenue.