Oakland Board approves joining water system

DETROIT (AP) - The Oakland County Board of Commissioners has approved joining a new regional authority to take over operations of Detroit's water system. The commissioners voted 18-2 on Wednesday night on the Great Lakes Water Authority. Macomb County commissioners were scheduled to vote Thursday. The votes follow earlier approval by the Wayne County Commission and Detroit City Council. The authority needed approval of Detroit and one county to move forward. Detroit's water system serves about 700,000 city residents and 4 million people in southeastern Michigan. Under plans for the Great Lakes Water Authority, the suburbs will pay Detroit $50 million a year for 40 years. Detroit retains ownership of the system. Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties would have a say in how the system is run outside Detroit. Published: Fri, Oct 10, 2014