The Ile Camera
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Water services discussed
Community leaders consider building treatment plant
By Kimberly Kim, The Ile Camera
PUBLISHED: July 11, 2008
Grosse Ile and two other Downriver communities are considering a joint effort to construct a water treatment plant.
Advertisement
At a June 9 meeting, the township Board of Trustees discussed the possibility of building a water treatment plant on the island. Another possibility is a partnership with Trenton and Riverview to build a shared facility.
Currently, the township is in the final third of a 30-year contract with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, from where it receives its municipal water services.
That contract will expire Dec. 3, 2015.
The DWSD is asking that the 125 communities in its system renew their 30-year contracts. The water system serves nearly 4 million people in southeastern Michigan.
The township's attorney has attended meetings over several years concerning the township's contract with Detroit.
Township officials are concerned the 30-year contract renewal with the DWSD, as well as over recent water and sewerage rate increases.
"If we, as a community, are going to be faced with the decision of extending a contract for a 30-year term, we need to do our homework," Township Manager Dale Reaume said.
"And, in the future, the city of Detroit is planning to do a very, very large capital improvements project with very large infrastructure costs. And our concern is, how will that impact us and our rates?"
At the township meeting, Reaume presented figures that show water and sewerage rates have more than doubled in the past 10 years. The figures did include any infrastructure improvements by Detroit.
The township is now researching its options and possible alternatives beyond the contract with DWSD.
Officials have contacted consultants and have had discussions with them concerning alternatives.
It was during those discussions that the possibility was raised of the township constructing its own treatment plant.
The possibility of a joint effort with Trenton and Riverview also was discussed.
The neighboring cities also have similar contracts with the Detroit system.
Township officials then suggested conducting a treatment plant feasibility study with the two cities.
"The study will develop a conceptual basis of design and evaluate appropriate alternatives for water intake structure and treatment system," Township Supervisor Kurt Kobiljak said.
He added that the water distribution needs of the communities, water storage and pressure requirements, location and water-quality issues will be considered.
"From this information, cost estimates will be formulated allowing the township to compare options such as staying with the DWSD, forming a partnership with Trenton and Riverview, or constructing a water treatment plant on our own," Kobiljak said.
Not all stories are guaranteed to appear
online. The Web edition contains a reasonable
sampling of the print edition stories.
For the most complete news coverage, we invite you to
subscribe
to the print edition of the paper.
TOP JOBS
