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Highland Park officials say new master meters cut measured water use, open path to lower GLWA bills
Summary
Water Director Damon Garrett said completion of Highland Park—s master‑meter and sewer‑meter projects now yields precise readings that reduce measured water and sewer volumes; city leaders said they will renegotiate terms with the Great Lakes Water Authority to seek bill relief.
Highland Park has completed a long‑running master‑meter project that officials say provides the first accurate citywide measurement of water use in more than a decade and gives the city leverage to seek lower utility charges from the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA).
"As of Oct. 15 the last master meter was installed in the ground," Water Director Damon Garrett told residents at a Dec. town hall at the Ernest T. Ford Fieldhouse. Garrett said the meters show average daily water use is about 0.921 million gallons — far lower than previously reported spikes — and that sewer‑flow meters installed at 19 locations give the city hard data on sewage and stormwater volumes.
Why it matters: Highland Park has long disputed GLWA billing after its municipal plant closed in 2012. Garrett said the meters let the city move from estimates and historical usage figures to verifiable readings, and the city is negotiating contract terms to reflect the new measurements and to pass savings to residents. He explained that sewer charges make up an estimated 85% of the city's current GLWA charges and that reducing measured sewage volume can produce substantial savings.
What officials reported: Garrett summarized three concurrent projects this year — the FY2023 water‑main work (including 87 lead service‑line replacements), the FY2024 project (about 2.6 miles complete and 73 lead lines replaced through mid‑October), and the master‑meter installations. He acknowledged community frustration during construction (potholes, house entries for lead‑line work, and three boil‑water alerts in a short span in spring) and said restoration work will continue into spring.
Officials provided comparative figures in plain terms: earlier estimates put daily water use around 2.2 million gallons (historical), and during emergency purchases after the plant closed use appeared to spike to about 3.25 million gallons per day; new metering shows substantially lower usage. Garrett said the change in measured volumes could reduce the city—s overall billing obligation by millions of dollars if GLWA accepts the revised figures.
Next steps: Garrett said the city is negotiating with GLWA to incorporate the meters' data into billing and hopes to secure relief before the next rate‑setting cycle. He also described ongoing stormwater and road projects tied to state grants and noted engineering work for road repairs planned in 2026. The city will continue outreach and restoration work and said residents should expect more information as contract talks progress.
The water department framed these changes as foundational for future rate discussions rather than immediate rate cuts; Garrett said formal rate adjustments will depend on the outcome of GLWA negotiations and subsequent council decisions.
