Southwest Detroit water main break repairs underway, cleanup starts on impacted homes

DETROIT (FOX 2) - The first four houses of the 400 impacted residences in Southwest Detroit are being cleaned and sanitized Friday ahead of section, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department said.

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Repairs to the large 54-inch water main are expected to take two weeks to complete due to the inspections that have to take place first. The Great Lakes Water Authority received a 12-foot-replacement section of pipe yesterday, but additional time will be needed to conduct water quality tests, said Bryan Peckinpaugh, DWSD spokesman. 

"Today we are starting with four, because those are the houses that had the initial debris clean out in the basements yesterday," he said. "It takes time to get the crews and the emergency contractors in place."

More emergency contractors won't be working on the cleanup until Monday, Peckinpaugh said, but added that the efforts will be 24/7 with a six week estimate before everything is completed.

"We will be doing several more (households) Monday with the new emergency contractors starting," he said. "It is going to take time to get around to all the households and reach them with the claim info, the inspections, the repairs and the cleaning and sanitizing."

About 400 residences within a square mile were affected, while about 170 households are currently being lodged at hotels, paid for by Detroit water and GLWA.

Peckinpaugh said those 170 will be the first to get cleaning and repairs done.

"Some (houses) had little water damage, some had water damage up to the first floor Monday," Peckinpaugh said. "Getting the families back here is our number one priority. The families currently at hotels are our first priority."

Repair work at the site of the Southwest Detroit water main break / Credit: GLWA Facebook

As work is being done on the 54-inch water main break on Beard Street, a second six-inch smaller water main break on Rowan is also being repaired.

Residents impacted by the water main break can call (313) 774-5261 to be connected to emergency resources through the City of Detroit.

There are two forms residents need to complete, including one for claims and sewage backup HERE.

"We have two forms that residents impacted by the water main break should fill out," he said. "One form is after the pre-inspection when a building safety inspector comes to your house about the flood damage - there is a liability form that needs to be filled out by the resident, reviewed and signed. That helps the residents and the water department, and City because we are using city funds on private property. 

"A second form on the website (LINK ABOVE) or paper, that is called a notice of claim, is very important - it is what we use to provide any financial settlement for the damage that occurs at these houses with these cars."

Related: Cleanup continues for SW Detroit flood victims of water main break, repairs start Monday

Repair work at the site of the Southwest Detroit water main break / Credit: GLWA Facebook

Donations can be made at the Patton Recreation Center on Woodmere, which will be open around the clock for impacted residents to pick up supplies.

"We have just secured the furnaces and the hot water heaters from some of the contractors and the companies will be on site Monday," Duggan said Thursday. "And everybody knows they are entitled to stay at the hotel where they will be housed and fed until they have power on, hot water and heat - and the water out of the basement."

Repair work at the site of the Southwest Detroit water main break / Credit: GLWA Facebook