Grosse Pointe Farms to Water Country Club of Detroit

The Grosse Pointe Farms council approved a two-year contract this week between the city and the Country Club of Detroit for water service after the private club had to find a new provider when Highland Park closed their water treatment plant.

Farms City Manager Shane Reeside detailed the contract to council under new business and explained the relationship should be mutually beneficial to both parties. For the Farms, it will generate additional income without putting demand on the water system during peak hours and for the club it alleviates the lack of an irrigation water source, Reeside said.

The contract calls for a rate of $11.76 per metric cubic foot (MCF) of water for usage; $41.04 per (MCF) for the first 50,000 cubic feet of sewage and $10.26 for every cubic foot thereafter; and a bi-monthly charge of $919.50 for the non-residential water meter.

Additionally, the Country Club of Detroit will pay to have the proper meter installed and for alterations to the water pipes to re-connect previously connected areas for service--an amount Reeside said should be about $20,000.

The majority of irrigation for the Country Club of Detroit happens overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., which means it will not place a demand on the system when the majority of residential usage is happening.

Engineers from Hubbell, Roth and Clark, Inc. performed an analysis of the Farms Water System to ensure it could handle serving the club, finding it should have ample capacity and means.

In the contract, the city reserves the reduce water flow to the Country Club of Detroit in the case of an emergency, such as a fire or during peak flow hours--a recommendation from the engineers.

There was some discussion among council members about whether having a two-year set rate contract was appropriate, especially given that the Farms renegotiates with the City of Grosse Pointe annually. Reeside explained the difference between the two is that the main usage of water in the City is residential and small business, meaning often the damand comes during peak flow hours whereas the club's usage will mainly becoming in off-peak times.

Ultimately, the council approved the contract unanimously, agreeing the set rate was appropriate and mutually beneficial to both sides.