Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano gathered Tuesday to announce the new tri-county water authority.

DETROIT — A historic deal has been reached among Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County Executives Robert Ficano, L. Brooks Patterson and Mark Hackel and Gov. Snyder to create the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) to manage water and sewer operations in the tri-county area.  The agreement lays a foundation for a more financially stable system, an opportunity to create efficiencies to better control rates and greater transparency. The deal continues Detroit’s ownership of its assets while providing suburban communities a greater voice in the operation of the regional system.  The agreement also guarantees funding to rebuild the system’s aging water infrastructure, as well as financial assistance for customers throughout the region who are struggling to pay their bills. 

The regional authority will be governed by a board made up of two members appointed by Mayor of Duggan and one appointed from each from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties and the Governor.  Major decisions, such as rate increases, will require five of the six votes to be approved.

In exchange for the use of its assets, suburban communities will pay the city of Detroit $50 million per year for the next 40 years. This will allow Detroit to finance up to $500 to 800 million in bonds to rebuild the city’s aged water and sewer system.  The majority of the city’s water mains are between 70 and 90 years old and failing at a rapid rate.  Detroiters have suffered through more than 5,000 water main breaks in just the last three years.

“Michigan’s continuing comeback is driven by people working together to do what is best for residents, communities, the region, and our state,” Gov. Snyder said. “I salute Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Public Works Director Jim Nash, Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, and Wayne County Executive Bob Ficano for their leadership in taking important steps toward creating a water authority that will benefit 4 million Michiganders.” 

Snyder added that the extraordinary bipartisan cooperation is aimed at creating a sustainable, regional water system that also provides necessary and crucial updates to the aging infrastructure, brings relief to residents and taxpayers by capping future rate increases and creates a fund to help customers in need throughout the region.