Latest news with #DWSD
Time of India
25-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Residents without clean water as Bagbera project gets delayed
Jamshedpur: Over two lakh residents in Jamshedpur's southern outskirts face another summer without clean tap water as the Bagbera rural drinking water project faces further delays. Drinking water and sanitation department (DWSD) officials have announced that the project requires an additional two months for completion. "Once finished, all five water tankers will be positioned to supply water to households," said Sunil Kumar, DWSD Jamshedpur division executive engineer. Currently, trenching work under rail track is in progress. While partial supply might begin in some areas, residents must wait at least another month, officials said. The Rs 237crore project, initiated in April 2015, was originally scheduled for completion in Nov 2017. While funding isn't an issue, obtaining NOCs from stakeholding agencies and inter-departmental coordination have caused significant delays. The project aims to serve 113 villages across 17 panchayats, including Bagbera, Kitadih, Ghaghidih, Postonagar, Pursudih, Ramnagar, and surrounding suburban areas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like My one-month-old daughter is in so much pain, please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Residents, however, continue to face severe water shortages, relying on insufficient water tanker services and expensive market-sourced potable water. "The three operational tankers are inadequate. Households spend Rs 300-500 daily on drinking water," said Subodh Jha, president of Bagbera Vikas Samiti. East Singhbhum district Congress committee president Anand Bihari Dubey has warned of consequences if DWSD officials fail to meet their commitments.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
Water shutoff notice on Wayne County court was false alarm
April Fools' Day came early at Wayne County's new criminal justice complex. A water shutoff notice appeared on the front entrance of 3rd Circuit Court on Russell Street Thursday morning, said retired Wayne County Sheriff's Cpl. Reggie Crawford, who received the image from a staff member and shared the image on social media. It declared a 'severe past due water and sewer bill' and indicated that in 10 days, water would cease flowing to the circuit court that handles tens of thousands of cases per year. The notice belonged on a nearby fire hydrant. According to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, 'the shutoff notice on the building was placed at the wrong location.' The outstanding hydrant bill —$800 — was in fact for a metered hydrant used during construction by complex contractor Barton Malow. The justice complex — which includes the jail, court and offices — is all paid up. 'Wayne County is making arrangements to pay the account,' Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) Bryan Peckinpaugh said. 'The building and complex itself was not at-risk of water shutoff. The notice was not related to any water account associated with the building and the complex itself.' More: What Mayor Mike Duggan would change in southwest Detroit water main break response Nevertheless, the mistake did reveal a past payment issue. When asked about any outstanding balances for the criminal justice complex, county spokesman Doda Lulgjuraj said the county's Facilities and Maintenance Team had not received bills for the site in December and January, but that it had since paid them. DWSD confirmed the county was current on its bills. "The check for payment was processed prior to our receipt of this notice," Lulgjuraj said. "The Facilities Management and Planning Department did not receive bills for December or January, and we are currently investigating the cause. In addition, we are working with DWSD to ensure that future bills are directed to the correct departments to prevent similar issues from occurring." In 2024, after DWSD resumed its controversial water shutoff program following a pandemic-era pause, the Free Press reported that agency policy is to shut off any account with an overdue balance of $150 or more and that is 60 days behind. At the time, the agency told the paper it was focusing on large delinquent balances of at least $5,000. Violet Ikonomova is a reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at vikonomova@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Water shutoff notice on Wayne County court was false alarm
CBS News
27-03-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Recovery efforts in Southwest Detroit neighborhood nearly complete after water main break
In February, a neighborhood in Southwest Detroit was underwater. Hundreds of homes were severely flooded and damaged after a water main broke overnight . City officials say the 54-inch water main break has been fully repaired, and the intersection near Rowan and Beard streets is back open, and recovery efforts are right on track. "We are beyond the 90% completion rate," said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. The city says that nearly 125 furnaces and 126 hot water tanks have been replaced, with only a handful still to be finished. They expect those repairs to be done next week. Of the more than 200 families that were in hotels, only 15 remain displaced. "Stopping completion is exactly what we predicted. There are a handful of houses that had circumstances that needed a lot more work," Duggan stated. Of the 400 homes damaged, 378 filed claims, which the city