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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1961.09.18 - 19443Miscellaneous Resolution September 18, 1961 BY: Mr. Yockey IN RE: PROGRESS REPORT TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: During the past 12 months the Committee has continued to review the various phases of the program of the City of Detroit to extend water supply lines into the County, as well as the plan to provide a second source of supply from Lake Huron. A year ago Mr. Louis H. Schimmel was appointed as the County's first permanent representative on the Detroit Water Board. This appointment was made by the Mayor of the City of Detroit after a Charter amendment authorized membership on the Board from areas outside the City. The latter part of 1960 the Committee held a joint session with the County Planning Commission. At that time a report was received from Mr. Gerald J. Remus, General Manager of the Detroit Water Board, on the plans to build an additional water intake from Lake Huron to protect the system from the possibility of contamination from radioactive materials. He reported that it has been recommended that such intake be 50 miles distant from the Detroit area. Plans to extend water supply lines to serve areas in Oakland and Macomb Counties were also presented to the Committee at that time. The Committee has also held meetings with Mr. Schimmel, members of the South- eastern Michigan Water Authority, and the Director of the Regional Planning Commission. These sessions have developed the following data which the Water Committee feels is of general interest to members of the Board at this time. The Detroit Water Board has authorized the employment of engineers to plan for the Lake Huron water intake project, which is scheduled by 1967. As a result of the execution of a water contract by Pontiac with the Detroit Water Board, plans for the construction of a line north on Dequindre and across on South Boulevard to Pontiac are under way and the line is to be completed in 1963. The Southeastern Michigan Water Authority has been quite inactive for the past year and a half. The Authority, which is composed of representatives of Oakland and Macomb Counties (3 each), was incorporated in 1956 under Act 23 of the Public Acts of 1955. Although it was organized to provide a Lake Huron water supply for the two counties, and had a comprehensive report prepared which was paid for by the two counties, it was never able to secure sufficient water customers to enable it to construct a water line and function as an operating authority. This Authority should not be confused with the Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority which furnishes water to the Cities of Berkley, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Clawson, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak and Southfield. Although the Southeastern Michigan Water Authority has not been able to carry out its original purpose -- to provide a supply of water from Lake Huron -- and presently has no definite plans or programs, its existence has been valuable to the two counties. Because of this positive action of the two counties acting through the Southeastern Michigan Water Authority, the Detroit Water Board reversed its previous policy and has now expressed its intention to supply water to portions of Oakland and Macomb Counties and to go to Lake Huron north of Port Huron for another source of water. The City of Pontiac has completed a contract with the Detroit Water Board to supply them with water and several other municipalities have or are now in the process of entering into such agreements. The Committee at a meeting in J4y adopted a resolution to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that consideration of steps to dissolve the Authority be deferred for at least twelve months. The Regional Planning Commission in 1960 conducted a survey of public water facilities and prepared a report covering priorities for improvement and extension of water services in the Detroit Region. This report listed the following Oakland County munici- palities as either having inadequate water systems or none at all -- and as having immediate need for extension and improvement of water services: Beverly Hills Pontiac Clawson Southfield Farmington Township Waterford Township With the exception of Waterford Township, the needs for a sufficient water supply of the above mentioned units are adequately provided for either by the Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority or by recently executed long-term water contracts with Detroit. However, there is a need for improvements in some local distribution systems which is the direct responsibility of those units. The Regional Planning Commission several years ago pointed out that the regional system required more than one intake. With the Detroit Water Board's plan to utilize Lake Huron as a second intake, the hazard of both sanitation and disaster which might result from the availability of a single intake such as the one at Belle Isle will be overcome. There are problems on the West side of the region involving the flow of water in the Huron River that may eventually require another source of water for the municipalities in that area, particularly those in Washtenaw and the border of western Wayne County. The disposal of used water from sewage disposal plants, the flow of the Huron River and the addition of some other water supply are all tied together. Whether these needs will arise in 10, 20 or 30 years will depend on the rapidity of urban build-up, population and economic growth in these areas. The damming up of water along the Huron River is a water management problem that cannot be solved by unilateral action of any unit of government. A water management Fred L. Yockey, Chairman Cyril E. k7:;\-:' v.00dspeed Ric Ai I ler shall policy on an inter-community or even an inter-county basis is needed, which takes into consideration communities many miles downstream that are affected by water impoundments. Further, with the increase in the development of artificial lakes, requirements should be set up to prevent diversion of water. The Water Committee suggests that those members of the Board who may desire more detailed information on the water study of the Regional Planning Commission obtain a copy of their report entitled "Water Service Priorities for the Detroit Region." This is a progress report. Further reports will be presented to the Board when there are major developments in the Detroit Water Board plans which affect the County. MR, CHAIRMAN, I move that the foregoing report be received and placed on file. SPECIAL WATER COMMITTEE