Latest news with #DetroitWaterandSewerageDepartment
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How $43M is saving Detroit basements
The Brief Detroit is using $43 million in federal funds for a Private Sewer Repair Program to prevent future flooding after a major 2021 disaster. The program helps homeowners repair private sewer lines, with about 650 homes already completed and more being processed weekly. Residents are encouraged to apply for the program to help protect their homes from the next major storm. DETROIT (FOX 2) - In June 2021, Detroit experienced one of its worst flooding disasters, with approximately 30,000 homes damaged after a historic rainstorm. Now, federal funds totaling $43 million are being utilized for the Private Sewer Repair Program, aimed at helping homeowners prevent future devastation. The Private Sewer Repair Program assists residents in repairing their private sewer lines, with about 650 homes already completed, and the city continues to process repairs for 5 to 20 homes weekly. What we know In June 2021, a catastrophic flood hit Detroit, damaging an estimated 30,000 homes. Mary Alexander, a Detroit homeowner, witnessed significant flooding in her basement during this event. The city has since launched the Private Sewer Repair Program, supported by $43 million in federal funds, to help homeowners address their portion of the sewer system. Approximately 650 homes have already been repaired through this program. The city is working through 5 to 20 homes each week and plans to continue until the funding is exhausted. The backstory "It was the entire basement. I was like, Oh my God," Alexander said. "(I had) heart palpitations. I was frustrated I had so much stuff down there I was trying to figure out – ok, some of its floating in the water, some of its not." Rico Razo, from Detroit's Housing and Revitalization Department, said they're aiming to make sure it never happens again. "We're excited that we have that many residents that can sleep that well at night, not having to run down to the basement to check and see if their basement is flooded after heavy rainfall," Razo said. Thanks to the $43 million, homeowners like Alexander are sleeping a bit more soundly. "They replaced my entire line. All the way out. They did all that work within a matter of days," Alexander said. Sam Smalley, from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD), said the goal is to prevent future flooding. "It's a pretty comprehensive project," Smalley said. "We're hardening basements while we're working on our public infrastructure. This also helps residents protect their houses." Smalley encouraged all eligible residents to apply for the program. "Everyone should apply. We're trying to harden as many basements as we can and go as fast as we can because we don't know when the next storm is," Smalley said. What you can do Residents can apply for the Private Sewer Repair Program to help prevent future basement flooding. More information about the program is available on the city's website. The Source FOX 2 spoke to Mary Alexander and the city about the program and how the money will be used.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
EPA lifts emergency order on Flint water, returning city to normal lead testing standards
The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Monday, May 19, that a nearly decade-old emergency order on the city of Flint's drinking water standards had been lifted. After the EPA took over water sampling responsibility in Flint in 2016 after the onset of the water crisis, the agency says the city has reached compliance with federal requirements for lead-level standards. In a statement, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called the lifting of the emergency order a major milestone for the city and federal partners. The federal government "will remain a partner to provide technical assistance to the city and state as efforts continue to maintain and upgrade water infrastructure systems,' Zeldin said in a statement. "Lifting this emergency order is a cause for great celebration for residents of Flint who worked so hard and sacrifice so much to get to this point," said Zeldin. "Even though the emergency order is lifted, all levels of government must continue to stay in contact and work closely to be a continued resource for the Flint community and ensure their water remains pristine." The Flint water crisis began in 2014, when the city, while under emergency management from the state, switched water sources from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the Flint River as a cost-cutting measure. State officials overseeing the switch failed to ensure corrosion-control measures were taken for the more acidic river water. Lead, a neurotoxin particularly dangerous to children, leached from aged service lines into the city's water supply as a result. As the city struggled with water quality, it also saw an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, leading to the deaths of at least 12 people and sickening dozens more. More: Left feeling abandoned, Flint residents still worry about health effects of water crisis Today, the EPA states 97% of lead service lines have been replaced, although last year a federal judge held the city of Flint in contempt over taking too long to replace some remaining lead pipes. With the emergency order being lifted, Flint's drinking water safety will have to comply with regular Safe Drinking Water Act standards, which are overseen by the state. The Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes and Environment (EGLE) said in August the city's drinking water tests have returned lead and copper levels considered compliant with normal federal standards for 17 consecutive monitoring periods. The EPA emergency standards were stricter than regular standards. 'The lifting of the EPA's emergency order is a powerful testament to the strength, and advocacy of Flint residents,' Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said in a statement provided by the EPA. 'For nearly a decade, we have worked tirelessly to restore trust and integrity to our water system, as well as meeting rigorous standards." More: 'It's just devastating': Flint reels as water crisis prosecution comes to an end While there were criminal indictments of former state officials, including former Gov. Rick Snyder, over their handling of the water crisis, those cases were tossed last year after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled state prosecutors incorrectly used a one-man grand jury to indict the officials. Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Flint water crisis: EPA lifts emergency order on lead testing levels
