Image courtesy of Highland Park Water Department
Editorial note: This article has been updated to reflect accurate information regarding lead service lines reported from the Highland Park Water Department.
The Highland Park Water Department is making significant strides in modernizing its infrastructure to ensure reliable and safe water service for the community. Recent upgrades include replacing 12 miles of sewer lines and 15 miles of water mains, accounting for 25% of the system’s total water mains. Additionally, 100 hydrants and valves have been replaced to enhance fire safety and water distribution efficiency. The department has replaced 668 lead service lines to date. These improvements reflect the department’s commitment to upgrading its network and addressing critical infrastructure needs.
Highland Park is taking a significant step toward improving its water system with the installation of master meters, a key initiative aimed at enhancing billing accuracy and operational efficiency. These meters will precisely measure the volume of water entering the city from the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), ensuring that water consumption is accurately recorded.
This project addresses long-standing billing discrepancies and fulfills a critical condition of a lawsuit settlement with GLWA. The master meters are being installed at strategic locations, including Hamilton Avenue and Webb Street, Hamilton Avenue, and McNichols Road, and McNichols Road and John R. Street, marking a pivotal development in the city’s efforts to modernize its infrastructure.
The project to enhance the city’s water infrastructure has been carefully planned with a detailed timeline spanning 2024 and 2025. In January 2024, a lawsuit with the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) was settled, paving the way for progress. By April 2024, the hydraulic modeling and design process was initiated, followed by the City Council’s approval of master meter locations and contractors in November 2024.
The bid submission process was finalized in December 2024, setting the stage for construction to begin in February 2025 at Hamilton Avenue/Webb Street and Hamilton Avenue/McNichols Road. By April 2025, two master meters are expected to be completed, with data collection beginning, pending state approval. The project will culminate in September 2025 with the completion of the final master meter at McNichols Road/John R. Street, marking a significant milestone in the city’s efforts to improve water service and infrastructure.
The new system will collect water usage data every 15 minutes, allowing for a more detailed understanding of how water is used throughout the community. Two types of meters will be installed: retail meters, which will measure individual water usage in homes, facilities, and businesses, and master meters, which will be positioned at key entry points to track the total volume of water entering the city’s distribution system. The initiative also includes replacing lead service lines, further enhancing the city’s infrastructure, and prioritizing public health.
The director of the Highland Park Water Department, Damon Garrett, highlights what is happening in January to start rectifying things for residents by installing the master meters.
“These master meters will finally give us real data on how much water Highland Park is actually using. Right now, the estimated water use is just that—estimated. We don’t have a numeric measurement of the water coming into the city, which was a major point in the lawsuit with GLWA,” Garrett said.
To date, significant progress has been made in replacing lead service lines with funding from the State of Michigan, with 668 already replaced. Looking ahead, 102 additional replacements are scheduled for completion in 2025, and approximately 1,000 more lines will be replaced between 2026 and 2028. These efforts emphasize a continued commitment to improving water infrastructure and ensuring safer service for residents.
Once the service lines on a street have been replaced using state funds, homeowners are responsible for any future replacements of lead service lines on vacant or newly occupied lots. The city has clarified that it will not return to streets where replacements have already been completed, citing funding limitations. This policy underscores the importance of homeowners taking proactive steps to address lead service line issues on their properties if they were not initially included in the state-funded replacements.
Highland Park has maintained excellent water quality, with no lead exceedances reported since 2019 and lead levels consistently remaining below state regulatory limits. To ensure the safety and reliability of its water supply, the city utilizes a Drinking Water Asset Management (DWAM) Grant to assess and identify the composition of service lines.
The Highland Park Water Department oversees an extensive sewer system spanning 137 miles of lines. As part of its ongoing efforts to improve sewer billing accuracy, the department has implemented temporary sewer meters to monitor system usage. This monitoring period will inform the installation of permanent meters, ensuring a more precise and efficient billing process for the community.
A new ordinance currently under development as part of the Green Infrastructure Initiative seeks to address environmental concerns by reducing impervious surfaces throughout the city, such as pavement and concrete. This initiative aims to minimize runoff into the sewer system, which can overwhelm infrastructure and contribute to pollution.
By promoting more sustainable surface materials, the ordinance helps reduce environmental impact and offers financial benefits, as it is expected to lower charges from the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA). This innovative approach is part of ongoing efforts to create a more eco-friendly and cost-efficient urban environment.
“The consumption is associated with the usage. So that’s one of the major components. So we know how much water they’re using in their home,” Garrett said.
“Based on those residential meters, we’re going to have real units now, and that is part of how we will determine what the bill will be for everybody using water going forward.”
Residents and businesses can stay updated on these projects by attending city council meetings for detailed updates and discussions, and visiting www.highlandparkmi.gov.
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