On behalf of Fausone & Grysko, PLC on Friday, July 10, 2015.

At a special joint meeting Wednesday, July 8, officials with the Great Lakes Water Authority – the new regional water authority – and the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department received an update on the Detroit water department’s master plan.

The five-year master plan is projected to save the city about $40 million annually in operating costs. These savings would come from closing operations at one of five water treatment plants, and scaling back energy costs and implementing similar changes designed to accommodate declining water sales.

Jim Fausone, Fausone & Grysko, PLC partner and chairman of the DWSD Board of Water Commissioners, says a primary benefit of the plan is helping leaders in Detroit and the suburbs avoid future water rate hikes. Jim was quoted in the Detroit Free Press Wednesday saying, “The best we can do is drive out of the cost structure any excessive costs. That’s part of what the water master plan does.” Jim says it is reasonable to expect the DWSD board to take up the master plan in September.