DETROIT (WWJ) - The already overburdened Detroit water system has a new client.

The city of Highland Park is going to be a commercial customer of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department for the foreseeable future.

That’s according to Mayor DeAndre Windom who said his city’s water treatment plant is in need  of expensive repairs.

“Our intention is to find a revenue source to make the necessary repairs to bring the aging system to full strength,” Windom said.  “However, it is equally important to stress how costly such improvements will be and that restoring our system will not come without a challenge.”

Operations at the plant were halted on Friday in the interest of the health and well-being of Highland Park citizens, according to a statement by Windom.

On Monday, Windom said he wants to make it clear to residents that water coming out of the system, up until this point, has been safe.

“It’s important to note that the MDEQ (Michigan Department of Environmental Quality) also supervised the testings of the water within our system and confirmed that in no way have these problems threatened Highland Park’s water quality to date,” he said.

Windom has created a water advisory council to help find solutions. That team will determine whether the city can or should attempt to repair Highland Park’s water treatment plant which serviced about 10,000 residents as well as commercial properties.

Windom attributed “wide-ranging problems” at the plant to years of deferred maintenance.