DETROIT – The mayor and other city officials gave an update on how the cleanup process is going after a water main break caused flooding in Southwest Detroit.
The 54-inch water main that was built in the 1930s burst early on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, displacing hundreds of residents.
Many basements were completely flooded, and the water was up to the first floor of some homes.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and other officials discussed the latest updates and thanked crews and volunteers for working quickly to get residents back into their homes.
The following six-step process is being used by the city to address each home, according to Duggan:
- Inspection
- Remove debris from basements
- Sanitize and clean the home
- Replace furnaces and water heaters
- Bring family through home for final inspection
- Move family from the hotel back into the house
“We’re gonna have to do that 200 times and we’re gonna attempt to do it with the kind of care you would expect if it were your own home,” said Duggan.
The mayor said as of Monday night (Feb. 24), all of the inspections are nearly done, and 58 houses are past the second phase, meaning all debris has been removed from those basements. An additional 25 houses have already been sanitized as well.
By Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, Duggan expects the five contractors to be replacing or repairing furnaces and water heaters in the homes, the fourth phase of the process.
Detroit’s Sewerage and Water Department Director Gary Brown said it will take a minimum of six weeks for crews to complete the six-step process.
Right now, the city is focusing on getting homes ready for residents to move back in, but once that’s done officials will go through the reimbursement process and address the claims.
Some residents will have the fourth phase completed this week, while it won’t be done on some homes for four to five weeks.
Todd King, the chief resiliency officer for the Great Lakes Water Authority said they haven’t found any additional damage on other areas of the transmission line, but said considering the age of the pipe, officials have concerns.
It will be about two weeks for service to be restored, according to King.
Donations
City officials said there is still a need for donated items and volunteers.
The Patton Recreation Center, located at 2301 Woodmere Street in Detroit, is accepting donations to support those impacted by the main break. Items in high demand include the following:
- Food and water
- Toiletries (e.g. Shampoo, deodorant, soap)
- Baby essentials (e.g. Diapers, wipes, formula)
- Cleaning supplies
The recreation center is now open from 6 a.m. to midnight.
