HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1963.09.09 - 20138Miscellaneous Resolution - September 9, 1963
BY: Mr. Yockey
IN RE: PROGRESS REPORT OF SPECIAL WATER COMMITTEE
TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Your Special Water Committee is concerned in keeping the Board informed on plans,
programs and developments of water supply lines and facilities from the City of Detroit to
the metropolitan areas in Oakland County.
From time to time during the past 18 months, the Committee has reviewed the
various phases of the program of the City of Detroit to extend water supply lines into
Oakland County, as well as plans to provide other sources of supply from Lake Huron and
the downriver channel in the vicinity of Fighting Island.
Meetings have also been held with members of the Southeastern Michigan Water
Authority, with the Director of the Regional Planning Commission and just recently, in
June of 1963, with Mr. Louis Schimmel, Oakland County's representative on the Detroit
Water Board, and also President of the Board.
These sessions have developed the following data which the Water Committee feels
will be of general interest to members of the Board of Supervisors at this time.
Plans for the Port Huron intake and transmission line call for the start of construction
in 1964 and completion in 1967. The exact location of the line will be determined on
whether or not the City of Flint decides to come into the system.
The ultimate system will have three separate intakes, the present Waterworks Park
intake (Belle Isle) on the Detroit River, a downriver intake in the channel just off Fighting
Island and the Port Huron intake. The intake system is so designed that water can be
pumped into the entire transmission network from any single intake and because they are
widely separated they will also provide protection and supply to the water system in the
event of enemy bombings or other catastrophic emergency.
Currently, the Detroit water system is serving 53 metropolitan communities and
contractual negotiations have been completed with 8 additional communities. These
communities represent over 41% of the total population of the State of Michigan and cover
an area of approximately 500 square miles. The City of Pontiac started pumping water
from Detroit the second week in August.
At the June meeting Mr. Schimmel stated that there is no lack of water and that
the problems experienced by some communities were due to mains of insufficient size in
their own internal systems trying to meet peak demands, such as lawn sprinkling and air-
conditioning needs during the hot summer months.
On July 1, 1963, the Detroit Water System pumped the maximum they have ever
pumped in any one day, 936,250,000 gallons. Between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and
8:00 p.m. on that same day they pumped the maximum in any 24 hour period: 55,820,000
gallons, which is at the rate of 1338 million gallons daily. The approximate maximum
daily rate is 1400 million gallons from the Belle Isle intake, the only intake in operation
at the present time. In late August or September of 1963, the downriver intake will be
ready for operation.
Your Committee is of the opinion that the theory of a metropolitan water supply as
the only solution for the whole area appears to be settled. Since there is unlikely to be a
second major supplier of water in the metropolitan area, the Detroit Water System will have
to meet the needs.
In direct response to a question by the Committee, Mr. Schimmel stated that the
Detroit Water Board was ready to furnish water to any area in Oakland County, provided
there were enough customers to make it financially feasible.
With assets of $300,000,000, the Detroit Water System has an annual income of
approximately $22,000,000, is self-supporting, and the Detroit Water Board enjoys a
credit rating of AA on water bonds.
The Water Board wants to sell as much water as it can.
Wrirv- in -1\-4.-w-ard oy F. Goodspeed
Louis A. Demute Cyriii F. m1171,
This is a summary progress report. Further reports will be presented to the Board
when major developments occur in the Detroit Water Board plans and programs as they may
affect the County of Oakland.
MR. CHAIRMAN, on behalf of the Special Water Committee, I move that the fore-
going report be received and placed on file.
SPEC I AL WATER COMMITTEE
L. Yockey lai--)
Tiarkson Richeird W. Marsha