Hearing To Discuss Water Rate Increase Gets Low Turnout

DETROIT (WWJ) - A low turnout Tuesday night at a Detroit public hearing on a plan to increase water rates.

WWJ's Stephanie Davis reports that one of the first people to speak was Jim Cash of Windsor.

"I look at it as, this is a failure of the federal oversight and state's participation in that oversight," said Cash.

Water department officials say they did publicize the hearing when asked about the small turnout.

City Council President Pro Tem Gary Brown says he favors the hike: "We have unfortunately an aging infrastructure, and if we do not keep up with the system ... the equipment at DWS is only good for 10-13 years."

The increase would vary but some water customers could see an 8 1/2 percent  jump while others could see less of an increase.