Great Lakes Water Authority

A tentative deal to settle the $55 million dispute was approved Wednesday night by the Highland Park City Council. The GLWA board is expected to vote on the deal next week.

The Detroit enclave has fewer than 9,000 residents, a poverty rate around 40%, and a giant past-due bill from the state-created Great Lakes Water Authority.

Highland Park faces a $24 million court judgment after not paying disputed water and sewer bills for years. The city and GLWA had been in mediation, trying to work out a plan for Highland Park to pay. Now, the two sides have struck a deal that gives them more time to do that.

Highland Park's massive water bill leads to legislative moves, recovering lost musical works of a Black composer and the urgent care boom in Michigan.

Highland Park is on the hook for a $19 million bill to the Great Lakes Water Authority, plus interest. City leaders say that’s simply unaffordable for the tiny, low-income city, and the state needs to act.

Great Lakes Water Authority officials say repairs and testing may take until September 3.

GM is retiring the iconic Charger and Challenger. Is this the end of the muscle car era? Then, a new space for Indigenous students on Grand Valley State University’s campus; an exciting discovery at a West Michigan construction site; and an update on the water main break that’s disrupting service for thousands of Michiganders.

A power failure at a pumping station on Detroit’s east side kept some pumps from working during a June 2021 rainstorm and prevented others from coming online. But according to the report, while the pumping failures likely “exacerbated” the flooding, it was the sheer amount of rainfall in such a short period of time that overwhelmed the sewer system.

Highland Park and the Great Lakes Water Authority have been battling in court for years. The city contends that it should only be paying rates agreed to in 1996, when the city of Detroit provided its water. Last year, Highland Park stopped putting water payments in escrow, supposedly because of the overcharges.

The Great Lakes Water Authority is planning to increase its wholesale rates starting this July.