Detroit Installs Temporary Dams to Prevent Flooding
Detroit plans to start installing temporary dams next week for $2 million to protect against rising Detroit River levels.
Last year, nearly seven billion of river and storm water flowed into the Connor Creek water treatment facility.
Detroit crews, the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers and subcontractors will do the work, according to Crain’s Detroit Business. It is expected to be completed by May 1st.
The city wants to protect its sewer system from getting overloaded and failing during storms, according to the release.
"The Conner Creek wet weather treatment facility serves a large portion of Detroit and several east side suburban communities," said Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Director Gary Brown. "If it were to fail, we potentially would have another public health crisis because the combined sewage would have nowhere else to go but back up into residents' basements."
Detroit wants to be proactive instead of reactive, according to Brown.
The temporary Tiger Dam system Detroit is using is made up of stacked, flexible tubes filled with water.
"Last week, residents were notified of the coming installation of the dam and directed to remove any obstacles to accessing the property or the seawall area from that portion of their property," said the city's release. "If residents do not comply, the city will remove the obstacles and, if necessary, bill the property owner for the cost."
Rising water levels has increasingly become an issue in Michigan, eroding shorelines and prompting lawmakers late last year to urge Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency.
