GLWA Continues Emergency Response Work on 54-inch Water Main in Southwest Detroit
GLWA CONTINUES EMERGENCY RESPONSE WORK ON 54-INCH WATER TRANSMISSION MAIN IN SOUTHWEST DETROIT
Repairs on GLWA’s 54-inch water transmission main have been completed.
DWSD has completed the repair of its six-inch water main and water quality testing is underway.
DTE Energy is scheduled to repair its gas main the week of March 10.
Sewer cleaning in the impacted area to remove debris created by the break has been completed.
GLWA engineering and operations teams are evaluating the best next steps to ready the 54-inch transmission main for service.
DETROIT – The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) continues its critical role as a part of the broader emergency response to a break on a 54-inch steel water transmission main at Beard and Rowan in Southwest Detroit that occurred in the early morning hours of Monday, February 17, 2025.
GLWA crews and contractors have completed the repair of the 54-inch transmission main. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) has also completed the repair of its six-inch water main that was damaged in the original main break, and the required water quality testing will be complete by the end of this week. GLWA and DWSD have also completed the cleaning of sewers in the impacted area to remove debris created by the break.
DTE Energy crews are scheduled to complete the repair of its damaged gas line the week of March 10, 2025.
With the repair of the 54-inch main complete, GLWA’s engineering and operations teams are evaluating the full length of the main to determine the best next steps to ready it for service.
More updates will be provided as they become available.
Residents impacted by the water main break can call (313) 774-5261 to be connected to emergency resources through the City of Detroit.
Linear System Integrity Program
GLWA’s Linear System Integrity Program (LSIP), launched in 2021, is an ongoing program of pipeline assessment and renewal. The program is designed to proactively assess water transmission mains and wastewater interceptors and renew deteriorated pipelines to reduce the impacts of failures, improve service levels and increase reliability of GLWA’s linear assets.
The goals of the LSIP are to plan and execute condition assessments for critical pipelines; reduce impacts on Member Partners; maximize value of existing infrastructure to realize large scale return on investment and support positive social, economic and environmental impacts.
The first phase of this program occurs over the initial six years of the program, with GLWA working to assess and rehabilitate more than 100 miles of its drinking water transmission main network throughout southeast Michigan.
LSIP 2023 Annual Report
Discover program goals, milestones, and highlights from 2023 as we look to the future of the Linear System Integrity Program.
What’s Happening Now?
GLWA conducted condition assessment on seven miles of 36-inch transmission main on 24 Mile Road between Gaskill Ct W in Shelby Township to Romeo Plank Road in Macomb Township. Condition assessment consisted of removing the pipeline from service, draining it, and performing entry into the pipe for electromagnetic inspection, as well as visual and sounding inspection. Nine pipe segments were found to be in a state of incipient failure, requiring emergency renewal prior to returning the transmission main back in service. Renewal of the pipe segments was performed using carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). Work began early March 2024 and the emergency renewals were completed at the end of May 2024. The transmission main returned to service prior to Memorial Day.
GLWA completed the condition assessment using electromagnetics and visual and sounding inspection methods on the balance of the 4.5 miles of the 36-inch transmission main on 24 Mile Road between Romeo Plank Road and Fairchild Road mid-July. The results of the condition assessment will be reviewed and emergency repairs will be made prior to returning this portion of the pipe back to service.
