Veolia NA Provides Operation, Management for Michigan Wastewater Authority

North America will assume operations and management responsibilities for wastewater services in 13 tributary communities in Wayne County, Mich. The company will operate and maintain the wastewater plant in Wyandotte, Mich., on behalf of the Downriver Utility Wastewater Authority (DUWA), which recently assumed ownership of the plant after completing a transaction with Wayne County.

Veolia North America will handle daily operations and management for the DUWA for the next 20 years, according to the new contract, the company says.

Over 70% of the world’s population is expected to live in cities by 2050, Veolia points out. Municipal governments like Wayne County are seeking ways to handle the challenge of providing reliable and efficient water and wastewater systems with increasingly limited resources. Veolia says that, by partnering with cities and municipalities, the company can help them improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs, and comply with environmental standards.

The Downriver System, the second largest wastewater system in Michigan, serves a population of 350,000. 

DUWA’s recent acquisition of the plant marked the successful end of negotiations with Wayne County, which had owned and operated the plant since 1962. Ownership will now be assumed by the individual communities under the umbrella of the Authority, which will be overseen by a Board of Directors made up of leaders from each of the communities.

DUWA’s efforts to acquire the wastewater system began when the County’s 50-year wastewater services contract with the 13 communities expired in 2012.  In 2015, the County decided to put the facility up for sale rather than continuing to own and operate it.