detroit water and sewerage department

There's some pushback against Kevyn Orr's plan for Detroit's water department

Sarah Cwiek — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:50:41 +0000

Detroit’s emergency manager has a plan for the city’s water department—but not everybody likes it.

Kevyn Orr proposes leasing the system to a “Metropolitan Area Water and Sewer Authority” as it part of a larger restructuring of city operations.

Human waste as farming fertilizer? Detroit may become top producer of dried 'biosolids'

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 29 May 2013 16:20:29 +0000

Detroit has budgeted $683 million to move forward with plans to build a biosolids dryer facility in the city. If built, it is expected to be the largest facility of its kind in the United States.

What exactly is a "biosolids dryer facility," you ask?

It converts human waste materials into energy or fertilizer.

Whether you view this as innovative green technology or just plain gross, the contract is a big deal for Detroit.

Flint ending Detroit water contract, DWSD looking at its options

Steve Carmody — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 22:22:08 +0000

The city of Flint is dumping its contract with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.

Flint emergency manager Ed Kurtz signed a contract today to get the city’s water from a new pipeline that’s being built from Lake Huron to Genesee County.

Officials with Detroit's system made a final offer to try and keep Flint’s business. But Kurtz says the numbers were “unreliable.”

“After the first year…for 29 years they could raise those rates…do any kind of capital expenditures…anything they wanted to do…and just add them to our bill,” says Kurtz.

This could be a pivotal day in the 'Water War' between Flint and Detroit

Steve Carmody — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:10:00 +0000

Today is the last chance for Detroit water department officials to make their case to keep Flint as a customer.

The state Treasury Department gave the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department until this evening to present its final best offer to the city of Flint.

Flint has been a DWSD customer for many years. But Flint city officials say they want to get their tap water from a new Karegnondi Water Authority pipeline being built from Lake Huron to Genesee County.

Flint is giving its poorer residents a break on their water bills

Steve Carmody — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 19:04:00 +0000

The city of Flint is reducing the water bills for its poorest residents.

Beginning July 1^st, city homeowners who already qualify for Flint’s poverty exemption for property taxes will get a $53 break on their monthly water bills. According to the city of Flint: