 New Era Begins with New Water Authority
Great Lakes Water Authority Stands Up on New Year’s Day
With the start of the New Year comes the beginning of a new era for our region as the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) officially becomes operational. The initial “stand-up” of the Great Lakes Water Authority was completed on January 1, 2016. This transition of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) into two new organizations was successfully accomplished after nearly two years of intense planning, negotiation, and hard work by many stakeholders including the Water Resources Commissioner’s office and the Oakland County Executive’s office.
GLWA now begins management and control of regional water and wastewater services and facilities, while DWSD will retain control of the local water and sewer systems that provide services directly to the retail customers of the City of Detroit.
Information on GLWA is available at its new website, www.glwater.org. Information about DWSD can be found on the City of Detroit’s website, www.detroitmi.gov/dwsd.
“We strongly believe this major change ushers in a new era of increased transparency, better efficiency, more collaboration and overall sustainability for the region,” said Jim Nash, Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner. “We worked hard on this effort and we can now better prepare for a brighter and more prosperous future.”
Jim Nash
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 In order to work on important and emerging public infrastructure and water quality issues, Chuck Hersey of Public Sector Consultants was hired to assist and advise the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner with an emphasis on two key issues which transcend the county and the region. Mr. Hersey has been facilitating work groups during 2015 consisting of engineers, public works directors, attorneys, and planners to build the broad based consensus and support Oakland County and the whole state needs to succeed.
The first issue is exceptions to governmental immunity for basement flooding from sewage systems. Draft bill language has been developed to revise state legislation in order to prevent lawsuits in cases where rainfall was so extensive that some flooding was inevitable. This will enable Oakland County to use public funding to invest in infrastructure that can help mitigate climate change instead of defending multiple lawsuits that have no merit.
The other major issue is the flip side of basement flooding - which is enabling local governments to fund water quality improvements to support economic prosperity. Focus is on needed stormwater infrastructure creation and improvements to help prevent flooding and also protect water quality. Background issue papers explaining the science, the legal issues, the structural issues, and the implications for the state are evolving by leveraging the expertise of the workgroup. Exciting progress is expected in 2016.
The crowd grows bigger each year, on Friday October 9th where Lawrence Technological University hosted the nearly 300 attendees of Michigan’s Third Annual Stormwater Summit. The Summit was organized by Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash and Pure Oakland Water (POW), along with Lawrence Technological University in Southfield.
Interested businesses, government, and environmental advocates were on hand to hear presentations from local and out of state experts giving the latest information on developmental technology, successful programs and funding opportunities, as well as regional collaborations, and climate impact updates. Table vendors included organizations like the Sierra Club, the Clinton River Watershed Council, and companies with expert technology and ability to work wonders in managing water systems, such as Parjana and Interfaceh2o. Fritz Klingler P.E., President of FK Engineering stated, “We wanted to be here to support the efforts of Jim Nash who has taken a huge lead in supporting green infrastructure and smart solutions to developing the stormwater problems that we have here, as well as network with other folks involved in the effort, and hopefully learn a thing or two!”
“We think we are helping the region move forward on this emerging set of issues," said Craig Covey, WRC Community Liaison and conference organizer. “We want to see local and state government and business work together to help protect our lakes and rivers and reduce the risks from pollution and flooding for future generations.”
Thanks to: Cathleen Francois
Greening Detroit
The WRC is pleased to be continually recognized for high
levels of service and achievement across the spectrum.
This certificate commemorates 30 years of
collaboration and partnership by the Pontiac wastewater treatment plant and
the Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality.
In December, the Construction and Drain Maintenance Unit of the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner's office had the opportunity to engage in community outreach and assistance when they joined other volunteers at the Grace Center of Hope in Downtown Pontiac preparing and serving food to the men, women and children there. Both the GCOH program participants and the WRC CDM crew had a great time and said it was an amazing experience.
Also in December, the annual WRC Casual Friday charity drive came to an end for 2015 with the donation of more than $3,000 to three local charities in Oakland County.
Checks for $1,100 each went to the local chapter of the Salvation Army, the American Cancer Society, and CARE House of Oakland County. In exchange for being able to wear casual clothes on Fridays, staff members donate a dollar each week to the “kitty.” At the end of the year these funds are totaled and employees vote on charitable causes to support.
Finally, in addition to supporting other county fundraising programs such as the Girl Scouts and the March of Dimes, the staff also collects blankets, sheets and towels for donation to the Oakland County Animal Shelter for its dogs, cats, puppies and kittens.
“This is the kind of interaction with the greater
community that I love to see with our WRC staff members. They try to make
a difference and they make me proud,” said Jim Nash, Oakland County Water
Resource Commissioner.
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