Environmental advocates are criticizing a plan to scale back pollution controls for the sewer system that serves metro Detroit.
Officials with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department say population loss and the poor economy have forced them to revisit plans to build a massive underground tunnel along the Rouge River.
The tunnel would store untreated and partially treated sewage so that it wouldn’t get dumped into the river during rainstorms. Officials with DWSD say they still plan to build it, but it would be considerably smaller, and construction would be pushed back about a decade.
But critics say the public should be skeptical. James Clift of the Michigan Environmental Council says DWSD has consistently failed to deliver on promises of a cleaner system.
“Why should we believe you this time? We’ve had decades of permits being issued, and non-compliance from this system.”
Officials with the sewer system say their plan is affordable, and within Detroit’s ability to fund. And they say that will avoid delays tied to the city’s economic recovery.
There is a public hearing on the proposal tonight at 7:00 at U of M-Dearborn.
