Metro Detroit's water and sewers need $1.6 billion in repairs. Who will pay the bill?

The wholesale water and sewage rates of the GLWA (Great Lakes Water Authority) will increase 5.8% on July 1, but that won't be anywhere near enough cash for what's needed.

There are three underlying issues we need to be honest about.

• The average age of failing water mains is 53 years old according to a national study. 50 years have passed since many mains were installed.
• We've built more stuff for the same amount of people. Think about everything in Metro Detroit that's been built since 1970. 696 did not exist. The Silverdome and the Palace have come and gone. Canton Township was still the sweet corn capital of Michigan with just 11,000 people, and is now nearly 9x the size. The combined population of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County has dropped over the last 55+ years while much of the rest of the nation has grown.

• It's $20 million a mile to replace what's needed.

“The question becomes, ‘Why don’t you just replace it all?’ At $20 million a mile, it’s more than $1.6 billion that we do not have budgeted." - GLWA CEO, Suzanne Coffey

I don't have all the answers. But I do know we're going to have to make some hard decisions. The bill for sprawl is coming due.

🔗 GLWA seeks more government aid as it urges readiness for main breaks - [Detroit News]