Water Advisory Council Annual Meeting
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department
Utilities
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024
1:30 p.m. — 3:30 p.m. EST
Randolph St Detroit, MI 48226 (Directions)
5th Floor Board Room 735
***Check source website for location information and agenda. ***
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Note-taking by
Robert D'Andrea
DWSD Director Gary Brown said he wished he included more context in the 225,000 letters sent to Detroiters with water service lines made of lead, galvanized pipe or unknown materials.
Live reporting by
Amy Senese
DWSD Director Gary Brown said he wished he included more context in the 225,000 letters sent to Detroiters with water service lines made of lead, galvanized pipe or unknown materials.
amy k senese 🍉
@amysenese
Good morning, Detroit! Today at 1:30 PM, I'll be live-tweeting the DWSD Water Advisory Council Annual Meeting for #DetDocumenters @DetDocumenters media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @michigan_public @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
09:32 AM Nov 20, 2024 CST
To attend the meeting virtually, click on this @DetroitWaterDep site link, where you'll also find the meeting agenda and any relevant documents. dwsd.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.…
dwsd.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.…
Here's the meeting agenda for today: file:///Users/amysenese/Downloads/Agenda%20(3).pdf
You can find all past documenters' coverage of DWSD here: detroit.documenters.org/reporting/?age…
detroit.documenters.org/reporting/?age…
The Detroit Water and Sewage Department (DWSD) made headlines this week when residents responded to a mailer about lead service lines. https://x.com/PolarBarrett/status/1858933406559592943
Here's yesterday's story from @wxyzdetroit The city says the letters "lacked context." While the city sent letters to 225,000 households, there are only 80,000 lead service lines.
In a news conference yesterday, DWSD Director Gary Brown said Detroit has replaced 11,335 lead service lines. via @freep freep.com/story/news/loc…
freep.com/story/news/loc…
@ninaignaczak from @PlanetDetroit reported that there are new interactive maps that detail locations of lead in drinking water service lines across Metro Detroit: planetdetroit.org/2024/11/metro-…
planetdetroit.org/2024/11/metro-…
Here's a direct link to Detroit's interactive map: experience.arcgis.com/experience/bad… and an explainer on how to use it: youtu.be/24xcSZ9C6lo?si…
experience.arcgis.com/experience/bad…
youtu.be/24xcSZ9C6lo?si…
They now have a quorum. 3. Agenda approved 4. Minutes from Nov 15th approved
Virtual Comments #1. Demeko Williams from Hydrate Detroit. Speaking to the letter that went out to residents--has heard a lot of concerns from neighbors. Williams wants assurances that Detroit will not become Flint.
That was the only public comment. No items under communications or unfinished business
Verbal update: The safe drinking and water act requires 50 households to be sampled from June to September. Households are sampled across the city. Action level for lead is 15 parts/billion. Detroit is unofficially at 12 parts/billion. It is unofficial until results are posted.
No additional action is required at this time. Q: Can you explain the letter and clarify any confusion?
A: At the more significant regular meeting, they will explain. I believe that was Sam Smalley, Deputy Director
Official Source is GIS mapping--this is the map I referenced earlier in the thread
The faint green lines are copper, and the red lines are lead. You can hover over specific properties for more details and demographic info. Every parcel in the city is on the map. Some might be "assumed" lead or copper because they haven't been verified.
120 lines are galvanized, 9800 lead lines, and 220,000 lines are unknown. There are about 19,000 services they have verified that are not lead; they are copper or plastics.
"Prioritizing Our Work" Planned Projects -verified lead lines -vulnerable population -density -age Unplanned Projects -Child with elevated blood lead level -repairs at home exposed a lead line -line discovered during water main work -lead samples at home exceeds limit
They paused the meeting to call the meeting to order. The roll was called. The meeting is reconvened.
If they can't enter the home they will replace the water main and the DWSD side of the service line, if it's lead--the water line will not be restored to the household. This policy is to prevent public health from backflow.
The goal is to set up the meter the same day they replace the lead line.
Q: On the signed agreement to let workers into the home. Do people understand? Some people are afraid of letting folks into their homes. Should there be an educational campaign? A: Gary Brown, in Southwest we haven't had any problems. There are a lot of fences to work around.
In Southwest, they went to community events and block club meetings. It was more difficult in Northwest Detroit
They need to do community outreach prior to entering the community to replace lines. They may require BSEED to inspect the home before they go in if the home is considered unsafe.
DWSD guarantees water service line for 1 year after replacement. Questions, Complaints, Concerns, Claims: Call customer Service at (313) 267-8000
They went through the end of the agenda pretty quickly. The outreach material will be approved at the next meeting. Meeting adjourned at 2:13 PM
They have called to order the Board of Water Commissioners meeting. I'm going to try to find the agenda real quick.
Director Gary Brown is talking about the letter that went out based on requirements from the EPA. What got past Brown was how that letter would be received and understood. He should have known better and apologized to the City Council.
Brown said his press conference was well received yesterday. They hadn't heard much from traditional media, but the word spread quickly on social media.
Brown says they've replaced more lead service lines than any other water authority in the country.
You should not be concerned, but if you are, there is a list of things that each homeowner can do. 1. In the morning, run your water 3-5 minutes before drinking or cooking. This will pull fresh water through your household and get it out of the lead pipe.
Unless you have brand-new copper pipes, you should find a routine to flush your system before you drink or cook. 2. Use only cold water for drinking or cooking. Hot water exasperates the problem and will NOT kill lead.
If you "really" have concerns, use a filter. Use an NSP-53 rated filter that is designed to take lead out "if" you have a concern. If you have children, get them tested. If you're concerned, get them tested.
They will replace the water service line if children test positive for lead. Brown's comments continued... You should also identify older water fixtures in your home.
Brown also recommends flushing the screens (aerators) on your faucets, which are designed to catch particles.
Brown: They've replaced more than 10,000 lines and have spent over 100 mil. They have done a remarkable job on building the capacity to get this work done. The only thing stopping them from working faster is the money.
There is a concern about rates; the water has to be affordable. If people have concerns, they have sent 100 filters and pitchers to the health department.
They have people monitoring all the social media sites, even Bluesky--to answer all the questions and concerns. "There is no conspiracy."
The new COO of the City of Detroit has joined the meeting and will introduce himself now. Marcus von Kapff is a former JP Morgan Chase Executive. freep.com/story/news/loc…
freep.com/story/news/loc…
"It's so unfortunate that a federal mandate put us in this position..in the end, the letter was meaningless..except to scare people, which it did..." -comments from one of the commissioners as he recounted reading the letter he received at home.
#1. Tracy Heron She is commenting on a property that she owns and is working on. She is not disputing the charges but complaining about drainage fees from water that runs off the roof. She has only owned the building since 2019; she's dealing with charges from previous owners
"We keep the lights on here; we are doing our best." She wants to stop the debt from going to the tax assessor. They closed with a title company and land contract. Brown is directing her to a staff member to work it out before she leaves the building.
#2 Dale Hanson (someone is reading his comment) Worried about reduced water usage in low-income areas and the effect on the system more broadly. The crew's root-cutting efforts display inexperience. Comments got very detailed about how to properly deal with roots.
#3 Cherrie Lockett There's a giant sinkhole in her back alley. Her autistic grandchild has already fallen in. Her alley is a street; everyone parks back there. She wants to get the sinkhole taken care of.
#4 Melanie Phililps Manages 5 communities and 300 residents. Took over management in Oct 2023 and has been trying to get access to the water bills. She had 10 households get their water shutoff because they did not have access to pay the bills.
Phillips thought the city gave notice (with door hangers) before shutting off water. Brown is saying they will work it out today and get her a direct contact for future issues.
Virtual comments: #5 Cecily McClellan from @WeThePeopleDet: There are Growing concerns around water shutoffs. Around 10,000 residents have not applied for recertification for the lifeline program. They would like to know their status.
Brown is ensuring the board that anyone in the program awaiting recertification will not be shut off. They are looking for additional funding to increase water affordability. Anyone in the lifeline program will not be shutoff until this is resolved (likely by January)
#6 Sonya Brown Question--on the letters that went out. What chemicals are being used? Brown made comments yesterday that they use chemicals to get rid of lead. Brown: They use Orthophosphates primowater.com/blog/friend-or…
primowater.com/blog/friend-or…
#7 Norelle Hemphill She pointed out that Cecily McClellan had more time for her public comment and was cut off. Hemphill is also from @WeThePeopleDet, noting that public comment was changed from 3 to 2 minutes. Why was the time diminished, and can it be restored?
