The city of Highland Park has been grappling with a water debt crisis for years, owing millions of dollars to the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA). The debt has left many residents struggling to pay their water bills, fearing shutoffs and further financial strain.
In October 2023, a tentative deal was reached between GLWA and Highland Park to end the dispute, but the agreement is still unsettled and needs approval from all parties involved. If approved, the deal would dismiss ongoing lawsuits, including a $24 million judgment against Highland Park, and provide funding for historic infrastructure repairs in the city and within the GLWA service area. According to Highland Park Mayor Glenda McDonald, the path to clearing the debt involved the city making a $1 million “good faith payment” to ensure that the remaining provisions outlined in the agreement would be adhered to by all parties.
One of the major contributors to the water debt crisis in Highland Park is the decades of neglect and underinvestment in the city’s aging infrastructure. The city’s water system has been in dire need of repair, with so many of the city’s pipes predate World War I. The cost of fixing the system has been passed down to generations of residents, who are already struggling to make ends meet and are dealing with the impact of water rates that are among the highest in the state. To make matters worse, the city’s rates have led to a cycle of debt, with residents struggling to pay their bills and the city struggling to collect payments.
“I’m barely scraping by as it is,” said Highland Park resident Sarah Johnson. “I can’t afford to pay my water bill, let alone the extra fees and penalties they’re charging me.”
Johnson is not alone. Many residents in Highland Park are struggling to pay their water bills, with some facing shutoffs and further financial strain. The situation has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left many residents without jobs or a steady income.
The tentative deal between GLWA and Highland Park offers a glimmer of hope for residents. If approved, the deal would provide funding for infrastructure repairs and offer financial assistance to residents struggling to pay their water bills.
In addition to the deal, there are resources available to help residents struggling to pay their water bills. The city offers a water assistance program that provides financial assistance to low-income residents who are struggling to pay their water bills.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services offers emergency assistance for households that are facing a water shutoff or have already had their water shut off. The United Way of Southeastern Michigan has a water assistance program that provides financial assistance to residents who are struggling to pay their water bills. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department offers a water assistance program that provides financial assistance to low-income residents who are struggling to pay their water bills.
THAW (The Heat and Warmth Fund) offers utility assistance for residents all across Michigan, including Highland Park. Additionally, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a partnership with The Heat and Warmth Fund on Tuesday, November 21st, 2023, to provide water bill assistance to Highland Park residents. The State of Michigan has committed millions of dollars in infrastructure repairs to Highland Park’s nearly 120-year-old water system.
“To help ensure Highland Park residents can access safe, affordable drinking water, I am proud to announce a partnership with THAW to help lower bills on our path to implementing the historic settlement agreement we brokered last month,” Whitmer said in November when she announced the partnership.
“I’m thankful to THAW for raising its hand to help and to GLWA and Highland Park for working together in good faith on a deal that will ensure residents can access water, as the state helps the city with long overdue infrastructure upgrades. Since I took office, we’ve made record investments in water infrastructure and affordability. I’ll continue to work with anyone to keep rates affordable, and most importantly, keep safe water flowing to every home.”
Residents can also seek help from local nonprofits, such as the Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency’s Water Affordability Program and The Human Utility, which both offer financial assistance and counseling to residents struggling to pay their water bills.
While the tentative deal and available resources offer hope for residents, the water debt crisis in Highland Park is a reminder of the need for long-term solutions to address the city’s aging infrastructure and high water rates. Until then, residents will continue to struggle to pay their water bills, fearing shutoffs and further financial strain.
“I just want to be able to pay my bill and have access to clean water,” said Johnson. “It’s not too much to ask, is it?”
Mayor McDonald noted that the city is expected to have a final decision from the courts on the tentative agreement with GLWA as soon as the first half of June. If the agreement is finalized, McDonald said it would provide an immediate economic boost to both the city and its residents.
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