The historic Saginaw Water Treatment Plant faces an uncertain future as city officials work to determine if the historic plant will live beyond its fast approaching 100-year anniversary.
The plant is one of the largest in Michigan, treating about 52 million gallons of water every day. It pumps water to 20 communities throughout the Saginaw Bay region, serving about 170,000 customers.
Saginaw’s water department partnered with Fishbeck Engineering to conduct a comprehensive study that would help determine the long-term future of the plant.
Michael Grenier is the director of water and waste water treatment services for the city of Saginaw. He said the study found much of the building’s piping and custom equipment from the 1920s needs replacing, but the plant’s concrete structure is in good condition.
“We don't have fancy problems, so we didn't need fancy solutions,” Grenier said. “We just need some newer ones.”
Before the study commenced, Saginaw officials requested that an alternative plan be devised to transform the plant into a commercial venue in case the city decided to relocate the treatment operation.
Ultimately, the study found it would be $150 million cheaper to restore the aging plant than it would be to break ground on a new facility with the same capability. The proposed updates would cost at least $400 million and require a decade of construction.
Locals say the waterworks are more than just a treatment plant. Its gothic architecture makes it known landmark in the community. The structure also houses several water treatment antiques and pieces of historic artwork.
Grenier said while the study was underway, the city took great care in evaluating how to preserve the plant’s value.
“When I took this job three years ago, my predecessor told me two things,” Grenier said. “He said, one, don't screw up your budget. The other one was don't wreck Christmas.”
Barbara Sheltraw is with Positive Results Downtown Saginaw, the group that organizes the city’s annual Christmas time festivities. For almost three decades, the waterworks has been lit up to serve as the crown jewel of Saginaw’s holiday season.
“For the last two years, we did open it up and have Santa inside, which excited a lot of people, especially older people,” Sheltraw said. “They would go, 'oh gosh, I haven't been in here in years.' It’s a core institution of the city of Saginaw.”
Sheltraw herself has fond memories of visiting the waterworks. She said she thinks the facility should be restored rather than replaced.
“It can't move any place else,” she said. “It won't have the same memory and it won't have the same feeling.”
Saleem Mannan, another Saginaw native, said he thinks the plant should be restored because of its historic value.
“How can you turn your back on something that's been over there 100 years providing high-quality water [with] all the [water] controversy that's taken place in this state?” Mannan said.
In 2023, Michigan was handed disappointing grades on a report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers. The state earned a D+ for drinking water and a C for wastewater systems.
In the time since, the Department of Energy, Great Lakes and Environment has been expanding its investments in water infrastructure through the MI Clean Water Plan, providing over $2.8 billion in drinking and wastewater treatment investments statewide.
EGLE has supported several high-profile water infrastructure projects through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and other state appropriations. In 2025, these investments included multi-million-dollar projects for facilities in Lansing, Mackinaw Island and Reed City.
The city of Saginaw recently received $15 million in state funding for a new 3-million-gallon water tower, which was completed last year.
Grenier said officials are waiting to secure funding before following through with the plan. Part of it will be funded from revenue, but the amount needed is too large to pull from customers’ water bills.
“We should be able to score some money from the state through some of their programs,” he said. “Maybe we have to score some money from the feds through some of their programs. And we're setting up meetings with our legislators and things like that to start that ball rolling.”
If the plant is restored, Grenier said the city wants to open it up to more public events and increase community access.
