City expands Private Sewer Repair Program to reach 75 more neighborhoods hardest hit by 2021 flood disaster

• $43 million in HUD funds being used to help up to 1,500 households with private sewer repairs to prevent future basement backups. 

• Program now reaches 97 neighborhoods across every district of Detroit 

• Applications now open, city staff to provide application support 

• City using nearly half of $95 million dollars received from HUD in 2023 to support long-term recovery after heavy rains and flooding ravaged parts of Detroit 

The City of Detroit today announced that its Private Sewer Repair Program (PSRP) is expanding to reach 75 additional neighborhoods, providing repairs and upgrades to homes hardest hit by the June 2021 flooding disaster. These repairs will help reduce the risk of basement flooding at 1,500 homes, as severe weather events are becoming increasingly more frequent.  

The program is a partnership between the city’s Housing and Revitalization Department, along with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD).  The city is funding the program with $43 million of the $95 million in disaster recovery funds it received from the US Department of Housing & Urban Development because of storm-related flooding three years ago. In late 2024, the City was awarded another $346 million in similar funds and is currently in the community input process of developing its action plan for using those funds.  

The PSRP first launched in 2024 to serve the 22 neighborhoods hardest hit by the 2021 flood and has helped more than 400 families so far.  With much capacity in the program still available, the City is expanding the reach of the program to a total of 97 neighborhoods - nearly half of all neighborhoods in the city of Detroit - allowing it to reach another 1,100 homes.  

Mayor Duggan said the Private Sewer Repair program is just another example of how the city is using federal funds to improve the lives of Detroiters and give them peace of mind. 

"Major storms that can cause flooding is something we expect to see more of in the future and this program will help 1,500 Detroit families in the 97 neighborhoods that already have experienced basement flooding to protect their homes," said Mayor Duggan. "Repairing hundreds of damaged private sewer lines is just one of the many ways we are investing to make Detroit more resilient to flooding and the effects of climate change."  

Historic flooding 

On June 25-26, 2021, Detroit experienced a major storm resulting in more than 6 inches of rain in a 12-hour period, which exceeded the design capacity of the public sewer system. An estimated 30,000 households were directly impacted. The storm led to flooding on streets and freeways, as well as in residential and commercial basements, triggering a disaster declaration for four counties, including Wayne County. Weeks after the flooding, Mayor Duggan and Governor Gretchen Whitmer secured a national disaster declaration by President Joe Biden, activating FEMA and other government resources which resulted in the HUD CDBG-DR allocation. 

"This expansion of the Private Sewer Repair Program is a vital step toward strengthening Detroit's resilience in the face of climate change and its increasing impact on our residents,” said Rico Razo, Chief of Home Repair & Neighborhood Services at the City of Detroit. “We are committed to ensuring that every eligible homeowner, impacted by the June 2021 disaster, receives the support they need to protect their homes and safeguard their communities." 

The average height of water reported in FEMA claims was 10 inches. Seventy percent of claims made to FEMA were related to water in basements. 

Types of repairs offered 

PRPR is expected to help up to 1,500 eligible Detroit households with repairs to damaged portions of sewer lines that fall within their private property line.  If these lines are collapsed or damaged, they can result in basement backups, even on dry days, exacerbated further during rain events.  

“When we go into a neighborhood for public sewer condition assessments, we are finding that nearly 30 percent of the private sewer lateral service lines are falling off from the sewer main, have serious cracks or other damage,” said Detroit Water & Sewerage Department (DWSD) Director Gary Brown said. “These repairs are very costly to homeowners and increase the number of basements backups during rain events. HUD allowing us to expand this program will lead to many more homes protected from future basement backups.” 

The city is working with five contracted companies to complete the repairs. DWSD will oversee that work, which includes: 

• Clean and Inspect sewer lateral service line with a camera scope. 

• Disconnect downspouts and install extensions at least three feet from foundation. 

• Repair or replace private lateral sewer and install cleanout. 

• Install backwater valve. 

Eligibility requirements 

All applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements: 

• Households applying must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) as determined annually by HUD. (FY 2024 Income Limits) 

• Applicants must live in a single‐family residential structure (1‐4 units).   

• Households must be able to demonstrate impact (tie‐back) from the June 25‐26, 2021, flood event.   

• The property cannot be in a floodplain.    

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate that there is no duplication of benefits. 

• The property must be in one of the following 97 neighborhoods in the designated most impacted City Council districts: 

• District 1: Grandmont #1, Crary/St. Marys, Cadillac Community, Evergreen-Outer Drive, Hubbel-Lyndon 

• District 2: Greenfield, Martin Park, Pilgrim Village, Dexter-Fenkell, Bethune Community 

• District 3: Regent Park, Conant Gardens, Krainz Woods, Pulaski, Airport Sub, Hawthorne Park, Von Steuben, Grant, Mount Olivet, Cadillac Heights, Pershing, Franklin, Conner Creek, Sherwood    

• District 4: Cornerstone Village, Morningside, Chandler Park, Fox Creek, Riverbend, West End, LaSalle College Park, East English Village, Yorkshire Woods, Denby, Mapleridge, East Canfield, Eden Gardens, Wade, Ravendale, Gratiot-Findlay, Outer Drive-Hayes, Moross Morang, Chandler Park-Chalmers, Fox Creek 

• District 5: Arden Park, Islandview, Petosky-Otsego, Boston Edison, McDougall-Hunt, Pingree Park, East Village, NW Goldberg, Forest Park, Eastern Market, Gratiot Town/Kettering, Poletown East, Jamison, LaSalle Gardens, Wildemere Park, Medbury Park, Milwaukee Junction, Historic Atkinson, North End, Dexter-Linwood, Gratiot Woods, Gratiot Grand, Greektown 

• District 6: Midwest, Chadsey‐Condon, Claytown, North Corktown, Michigan‐Martin, Corktown, Core City 

• District 7: Aviation Sub, Garden View, Plymouth‐I96, Plymouth‐Hubbell, Paveway, We Care Community, Fiskhorn, Joy Schaefer, Warrendale, Warren Ave Community, Barton‐McFarland, Franklin Park, Oakman Blvd Community, Nardin Park, Russell Woods, Joy Community, Southfield Plymouth, Pride Area Community, Happy Homes, Northwest Community, Littlefield Community, Grand River-I96, Davison-Schoolcraft, Chalfonte    

City offering assistance with application process 

The City of Detroit and its community partners are providing resources to help residents see if they qualify and apply. Interested residents can see if they qualify and complete an application here.  

Residents can also call the Detroit Housing HelpLine at (866) 313-2520 to start an application. There will be in-person application support days, where city employees and community partners will be providing one-on-one support with applications.  

• Saturday, March 22 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Joseph Walker Williams Recreation Center, 8431 Rosa Parks Blvd, Detroit, MI 48206 

• Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Joseph Walker Williams Recreation Center, 8431 Rosa Parks Blvd, Detroit, MI 48206  

A checklist of necessary documents to submit an application can be found here.

About Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Grant