This causes a lot of confusion and concern from residents. Echoing the comments/concerns about the Detroit Lifeline Plan, the recertification is going a little slow. "Water is a human right"...this is a public health concern
Brown: We will work very closely with We the People of Detroit on this issue. It doesn't make sense to keep people in this program if we don't have the money. We are going to have to make some tough decisions if we can't find the money.
This is why the process is going slow. Until this gets worked out, residents will not see service interruptions.
#8 Demeko Williams Why can't Brown say Detroit won't be like Flint? Concerned about tenants staying in buildings/homes with issues and BSEED entering tenants' homes. We don't have the best drinking water in the country, people are drinking bottled water.
Williams was cut off but commented about the flyering and public education.
#9 Concerned about the letter sent out to residents. There was no concern about how people would feel. How are 100 filters sent to the health department meant to get to residents? Speaking to issues of smells, flooding. How is this the best water in America?
#10 Gwen Howard from @WeThePeopleDet On the Lifeline Program--Brown has answered her question, but the applications that aren't moving because of funds--what about people that have fallen through the cracks? Referencing the 10 households recently shut off--are we there again?
#11 Tiffany Dupont Anderson Lifeline Program Recipient - Most people don't know about this meeting. If not for We the People of Detroit, she wouldn't feel educated on this. She doesn't get a water bill, that puts her in jeopardy of being shut off.
They have been working on water lines on her street for a few months. The sewer flies are everywhere and this is unacceptable on many levels.
Brown-we get a lot of criticism for the work they are doing Downtown Detroit, on Jefferson for example. They are also doing work in the neighborhoods, but this is what it looks like when there is this much work being done. The construction in neighborhoods is sorely needed.
Brown continues - they are doing some recertification for the Lifeline Program, the most needy seniors that are in the program. It is going slow because they need to know how much money they will have going forward.
#12 Concerned about an issue with the water line on their property. There used to be a tour for residents to see the water treatment process. She would like to see more filters delivered, especially to seniors.
A commissioner is commenting that concerns raised today worry him. These policies have been worked through and developed through their water advocate partners. You should not leave this meeting thinking that Detroit is anywhere close to the negligence that happened in Flint.
New business: - Purchase Order 3079434 approved/adopted - Purchase Order 3078749 approved/adopted
DWSD Contract 6006738 for replacement of sewers within the West Jefferson Avenue Neighborhood: this is a Detroit contractor. D, F and G are approved and adopted. They way they are going through these items is confusing and one of the commissioners pointed that out.
Onto item H 2024-224 - approve DWSD contract 6006767 (to provide curb stop box locks) is approved/adopted
Item I 2024-225 - approve DWSD contract 6006769 (repair of HVAC units) is adopted
Item J 2024-226 - approve DWSD Contract 6006772 (rental of as needed Caterpillar Construction Equiptment) is adopted
Item K 2024-227 - approve DWSD Contract 6006782 (Pedestrian Door Maintenance and Repair) is adopted
Item L 2024-228 Amendment No. 1 to DWSD Contract 6003967 ( for adequate funding and time for Water Main Repairs) is adopted
Item M 2024-229 Amendment No. 1 for DWSD Contract 6005722 (for building and renovation services for office space) is adopted
Audio has gone out at 3:45 PM I may have lost internet connection, had to reconnect to the meeting.
Item N 2024 - DWSD Contract 6006536 is a joint venture between 2 companies for as-needed water main repairs. This is a small Detroit company doing demos in the city, with less experience on water main repairs--so the joint venture gives them experience. Adopted. One abstention.
Item O 2024-231 DWSD Contract 6006808 (for hydrant and water main repairs) is adopted
Item P Approval of DWSD's Lead Service Line Replacement Policy. There was an extensive presentation at the earlier committee meeting. Adopted.
Here's a link to the slides shared in the meeting: dwsd.legistar.com/LegislationDet…
dwsd.legistar.com/LegislationDet…
If you believe anything in the coverage is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.
This concludes my live coverage of the DWSD Water Advisory Council Annual Meeting and the DWSD Board of Commissioners meeting for #Detroitdocumenters for more coverage visit detroitdocumenters.org
detroitdocumenters.org
Agency Information
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) is one of the largest water and sewer utilities in the United States, serving more than 200,000 Detroit residential and commercial accounts that includes a city population of nearly 680,000. DWSD’s water network consists of more than 2,700 miles of transmission and distribution mains and nearly 3,000 miles of sewer collection piping.
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