Last year, two separate agencies studied water rates charged to 126 communities by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.
The Raftelis report, commissioned by the Oakland County Drain Commissioner, concluded that the DWSD overcharged 30 Oakland County communities by $13 million. A report done by the DWSD concluded there were no rate overcharges.
Now State Senator Laura Toy is asking communities using Detroit water to request the Southeast Michigan Consortium on Water Quality to conduct an independent audit together with a Best Business Practice and Efficiency Study of the entire DWSD system.
Toy’s hoping the new study would reconcile the findings of the two conflicting reports. She said before any municipalities increase their water rates to match any DWSD increases, they should want to know whether or not the DWSD rate increases are necessary
Lake Orion Village Council members agreed on Jan. 12 to support Toy’s request. They’ll also be urging the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments to pay for the report if the consortium doesn’t have the money to do so.