FORT GRATIOT TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The troubled water transmission main in Metro Detroit is nearly ready to resume normal operations several weeks after a leak was discovered and forced the main to shut down.
The Great Lakes Water Authority announced Friday that quality testing shows the water flowing through the repaired pipe “meets or surpasses regulatory standards.” The GLWA has been disinfecting and flushing the 10-foot-diameter pipe at its Lake Huron treatment facility since early September.
The process of disinfecting and flushing came after the damaged pipe was removed and a new pipe piece was installed in its place. The installation took longer than expected, as work was postponed due to several delivery delays.
The water transmission main, which distributes drinking water to several Metro Detroit communities, was shut down in mid-August when a leak was discovered in the pipe. Repairs were initially expected to be finished by Sept. 3, then the completion date was changed to Sept. 21 earlier this month. Last week, officials said the disinfecting and flushing process was taking longer than expected, and that the main should be up and running again by Oct. 5.
GLWA officials confirmed Friday that they are on track to return to normal operations by Oct. 5.
UPDATE: Troubled Metro Detroit water main resumes operations after weeks of repair
When the leak was discovered on Aug. 13, boil water advisories were issued to more than 20 Metro Detroit communities as a precaution due to a change in water pressure. Those boil water notices have since been lifted, but those same communities may experience “limited fluctuations in their water pressure” during the next few days amid the restoration, officials said.
The company does not anticipate any “major impacts to the regional system” as the water main is restored to regular operations.
Photos from the water main repair process can be seen below.