City of Dewitt

City Services

Municipal Water

Approximately half of the City is provided with municipal water services. The City’s municipal water system dates to the early 1970s when the first water mains were installed as part of the Millbrook Meadows subdivision. Since then, the system has been expanded through either private development with residential subdivisions or through projects undertaken by the City.

In 2000, the City of DeWitt and DeWitt Charter Township entered into a cooperative agreement with the Lansing Board of Water and Light (BWL) for providing municipal water services to the City and Township. Residents in the City on the municipal water system now receive conditioned, fluoridated water supplied by the BWL.

Although the City of DeWitt owns the municipal water mains and hydrants located in the City, the BWL is responsible for operating and maintaining the municipal water system. BWL is responsible for reading meters and sending monthly service bills. For more information about the municipal water system and water services please visit the BWL website or call (517) 702-6006 for more information.

Sanitary Sewer

Most of the City is provided with municipal sanitary sewer services. The City’s original sanitary sewer system was constructed during the early 1960s. Through public and private development, this system has been expanded to a point where most of the City is provided municipal sanitary sewer services.

Sanitary sewage generated in the City is treated at the Clean Water Plant, which is operated by the Southern Clinton County Municipal Utilities Authority (SCCMUA). SCCMUA was formed in the mid-1970s by the City of DeWitt and Bath, DeWitt, and Watertown Charter Townships to address the need for a regional wastewater treatment plant. SCCMUA is also responsible for contractually operating and maintaining the sanitary sewer systems in these four communities.

Construction of the Clean Water Plan started in September 1978 with the plant going into operation in October 1980. The Clean Water Plant cost approximately $11,000,000 to construct and is capable of treating up to 5,000,000 gallons of sanitary sewage a day. The City owns approximately twelve percent of the treatment capacity in the Clean Water Plant.

SCCMUA discharges into the Looking Glass River in Clinton County and maintains a current National Pollutant Discharge Eliminating System permit. The operation of SCCMUA is governed by a ten-member Board of Commissioners comprised of individuals representing the four constituent municipalities. The City has one representative on this board.

The City’s sanitary sewage collection system is comprised of several miles of sanitary sewer lines, force mains, and three pumping stations. Residents are billed quarterly for sanitary sewer services based on an adopted residential equivalent unit (REU) schedule. Further information about the City sanitary sewer system, SCCMUA, and the Clean Water Plant may be obtained by visiting the SCCMUA website.

Yard Waste & Recycling

Granger Seasonal Yard Waste Program: Weekly collection, every Wednesday from the first Wednesday in April to the last Wednesday in November. You may use your own container (marked with an “X”) or brown paper compost yard waste bags.

Collection begins – Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

Granger Bulk Item Pick-Up

A bulk item is a large item that does not easily fit in your cart, such as an appliance or piece of furniture. No tires please! Anything with Freon must be paid to Granger in advance. Call Granger to arrange payment for Freon at 517-372-2800.

Granger has a side-arm loading system and it may be difficult for your large item to be picked up the same day as your trash. If your item is too big or too bulky a separate truck will be sent out the next day to pick it up. Please leave the item street side.

SPECIAL BULK GLASS ITEMS: Patio doors, mirrors, or glass table tops can be placed alongside your trash container as a large item. Please wrap your glass item in heavy, strong tape or enclose the entire item in cardboard, an old throw-away blanket, tarp, or similar material, then wrap the additional tape around the outside of the packaging. If the glass is broken, please carefully remove any loose pieces and place the broken glass in a cardboard box, seal up and label the box “glass” and set it next to your cart. Granger appreciates the extra effort and it ensures the safety of their drivers.

2025 Trash & Recycling Calendar 

Tree Planting & Trimming

Routine Tree Maintenance

Under the direction of the Tree Commission, the City annually hires a professional tree trimming company to trim trees located in the public right-of-way.

The City is divided into quadrants with trimming completed in each quadrant every four years. Each year additional trimming is completed on trees located outside of the specified quadrant that have been determined to pose a risk to public safety.

If you are aware of a tree that needs to be trimmed due to safety concerns, please contact City Hall so that it can be trimmed.

Tree Removal

Trees in the public-right-of-way are generally removed by the City, due to the condition of the tree. Periodically, a resident will desire that a tree in front of their home be removed.

It is against the City Code for a resident to remove a tree without City permission.

Applications for a permit to remove a public tree are available at City Hall or online -> Tree Removal Request Form. The application must be approved by the Tree Commission before a tree may be removed by the resident.

Tree Planting

Although residents are encouraged to plant trees within the tree lawn in front of their home, remember that a tree-planting permit must first be granted by the City. Applications for planting trees within the right-of-way are available at City Hall and online -> Tree Planting Request Form

The purpose of the permitting process is to make sure that the type of tree that is planted is not prohibited in the City and that the tree is planted in a location that does not interfere with site distance and visibility or public utilities.

The City of DeWitt maintains a recommended and prohibited tree species list that identifies trees that can be planted in the street right-of-way and on other City properties as follows:


Recommended Species

American Beech
London Plane
Bradford Pear
Scarlet, Red, or English Oaks
Sycamore
Flowering Crab
Thornless Honey Locust
Linden


Prohibited Species

Alder
Elm, Siberia
Ash (Fraxinus)
Maple, silver
Birch, paper
Mulberry
Black Locust
Poplars
Boxelder
Tree of Heaven
Buckthorn
Willow, weeping
Willow, all other species
Catalpa
Cottonwood

Snow Plowing

Snow plowing of City streets is governed by the City’s Snow Plowing and Removal Policy, revised on September 22, 1999. This policy calls for the following course of action in removing snow. Please do not shovel, blow or push snow into streets.

  • Bridge Street/DeWitt Road from just north of I-69 to the North City Limits.
  • Main Street from Schavey Road to East City Limits.
  • Schavey Road between Herbison and Howe.
  • East Webb Drive from Bridge Street to East City Limits.
  • Wilson Street from Main to North City Limits.
  • Herbison Road from Sandhill Drive to Turner Street.
  • Downtown area (Franklin, Washington, Scott, and Jefferson Streets and all streets and parking spaces contained within).
  • All remaining streets and cul-de-sacs within the City.
  • City Hall/Police and Fire Authority parking lots by 7:45 a.m. Monday – Friday
  • Department of Public Services (DPS) sidewalks and Parking Lots
  • Riverside parking lot and sidewalk to restroom building.
  • Snow on bridges
  • Sidewalks
  • Cemetery roads
  • Parks parking lots
  • Haul snow from DDA
  • Trails (generally a low priority)
  • Repairing Mailboxes
  • Haul away snow from cul-de-sacs and roads when needed.

Snow Removal From Sidewalks & Maintenance

Property owners are responsible for removing snow and ice from the sidewalk in front or on the side of their properties. Snow and ice must be removed within twenty-four hours after a snowfall.

Property owners are responsible for maintaining and keeping in good repair any sidewalk that abuts or is adjacent to their property. This includes replacing sidewalk squares that have heaved or cracked. No sidewalk may be repaired without first securing a construction permit from the City.

Snow Removal From Sidewalks & Maintenance

Please help your mail carriers by shoveling the snow from around your mailbox and if you have a fire hydrant in front of your property it is good practice to keep this area clear of snow as well. Keeping these areas maintained will help ensure prompt delivery of your mail and a quicker response time from the fire department in case of a fire in your neighborhood. Please refer to the Mailbox Policy for information on damaged mailboxes