Episode 04: Ann Arbor's Water Growth Gamble
Is Ann Arbor gambling with its water future? This episode of the A2 Pause The Plan-cast dives into the massive discrepancy between the city's draft land use plan (CLUP) population projections and official regional forecasts, and what it could mean for our water and wastewater systems.
Topics Covered:
Wildly Different Growth Numbers: Examining the CLUP's projected 52-80% population surge versus SEMCOG's prediction of only 9% growth by 2050.
Water System Capacity: Understanding the current limits of Ann Arbor's water and wastewater treatment plants.
The Multi-Billion Dollar Question: Discussing the potential need for enormous, costly infrastructure expansion based on the CLUP's disputed figures.
Conflicting Goals: How does pushing for growth align with water conservation efforts and managing system revenue?
Resident Concerns & Recent Data: Revisiting resident questions about the CLUP's data and looking at new stats suggesting smaller household sizes, not explosive growth.
We explore the risks of basing critical, expensive infrastructure decisions on potentially flawed projections and question the sustainability of the CLUP's vision for Ann Arbor's water resources.
Ann Arbor deserves what other forward-thinking cities expect and receive. That is a plan built on real community conversations, accurate data, and realistic projections which provide clear pathways to reach our common goals. 💙
From the Ann Arbor Neighborhood Network (A2N2) – A community-driven organization committed to enhancing local engagement and encouraging all Ann Arbor residents to actively participate in city life and governance.
