An Integrated Partnering Approach to Determining Cost Responsibility For Detroit's Investment in Combined Sewer Overflow Facilities

Recently enacted environmental regulations governing disposal of wastewater are challenging traditional collection and treatment techniques practiced by municipal wastewater utilities. These regulations address discharge of untreated combined sewage (defined as wastewater consisting of both sanitary and storm flows during rain events) to the nation's receiving streams. Significant efforts have been dedicated to engineer new approaches to dispose of these flows in a more environmentally friendly manner that protects the water quality of those waterways. These approaches will require significant investments by communities, which must be supported through sewer rates. In essence, the new regulations have also challenged the traditional methods for determining cost responsibility and sewer rates for municipal wastewater utilities. Such was the case for the City of Detroit and Southeastern Michigan.