Project Overview

The City of Detroit is constructing projects to make our infrastructure more climate resilient. Stormwater and sewer systems are unified into a single combined system, which was built decades ago and sized to handle rain and snow events of the past, not the intense rain and snowmelt volume we see today. During heavy rain and snowmelt events, the system’s capacity may be exceeded causing basement backups and street flooding. Additionally, the excess stormwater and untreated sewage overflows to the Rouge River through designated outfalls. This overflow point is called a Combined Sewer Overflow, or CSO. When CSOs are utilized, untreated stormwater and sewage flow into the Rouge River and have a negative impact on the environment. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) is working with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to eliminate CSOs in accordance to state law.

To improve climate resiliency by providing more capacity in the sewer system, DWSD utilizes green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) as a tool to capture rainfall and snowmelt and divert it to the Rouge River. GSI projects reduce the amount of stormwater in the combined sewer system which, in return, reduces basement backups, street flooding and CSOs, improving water quality in the Rouge River. DWSD has several GSI projects on the west side of Detroit, adjacent to the Upper Rouge River including the $40M Far West Stormwater Improvement Project and the $20M West Chicago Stormwater Improvement Project.

The Brightmoor Stormwater Improvement Project will capture stormwater in Brightmoor and surrounding neighborhoods and filter it through a stormwater basin, similar to a pond, before discharging the stormwater directly into the Rouge River. Sanitary and other combined sewage from Brightmoor and the other neighborhoods would still flow to the wastewater treatment plant and wet weather facilities.

Proposed Project Footprint

The stormwater pond area is between Greydale and Bentler from W Outer Drive to Lyndon. Storm sewers will be installed throughout the neighborhood, as funding allows, from W Outer Drive to Evergreen between Keeler and Lyndon. Community input meetings on design are being held prior to construction starting in 2027. Please refer to the map below for the project boundaries showing the pond and the storm sewer network area.

Proposed Project Goals:

1. Reduce basement backups
2. Reduce street flooding
3. Reduce sewage overflows to the Rouge River
4. Improve water quality of the Rouge River

Proposed Project Timeline, if Project Approved by Property Owners:

• 2018-2022:                  Brightmoor area studies and analysis
• 2023:                           Design and analysis
• 2024-2025:                  Property owner meetings and acquisition started and funding for Phase I secured
• 2026-2031:                  Property acquisition completed and project feedback collected from the neighborhood to finalize design
• 2027-2031:                  Construction

DWSD introduced the project to property owners within the project in Fall 2023

Community Engagement & Meetings

• Wednesday, September 2, 2026 - Brightmoor Community Meeting
   

Join the email list to receive project updates

• Send your name and email address to DWSD Public Affairs with the subject line "Brightmoor List Serv."

Questions? Call 734-956-8834