Highland Park officials said accurate metering installed this year gives the city its first reliable water and sewer usage data since the local plant closed in 2012, and they are pressing the Great Lakes Water Authority for reduced charges based on the new readings.

Damon Garrett, Highland Park's water director, said the final master meter was placed in the ground Oct. 15, enabling the city to measure water consumption directly rather than relying on proxy estimates. Garrett told the community the new meters show current water use around 0.921 million gallons per day and measured sewage/drainage volumes that are significantly lower than previous estimates used in billing calculations.

Garrett said the city previously saw reported sewage/drainage volumes as high as roughly 5.0 million gallons per day but that in-place sewer meters and master meters indicate actual outflows closer to 2.9 million gallons per day. Because sewer charges make up about 85% of Highland Park's large water/sewer bills, he said accepting the new meter readings in contract calculations could produce multimillion-dollar savings.

The master-meter installation followed two overlapping water-main projects: a FY23 project that replaced about 87 lead service lines and an FY24 project that to date had replaced about 73 lead service lines through mid-October. Garrett said the city has completed roughly 2.6 miles of the FY24 work so far and expects several additional miles next year.

Garrett described operational difficulties tied to simultaneous projects: numerous valve isolations and directional drills contributed to a spike in water-main breaks and three boil-water alerts over a roughly six-week period in spring. He told residents the meter data will strengthen the city's case in contract renegotiations and allow Highland Park to seek rate relief and pass savings to customers once adjustments are agreed with GLWA.

Beyond metering, Garrett outlined related infrastructure work planned or under way: installation of sewer meters at 19 manholes to directly measure wastewater flow, permeable pavement and parking-lot work at the recreation center funded by a state stormwater grant (slated for completion in 2026), sinkhole repairs via a contractor (about $250,000), and road projects for Glendale and Manchester totaling about $2 million in 2026.

Garrett said the city is negotiating how the newly measured usage will be incorporated into GLWA billing contracts and urged residents that, when contract changes are finalized, the city will use any relief to reduce rate pressure.

The water director also reaffirmed the city's ongoing effort to replace lead service lines and expand public outreach: two town halls this year, a virtual session, and an "Ask the Director" hour earlier in the week to answer resident questions.

Highland Park Mayor Glenda McDonald and state lawmakers were acknowledged for assistance in securing funds for roads and water projects; officials said negotiations with GLWA are continuing and that rate-setting decisions tie to those results.