BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – On Thursday, July 23, the Northwestern Water and Sewer District’s (The District) Board of Trustees accepted the application from The Village of Grand Rapids to become a member. The vote follows the Grand Rapids Village Council’s July 13 decision to petition for membership.
Village officials made the decision to apply for membership after carefully weighing several challenges, including recruiting and retaining licensed water and wastewater operators, maintaining and replacing aging water and sewer infrastructure, meeting financial obligations, and improving system reliability.
“Growth in the Village may require additional sewer plant capacity and addressing that need on our own would create a financial burden. We really considered the long‑term responsibility of maintaining the system on our own,” said Grand Rapids Mayor John Berry.
This membership will give Grand Rapids access to The District’s licensed operators, equipment, and long‑term planning resources, helping ensure reliable water and sewer service for years to come.
According to District Board Chairman Douglas Miller, “While many communities seek District membership only after infrastructure has reached a critical point, we appreciate the foresight shown by Grand Rapids leaders. By acting now, the Village is taking a proactive step to improve and protect its water and sewer system.”
What happens next? The District will begin a 90-day transition period, residents can expect:
- District and Village staff working together on system inspections and planning
- More District vehicles and field crews in the community as inspections are conducted
- No immediate changes to billing, customer service phone numbers, or how to report outages
- Updates about any changes to billing, rates, or contact information will be provided as they are finalized
For now, Grand Rapids residents will continue to receive their water and sewer services and monthly bills from the Village of Grand Rapids. More information will be shared with residents as details are finalized.