expects to have processed in the next six weeks. "You have until Tuesday, 45 days by law after an incident occurs, to file a claim," said Duggan. "We're going to be able to provide a one-year warranty on all of the work that we did and also on the appliances, internal plumbing and electrical work of the houses that we worked on," Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Director Gary Brown stated. Though a stressful situation for many, city officials say they're appreciative of community advocates who stepped up to help. "I think this whole situation showed the city that when a time is needed, we can all work together," said Detroiter's Helping Each Other president Jessica Ramirez. "We're already back in our houses, my furnace has been replaced, my hot water tank has been replaced, they've cleaned and sterilized my basement. At this point, most of us are whole again in our homes," said resident Deanna Dooley. "The city has definitely done everything they gotta do. Our furnace is done; our hot water tank is done. We still have a little bit of work that we need done, but we're rolling with the punches," resident Jerry Reynolds stated. Residents who have yet to file a claim have until April 3. The city also says the emergency line put in place for repairs will be discontinued by Sunday. If you need to get in touch with the city after that, you can contact DWSD directly.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
Southwest Detroit flooding • Pontiac mom abandoned kids for years • Armed robber shot by donut shop worker
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (FOX 2) - A water main break last week flooded a Southwest Detroit neighborhood, a Pontiac mom has been charged with three counts of child abuse for abandoning her kids for years in a home full of trash and feces, and an armed robbery suspect was shot by a donut shop worker in Clinton Township: here are the top stories from FOX 2's Week in Review. 1. Southwest Detroit water main break repairs underway, cleanup starts on impacted homesThe first four houses of the 400 impacted residences in Southwest Detroit are being cleaned and sanitized Friday ahead of section, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department said. 2. Water main break leaves Southwest Detroit neighborhood underwaterSeveral streets were underwater Monday morning in Southwest Detroit due to a water main break. "I've been running DWSD for 10 years now, and we've never had a water main break this large in a densely populated neighborhood," said Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) Director Gary Brown. 3. Former sister-in-law discusses Pontiac mother accused of abandoning childrenThe former sister-in-law of a mother accused of leaving her children to live in filth for several years is speaking out the day the mother was charged. 4. Child abuse charges for Pontiac mom who abandoned three kids in squalor for four yearsThe Oakland County Prosecutor has filed three counts of child abuse charges against a Pontiac mom who abandoned three kids in a home full of trash and feces for over four years. Prosecutor Karen McDonald called a 2 p.m. press conference on Wednesday where she announced the charges against Kelli Bryant, the 34-year-old mother of the three children. 5. 19-year-old killed after rollover crash in DetroitA 19-year-old driver involved in a roll-over crash in Detroit Tuesday afternoon has died. The vehicle was seen traveling at a high rate of speed before crashing at the Southfield Freeway near an overpass. 6. Armed robbery suspect shot, killed by Clinton Twp donut store workerOn Feb. 20, at 12:45 p.m., a male suspect armed with a firearm allegedly demanded cash inside Golden Donuts, 34155 Harper Avenue. The employee then pulled out a handgun and shot the robbery suspect. Police say the suspect, in his mid-30s, fled in a vehicle and was found inside his crashed SUV at the Sunoco gas station at 15 Mile and Harper. 7. Great Lakes ice coverage nears seasonal average with one notable exceptionAfter barely registering in satellite images during the 2024 winter season, ice coverage has returned almost to the seasonal average across the five bodies of water this year. According to the latest data out of the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL), ice coverage across the Great Lakes was near 35%, about 5% below the historical average. 8. Man charged with murder after shooting girlfriend in head twice in DetroitA 31-year-old Detroit man was remanded to jail Sunday following a Valentine's Day shooting that left his girlfriend dead. Prosecutors told the court that Desaun Ross, 31, shot Ebony Robinson in the head, and then grabbed another gun and shot her a second time. Court officials said that Ross told them it was "to stop her from suffering." 9. Detroit area teen takes part in groundbreaking type 1 diabetes study using 100-year-old TB vaccineA 100-year-old vaccine is getting a fresh look as it's being studied to treat an autoimmune disease. One local child who's hoping to help change the world for people with type 1 diabetes. There's no cure for type 1 diabetes but currently a Metro Detroit teenager and a team of researchers are working to understand how a tuberculosis vaccine might change the future for those with the disease. 10. Detroit food distributor closes, leading to 1500 jobs lostA major food distributor in Detroit is shutting down after more than 50 years in business. The closure is already impacting local markets and grocery stores. But could this affect your budget?
