McCulloch Pleased With Ruling On Detroit Water Department

DETROIT (WWJ) - Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner John McCulloch is applauding U.S. District Judge Sean Cox's decision to deny Detroit's request to end federal oversight over its Water and Sewerage Department.

Cox ruled last week that Detroit has 60 days to come up with a plan to prevent recurrent violations of the Clean Water Act or the court will impose its own solution.

"The violations of the Clean Water Act have repetitively happened. I think what the judge is focusing on is how the city approaches addressing this issues," McCulloch told WWJ Newsradio 950's Florence Walton.

"In the past, they were always short-term fixes, and then the city would ultimately get right back into non-compliance," he said.

McCulloch, who has been a frequent critic of the water department, said he doesn't believe Cox's order will result in higher water rates.

"Actually, that's the million-dollar question. Some people feel it may lead to higher rates. Some people think it might reduce them," McCulloch said.

"I look at this as an opportunity for the city to streamline the operation and the process. So, as a result, I think that it will reduce the cost of the operation," he said.

Detroit's Water and Sewerage Department has been under federal oversight for 34 years.