Detroit celebrates stormwater development effort
Published on Jul 31, 2026, 4:05:24 PM
Total time: 00:03:00
Published on Jul 31, 2026, 4:05:24 PM
Total time: 00:03:00
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) celebrated the completion of a $40 million stormwater development on Detroit’s westside Thursday.
The Far West Detroit Stormwater Improvement Project is the department’s largest green stormwater infrastructure plan.
DWSD Deputy Director Sam Smalley says the new system will push more than 100 million gallons of water to the Rouge River.
“This this feature provides filtering and settling, so there are actually water quality standards for the stormwater that we discharge, so it's cleaner water faster. So we either slow the water down or better yet get it out of the system altogether.”
The sewer network will move stormwater through to two new detention basins in Rouge Park for filtering and slow down water before discharging it into the Rouge River.
Smalley says the new infrastructure will make the 1,200 homes nearby more resilient to weather related basement flooding.
Detroit health care and education leader Iris Taylor has died. She was 74.
A lifelong city resident, Taylor worked in health care for 45 years, serving as CEO of Detroit Receiving Hospital. She also helped shape the city's response to the COVID-19 pandemic as the health department's head of nursing.
Taylor was also a member and former president of the Detroit school board. Mayor Mary Sheffield calls Taylor one of the city's most dedicated and impactful servant leaders.
Residents in Detroit’s Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood are complaining about drivers parking in bike lanes on Grand River.
Bike lanes were installed on Grand River between Woodward and McNichols in 2019.
The road falls under the Michigan Department of Transportation’s jurisdiction. However, the state says the city is responsible for maintaining bike lanes.
Detroit Police say they are planning to deploy officers in the neighborhood next week to ticket anyone parked illegally.
The Michigan Department of State reports a turnout rate of 11.3% of all active registered voters who have already cast their ballot a week ahead of the primary election.
More than 800,000 residents have voted with a mail in or absentee ballot and over 30,000 cast their ballot at an early voting site. Compared to the same time in 2022, the number of mail ballot requests have increased 58.8%.
Early voting will continue through Sunday. Mail in ballots must be received by clerks no later than 8 p.m. on election night, Tuesday, Aug. 4.
The Detroit Evening Report is a three-minute daily round-up of the news that city residents need to know. Stories focus on the concerns, problems, passions and needs of Detroiters – specifically residents of color. On the weekends, we take a break from the news and spend some time with community members. Hosted by Sascha Raiyn, Jerome Vaughn, Tia Graham, Nargis Rahman, and Hernz Laguerre, Jr. Detroit Evening Report is a production of WDET, Detroit's NPR Station.