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Detroit asking water main flood victims to sign a waiver. We had 2 lawyers take a look.
In the days after a water main break in southwest Detroit flooded homes and forced residents out on rafts, Jackie Muscat thought something was a little fishy with what she was being asked to sign: a liability waiver that had to be completed if she wanted city-sent contractors to fix her home. But city communications officials say the document is part of a normal procedure when they go into homes for fixes and is not meant to waive any overall responsibility by the city in regards to the water main break flood. And amid community feedback and Free Press questioning Friday, the city altered the waiver with language that makes that clearer. The waiver doesn't remove 'any option for the homeowner to file a claim or pursue other avenues for reimbursement,' said Bryan Peckinpaugh, public affairs director for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, or DWSD, in an email Friday. It only waives liability for issues that could arise out of repair and clean-up work done in the homes. More: Southwest Detroit residents say water main break 'was like a river going by' More: Detroit water line flood: 133 households in hotels, claim form is live He also said all previously signed waivers will be honored as if they had been signed with the revision. The prior version was being handed out in English and Spanish and the new one is being passed out in both languages, too, he said. Detroit officials have promised swift action, repairs and reimbursements following the break in a 54-inch transmission line on Monday. By Monday afternoon, the entities behind Detroit's water supply, the Great Lakes Water Authority and DWSD, already agreed to split any residents' uninsured costs 50/50 between the two. An emergency hotline, 313-774-5261, was put in place the same day for anyone needing shelter, needing rides to work, or with damages. By mid-week, the city had claims forms available online in English and Spanish. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has been credited for the cutting through of red tape, and said anyone with damages should start the process by calling their insurance companies, if they have them. DWSD Director Gary Brown has said when it comes to insurance deductibles, filers could include them on their claim form and a third-party insurance adjuster would work with them to make them whole. Faced with numerous questions trying to break down what losses, costs and missed work the city will help cover, officials have said residents should be able to file a city claim for everything. Still, speaking Thursday at a metro Detroit hotel where officials were funding her stay after the flood, Muscat expressed concern about the waiver. It first came up when a city inspector checked out her home after the flooding. The flooding cracked a wall in her family's basement, destroyed a bathroom, damaged the plumbing, and left the furnace and water heater in need of replacement, she said Thursday. And while they had power, they were without heat or water. The mother of four children under 14 said some residents were signing the waiver out of desperation without fully understanding its implications. 'It's a little fishy to me,' she said. 'We could sign this waiver and (the city) could slightly clean, give us a water heater, but the house foundation — if we sign this and they don't fix that, then the house is unlivable. So we could be screwing ourselves by signing this waiver. … We need to get back, so people may have already signed, and we're really not knowing what we're consenting to.' Two lawyers, who were contacted Friday by the Detroit Free Press and asked to review the initial waiver as provided by the city, agreed the intent was to waive liability specific to any issues that could arise during a repair or clean-up and not to wholesale waive liability for damages from the flood. One of the lawyers noted he'd like the city to make a clarification in the language of the waiver to be sure, but said it was probably risk managed given the public statements by the city on their intent behind the waiver. The waiver – old and new – states that the property owner releases the city 'from all liability for damage done to the property during the cleaning, sanitizing, repair, and replacement process' and does not release the city from liability for damages that residents could be entitled to 'under any federal, state or local laws related to the water main break that occurred on February 17, 2025 and basement flooding or backup.' Of concern for lawyer John Hubbard, of the Plymouth and Florida-based Hubbard, Snitchler, and Parzianello law firm, was another section of the old waiver form. It stated the property owner agreed to accept the services 'in