Council approves amendment to Great Lakes Water Authority contract, reduces flow limits

Hamtramck's City Council voted to approve Amendment No. 5 to the city's water service contract with the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), a change staff said corrects a drawing and lowers the city's contractual flow limits.

City staff explained two technical changes: an inaccurate drawing was corrected for the meter pit and the maximum-day flow was reduced from 1.77 million gallons per day to 1.64 million gallons per day, while the peak-hour flow limit was reduced from 2.74 million gallons to 2.51 million gallons. A staff speaker told the council these changes reflect updated usage data GLWA provided and will reduce the city's billing exposure tied to contract maximums.

Councilors pressed staff for estimated savings; staff said the reductions should yield savings in the long run but that GLWA has also adjusted unit prices. "Price GLWA has increased the price by 5.6%," a staff speaker said, adding that because of the lower contract limits "we won't feel [the price increase] as much." The presenter said the amendment becomes effective July 27 of the next year.

Council members noted progress on reducing system water loss, reporting figures described in the meeting: water loss has fallen from roughly 25-30% in prior years to about 12-13% more recently, which staff and members said has reduced costs and leak-related claims. The council unanimously approved the amendment by roll call.

Members asked staff to compile usage and billing detail from GLWA so the council can assess historical overbilling and potential chargebacks. Staff said they would follow up with the requested data.