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
26-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
SW Detroit residents must report water main break flood damage by April 3, officials say
Residents whose homes, cars or possessions were damaged in the Feb. 17 water main break in southwest Detroit are being asked to act swiftly if they want the city and utility agencies to reimburse any of their losses. Officials are calling for affected residents to file notices of claims by April 3 with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. The 54-inch water transmission main break flooded basements, left cars trapped in frozen waves of ice, covered belongings in mud, and caused evacuations by rafts in the area of Beard and Rowan streets in a part of the city with just under 400 homes. The city and its partner in water administration, the Great Lakes Water Authority, have since pledged to cover all damages not covered by insurance. City-sent crews have been cleaning the affected basements, with some spaces reported to be people's full living areas. Crews also have been replacing furnaces and hot water heaters so that residents can return home. More: Detroit asking water main flood victims to sign a waiver. We had 2 lawyers take a look. More: Detroit water main break: The most-needed items you can donate to help flood victims As of Sunday night, 16 households were still in city-covered hotels, said Bryan Peckinpaugh, public affairs director for the water department. That's down from a height of 206 households in the aftermath. Officials chose the claims deadline by looking at a Michigan law for sewage backups and overflows, Peckinpaugh said. The Feb. 17 flooding was not sewage, per officials, but the law being used as guidance requires residents to make claims in writing within 45 days of when damage should have been discovered after a sewer backup or overflow. April 3 is 45 days after the water main break. Residents can file a notice of claim on the city's water department webpage at to meet the April 3 deadline. All damages and losses can be included in a singular claim. No claims need to be filed through the Great Lakes Water Authority. The form is available in both Spanish and English, and anyone who needs help filling out the form is asked to call 313-774-5261. That phone number has served as the city hotline for all water main flood-related concerns and calls for help. Peckinpaugh said it's key that a good description of the damage be provided in the notice of claim, along with contact information and the address where the damage occurred. Additionally, receipts and documentation should be included. If it is needed after an initial notice of claim is filed, residents can contact the city's third-party administrator, Mackinaw Administrators, at 877-311-3664 or DWSD@ to add more to the claim, add receipts, otherwise update the filing or check on the status of the case, Peckinpaugh said. Eventually, there will be a cut-off date at which point residents can no longer add to claims, but Peckinpaugh said the option to update claims should be available through April. He did say, however, that residents with damage to their cars should act fast and include those in claim forms right away. The city is prioritizing settlements for damaged vehicles and is expected to start settling those claims for residents in the next seven or 10 days, Peckinpaugh said Monday. More: Southwest Detroit residents say water main break 'was like a river going by' More: Frustration mounts for southwest Detroit residents over a month after water main break 'We know that lack of transportation is a burden,' he said. 'They've already been burdened by this disaster, so cars are being prioritized.' The process after filing a notice of claim, according to the city, is: The resident who filed will receive an email or letter acknowledging the claim and giving them a claim number within about 14 days of filing. Mackinaw Administrators will then process the claim. They will review documents, look at photos, and possibly visit the property. This process could take 45 to 60 days 'depending on the responsiveness of the claimant' with the administrators reaching out to the resident as needed for additional information. Mackinaw Administrators will determine the amount of money that should be paid for the damage. If the resident agrees to the amount, they will be required to sign a waiver releasing the city from liability before they receive the settlement. "If they decline the offer, it is up to them if they want to pursue legal action," Peckinpaugh said in a follow-up email. Two lawyers previously told the Free Press that there is a high bar in court to overcome governmental immunity. Officials have been knocking on doors, going to hotels and working with translators to pass along information and tell residents about the notice of claim deadline, Peckinpaugh said. They'll be at it again this weekend, though it's believed most notices of claims have already been filed. So far, 321 such claims have been filed by individual households, Peckinpaugh said. The cost for all the needs and fixes following the break will probably be around $8 million to $10 million, Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Director Gary Brown previously said. Asked at news conferences about everything from insurance deductibles to lost wages to cleaning supplies for those who did their own cleaning after the break, officials have told residents to include everything on their claim forms and said officials will work to make residents whole. Along with filing the notice of claim, Mayor Mike Duggan also previously said residents with insurance should be sure to contact their insurance company, too. Staff writer Nour Rahal contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Deadline nears to claim damage from southwest Detroit water main break
