DWSD Serves City of Flint with Notice of Intent to Terminate Water Supply in April, 2014

On April 17, 2013, one day after the City of Flint rejected a best and final offer to remain a customer, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department served written notice on the City of Flint that it would terminate its nearly 50 year old agreement to provide drinking water effective April 17, 2014.

The City of Flint voted on March 25, 2013 to leave DWSD and join the Karegnondi Water Authority. Flint's decision was subject to approval by the State of Michigan, which approved the decision on  April 11, 2013, subject to consideration of a best and final offer from Detroit.

A contract to construct the raw water intake pipeline for the Karegnondi Water Authority was bid on February 26, 2013. Once bonds and are sold and a notice to proceed is issued to the contractor, construction is expected to take 30 months. 

Its unclear right now what Flint will do for water in 12 months after its contract with DWSD is formally terminated or how it will pay for the more than $50 million in capital improvements that are required for the Flint Water Treatment Plant, which currently serves only as a back-up to DWSD and is operated only a few times a year. In addition, Flint must address the problem of chronic water loss due to leaks and theft. According to a 2011 audit, 30-40% of the water Flint buys from Detroit is lost due to leaky pipes.   

Update: Late Friday, it was reported by the Flint Journal (here) that Governor Snyder met privately in Detroit with officials from Flint, Genesee County and DWSD. 

Click here to read online the full text of the Notice of Termination. If you'd like to get a copy of DWSD's Notice of Termination, write me here, and put "Flint Letter" in the subject line. 

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