Latest news with #GreatLakesWaterAuthority
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
GLWA: Don't use dishwashers or washing machines during heavy rain
The Brief A Flood Watch has been issued for Metro Detroit for Wednesday night into Thursday. GLWA said the predicted rainfall amount is within the design capacity of the regional system, but is still encouraging people to take precautions. Don't run your dishwasher or washing machine during heavy rain because it could overwhelm the sewer system. DETROIT (FOX 2) - With a Flood Watch issued for all of Metro Detroit later Wednesday and 1-2 inches of rain in the forecast, residents are urged to prepare for possible flooding. The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) said Tuesday that the predicted rainfall amount is within the design capacity of the regional system, which is dry after last weekend's rain. Still, GLWA issued guidance to residents just in case. GLWA said that people who live in low-lying areas should remove valuables from their basement. They should also do so if they have experienced flooding before. Additionally, during the heavy rain, people are asked not to run dishwashers or washing machines. During rainstorms, this extra water can overwhelm the system and lead to flooding since many communities are part of a combined sewer system. In a combined system, wastewater and stormwater both flow through the same pipes, known as gray infrastructure, and go to a wastewater treatment plant. This means that during periods of intense rain, the system can get overwhelmed and flood roads and basements. The Flood Watch will be in effect for Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne, St. Clair County, and Macomb counties. The National Weather Service said there is a threat of rivers, creeks, and streams flooding. There could also be flash flooding in areas with poor drainage.
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
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
How much will Detroit pay out for southwest water main flood?
On the day a water main break sent icy torrents into hundreds of southwest Detroit homes, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan made a vow: The city's water department and its partner, the Great Lakes Water Authority, would pay for any damage not covered by insurance. Now, nearly a month later, the cost of that promise is coming into focus. In a midday news conference Wednesday, officials, including Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Director Gary Brown, were asked about the price tag. His answer? 'It's $1.8 million just in the mechanicals … I think it's going to be close to an $8 to $10 million project when it's all said and done,' he said. That would be for everything, including hotel stays, basement cleaning, furnace replacement, and even the staffing to deal with the influx of calls related to the break, said Bryan Peckinpaugh, public affairs director for Brown's department, in a follow-up call. More: Detroit asking water main flood victims to sign a waiver. We had 2 lawyers take a look. More: One person's donation made nonprofit director cry after Detroit water main break Work continues to make residents whole again following the Feb. 17 break, but Duggan and Brown on Wednesday touted speedy efforts to do so and reiterated the vow to work to make residents whole after what Duggan has called a 'failure' of the water system. Some other updates officials gave included: At its height, more than 200 households were in hotels following the break. As of Wednesday morning, about half remained in hotels but 30 were in the process of moving out, Duggan said. Officials believe they should be largely on track to have people back in their homes within six weeks of the break. Of the 110 households who lost their furnaces, half had their furnace replaced by Wednesday, Duggan said. Of the 90 hot water heaters lost, 60 were replaced at the same time. There were some instances of contractors and residents showing up at different times, but Duggan felt there's been progress. Five of the 29 vehicles taken to a police precinct in the aftermath were turned over to their owners, Brown said. Owners of the rest will receive a payout at the Kelley Blue Book-determined price. Those who place a claim with the city online should hear from an adjuster to immediately come out and check out the damage. Asked about premiums rising for residents who need to make an insurance claim, Brown reiterated the entities' intentions to pay deductibles for residents and make them whole by buying cars straight out or paying for the cost of repairs. He said they would be 'liberal' in making residents whole when it comes to damage to cars and homes. Most claims with the city are expected to be settled within 45 days, Brown said; the department previously indicated a notice of claim should be filed in that timeframe. A temporary road will be placed where the break took place, ahead of work to finish the permanent road fix, said Peter Fromm of the Great Lakes Water Authority. More: Abogados analizan exoneración de responsabilidad por la tubería rota en Detroit More: Southwest Detroit streets, basements flood due to water main break This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How much will Detroit pay out for southwest water main flood?
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Forgotten Harvest expands mobile markets to combat hunger in Southeast Michigan
DETROIT (FOX 2) - The rising cost of everyday household items has many people wondering how they can afford necessities like rent and food. Big picture view Meanwhile, Forgotten Harvest is working to fill the void for many families across Southeast Michigan, and the nonprofit says it's expanding so it can reach even more people to wipe out hunger. Chantel Watkins is just one of many Michiganders protesting the recent Great Lakes Water Authority rate hikes. As some find creative ways to stretch their dollars at the market, some Michiganders can't afford to do that. "Just adding more and more prices to the bills while our wages are not increasing, you really gotta figure out what you're going to be buying, what brands of cereal can you afford," she said. The backstory Forgotten Harvest is known for fighting food insecurity, and now the nonprofit is working to expand its reach. "If you don't have to buy this $50 worth of food, then you're able to do other things with that money, so we're proud to stand in that gap and make a difference," said COO Sheila Marshall. "One of the things that we have that's very exciting is that we have a mobile market. It's actually a trailer that was custom built for us." Their mobile movement makes deliveries with items stocked specifically for the neighborhood it serves. "We stock it with foods, and we try to make it as controlled to what the neighbors in that area might want. They're able to make an appointment, come in, they walk on the trailer, and select the things that are important to their family, and that allows them a sense of dignity that you can't really even describe it," she said. The mobile food pantry also erase transportation barriers. "We intend to get two more. That's part of our expansion," she said. What you can do It's just one more step to help erase hunger. If you need assistance or can provide help you can head to the Forgotten Harvest.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Water, sewer rates on the rise for southeast Michigan communities
Metro Detroit residents are bracing for higher water and sewer bills this year after the Great Lakes Water Authority approved the largest system-wide service charges in over a decade. The rate hike was part of a budget approval with the authority's board of directors. At a meeting on Wednesday, the six-member GLWA board unanimously voted to increase system charges by an average of 5.9% for wholesale water and 4.5% for wastewater for the 2026 fiscal year. The new rates, effective July 1, coincide with the expiration of a cap that limited increases to 4% or less annually. GLWA's fiscal year 2026 budget is $954 million — up about $48 million from the year prior. Debt service, operations and maintenance comprise a majority of the budget. Inflation related to chemicals, utilities and service costs, along with initiatives to address corrosion control, flooding and service pipe replacement are some of the factors GLWA attributed to rising rates. Dr. Mona Hanna named one of USA TODAY's Women of the Year When does Isle Royale National Park reopen? Here's what to know in Michigan 'We understand that this charge increase will have an impact on our member partners, and in turn the residents of the communities we both serve," said Nicolette Bateson, chief financial officer and treasurer in a news release. "No one wants to implement charge increases," she said, noting the rate hikes were essential to "responsibly manage and maintain the regional system." GWLA has 88 member partners who provide water services to approximately 115 communities and 19 on the sewer side of the business serving 79 communities in southeast Michigan. Contact Kristi Tanner: ktanner@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: GLWA approves largest rate hikes as cap expires
