Four things you should know about Detroit’s water crisis

[xchrom]

http://grist.org/cities/the-4-things-you-should-know-about-detroits-water-crisis/

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***SNIP

Water is getting more expensive everywhere.

This is true both internationally and in the U.S., where the cost of water has been rising faster than the rate of inflation.

There’s no federal policy to help people deal with the cost of water.

As Jan Beecher, with the Institute of Public Utilities at Michigan State University, told the Los Angeles Times there are no federal programs to help people pay for the rising cost of water, the way that there are for fuel and electricity (or housing, for that matter).

“We’ve never really developed a clear public policy toward universal service and water,” Beecher said. “International organizations are concerned with a basic level of service, but with water, the tricky thing is that drinking water would fall into that, but watering the lawn would not be considered a basic human right.”

That said, until recently, Detroit actually had a program that helped low-income residents pay their water bills.

It was called the Water Affordability Plan. As Roger Colton, a utilities consultant, told the Los Angeles Times:

The last time Detroit began shutting off water for unpaid bills a decade ago, Colton worked with the Michigan Poverty Law Program to develop a program that would help the water department collect money while still keeping water affordable. He found that whereas the federal Environmental Protection Agency recommends that families spend no more than 2.5 percent of their pretax income on water and sewer service, some Detroit residents were paying more than 20 percent.

[Squinch]

1. WHY is the cost of water rising everywhere? It isn't as if the population of Detroit is rising, so

water to Detroit is not in more demand, so WHY should the cost be going up? It also isn't as if they are maintaining or expanding the piping or purification systems.

This is the next thing. They are going to monopolize water. I know that sounds crazy, but there are many rumblings of this.

[Michigander_Life]

2. Maybe the cost is rising because...

The infrastructure was designed for a huge population base; now, a much smaller population must cover the costs of that infrastructure.

[Squinch]

3. Except the city dictator openly states that he wants to make the water department profitable

so that he can get a good price when he privatizes it. So maybe the increased cost is covering the price of the profits that need to be shown on a previously non-profit venture.

[FrodosPet]

4. Factsheet about Detroit Sewer and Water

http://www.dwsd.org/downloads_n/about_dwsd/fact_sheet/dwsd_fact_sheet.pdf

• One of the largest systems in the nation, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has a rich history in public utility service dating back to the early 1800s - beginning with a water system of wooden logs and the "Grand Sewer" made up of brick and stone.

• DWSD provides water service to the entire city of Detroit and neighboring southeastern Michigan communities throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, Lapeer, Genesee, Washtenaw and Monroe counties. The 1,079-square-mile water service area, which includes Detroit and 127 suburban communities, makes up approximately 40 percent of the state's population. Wastewater service is also provided to a 946-square-mile area that encompasses Detroit and 76 neighboring communities.

• The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is a branch of the City of Detroit government. The Department is governed by a seven-member Board of Water Commissioners whose members are appointed by the Mayor. Four commissioners, by City Charter requirements, represent Detroit residents. Three remaining commissioners represent suburban wholesale customers with appointees from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Board meeting times and locations are posted on the Department's website at www.dwsd.org. Click on the About DWSD button for the DWSD Board of Water Commissioners Meeting Calendar.

• DWSD's water supply system is one of the largest in the nation both in terms of water produced and population served. The water system draws fresh water from the Great Lakes System, with Lake Huron to the north and the Detroit River to the south. Hardness levels for treated drinking water vary depending on the time of the year, averaging 105 parts per million or 6.0 grains per gallon. DWSD's water network consists of 3,438 miles of transmission and distribution mains within the City of Detroit, and 402 miles of transmission mains in the remaining service area. DWSD's five water treatment plants pump an average of 610 million gallons of clean drinking water each day. The Department is responsible for maintenance and repair of 27,244 fire hydrants in the city.

• DWSD's sewer system originated in 1836, and today consists of 12 pump stations, six combined sewer overflow retention treatment basins, three screening and disinfection facilities, and over 3,000 miles of large diameter sewer lines that carry captured storm water runoff, snowmelt, and waste water to the Wastewater Treatment Plant — one of the largest single-site wastewater treatment facilities in the country. This facility treats an average of 710 million gallons of flow per
day.

• The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, with 1,651 employees, has combined water and sewerage rates lower than most American cities, including Midwestern cities like Chicago, Columbus, and Indianapolis. By law, DWSD can only recover the cost for provision of service — it cannot make a profit. For the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014/2015 the Department has an annual operating budget of approximately $363,771,200 million.

• By Michigan statute, DWSD is a not-for-profit entity. Water and sewer rates are based on cost of service only and the Department receives no subsidies from property taxes. Working around the clock to provide excellence in water and sewer service!

• Based on the rates adopted for Fiscal Year 2014/2015, in July 2014 DWSD began billing customers in the city of Detroit an average of $97.85 per month based on water usage of 1,000 cubic feet per month. This covers all costs of providing safe drinking water and sewer service to their homes, including the cost of water and wastewater treatment, pumping, delivery, billing, and more.

• Suburban customers receive the same high quality drinking water and wastewater treatment provided to Detroit customers. However, their municipalities operate additional facilities to bring these services to their homes, so DWSD's monthly charges for the average suburban customer represent only a portion of the final bill for residents outside the city.

• DWSD's July 2013 Capital Improvement Program totals approximately $1.4 billion over the next five years and beyond with approximately $174.7 million and $322.4 million budgeted for water and sewer projects for FY 2012-13 and FY 2013-17 respectively. The program focuses on maintaining the excellent quality of water provided to customers; improving water system reliability by replacing aging infrastructure to reduce the growing incidence of main breaks; ensuring environmental protection for all customers through upgraded treatment facilities; improving employee safety through system modifications; and increasing efficiency of services to all customers by taking advantage of new technology.

• Major projects in the Capital Improvement Program include replacement of aging water mains; rehabilitation and upgrades to water and wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations and reservoirs; rehabilitation or replacement of sewer lines and outfalls; construction of combined sewer overflow control facilities to ensure that sewer systems effectively handle storm water flows and protect the environment.

• The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is proud of the high quality of drinking water it provides throughout the Detroit region. Specifics about this notable drinking water and the process used to ensure its safety for all customers, can be found in DWSD's Water Quality Report which is issued annually and is available from DWSD's Water Quality Division, at 313-926-8102, or on the Department's website at www.dwsd.org. Click on the Customer Info button.

• The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department places a high importance on community awareness about water and sewer related issues. The Department hosts a number of annual events including Drinking Water Week in May with related events throughout the month. For information contact — Public Affairs Customer Outreach Section at 313-964-9576.

[tech3149]

5. If I remember correctly,

The municipal water system also supplies the surrounding suburbs for like three counties.
http://www.dwsd.org/downloads_n/about_dwsd/fact_sheet/dwsd_fact_sheet.pdf

Of course there is always the expense of maintaining the large distribution within the city that, as with a majority of municipal systems, has been deferring maintenance for decades. NYC has water mains and sewer lines that are over 100 years old.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. It will rise even more if Detroit is successful in privatizing their water.

Their so called "Emergency" manager, appointed, not elected, is seeking buyers for the water system, and lookig to sell of a lot of other things in the city.