exchange for the valuable consideration of Property Owner releasing City of Detroit from all liability resulting from the Incident.' That's a section that just clarifies what the exchange is – what both parties are giving up – so the contract can be valid, but Hubbard wanted the city to clarify that the 'Incident' was the remedial work, not the break itself, he said. Otherwise, that section could contradict the other part of the waiver listing what it did and didn't release the city from. Again, Hubbard said it was probably risk managed given the public statements by the city on their intent behind the waiver. However, after the Free Press raised the concern, Peckinpaugh provided a new version of the waiver that would be used going forward. The new version states the services would be provided 'in exchange for the valuable consideration of Property Owner releasing the City of Detroit from all liability for any damage that may occur to the home during the process of inspecting, cleaning and repairing home damage caused by the original February 17 flood incident.' Mark Dotson, a Cooley Law School professor, reviewed the prior version of the contract and said it was 'pretty clean." He also said that the wider scope of what the city is doing should be taken into consideration. First and foremost, the city is trying to make sure they have the legal OK to be on the property, he said. Second, the city doesn't know what they are walking into necessarily, and there's the chance, especially with older homes that may have been in bad condition anyway, that remedial work could cause damage itself. The city is trying to protect themselves from that. But a key factor is that if residents attempt to sue the city for damage in the break, the city may not be found liable by a court, by the description of the experts. Dotson said cities are often immune in these situations. Hubbard said that, too, in an additional email: that claims against a city are subject to governmental immunity unless homeowners can demonstrate the city's actions were 'markedly careless and reckless, going well beyond ordinary negligence.' 'This is a very high standard to meet,' he said. 'In short, the homeowner has to balance the risk of the city repairs causing new problems against the home owner handling the entire matter themselves. It's a trade of a known problem against a risk of poor performance by the City's contractors.' Dotson said residents don't have a ton of options, but whether they have already signed the waiver or had contractors in their homes, they should call any insurance company they have right away. They need to start discussing coverage and the waiver with their company, and he noted some insurance companies might prefer to send its own contractor or be present for the city work. He also noted waiting could make some necessary repairs worse. His main message for residents: 'Regardless of what the city is doing, regardless of requirements of the waiver, they need to notify their insurance company.' He said they should do it now. Peckinpaugh said the city has provided such waivers during prior incidents, and emailed a copy tied to 2021 rainstorms to prove it. The documents and Peckinpaugh also clarified the following: The waiver must be signed before any of the basement cleaning and repairs can be performed on their property by a city contractor. Residents are being asked to sign the documents as the inspector visits their property. Those who decline to sign the waiver will not get the city contractor services, but can still file a notice of damage claim with the city. Residents can opt out of the city work, pay by themselves, and then file a city claim for the work, but the city prefers their contractors for efficiency. For city purposes, right now residents only need to review and sign the waiver and submit a notice of claim. The notice of claim can be completed within 45 days, and the claims team may ask for additional documentation such as receipts and photos later on. Residents only need to file the claim with DWSD and don't need to file with the Great Lakes Water Authority. Basement cleaning was slated to begin Friday. One contractor was in place, with others expected to start Monday. Angelica Viejita, 43, speaking at the same metro Detroit hotel as Muscat on Thursday, had also expressed concern about the waiver. But speaking by phone Friday through her daughter, with whom she spoke Spanish, her family confirmed they had decided to sign the waiver. Her daughter, Nataly Rosario, 14, said there has been confusion among multiple people about what the waiver said. Ultimately, her father reviewed the documents, explained them, and 'that helped.' Photojournalist David Rodriguez Muñoz contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Two lawyers review Detroit water main break work waiver: what to know
