We Are One Water

The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) provides nearly 40 percent of Michigan’s population with water of unquestionable quality, as well as effective and efficient wastewater services to nearly 30 percent of the state.

GLWA is all about the movement of water from the environment, to our member partners, and back to the environment. We ensure our member partner communities get the highest quality water using treatment standards that are stricter than state or federal regulatory requirements.

And once the water has been used, we run it through our treatment process again before returning it to the environment – often cleaner than when we received it.

Working hand-in-hand with our member partners, we provide water and wastewater services of the highest quality. Together, we are one water.

OUR MISSION

To exceed our member partners’ expectations by utilizing best practices in the treatment and transmission of water and wastewater, while promoting healthy communities and economic growth.

OUR VISION

Through regional collaboration, GLWA strives to be the provider of choice, dedicated to efficiently delivering the nation’s best water and sewer services in partnership with our member partners.

FORMING THE AUTHORITY

GLWA began operations as an independent regional water and wastewater authority, separate from the Detroit Water and Sewer Department (DWSD) in 2016. The formation and stand-up of GLWA was an integral part in the plan to position Detroit and southeast Michigan for long-term success.

To achieve this, GLWA signed a 40-year lease for control over the DWSD treatment plants, major water transmission mains, sewage interceptors and related facilities for $50 million per year. The funds go directly toward capital improvement for the City of Detroit retail water system and to repair Detroit’s aging water infrastructure.

It took an unprecedented level of regional collaboration to form the Great Lakes Water Authority, but on January 1, 2016, we assumed operations and got to work.