Lincoln Park residents question steep water bill increases after rate hike, meter failures

How it's impacting residents

By Anthony Stone, Special Writer

LINCOLN PARK, Mich. — A 17% water and sewer rate increase that took effect July 1, 2025, has left some Lincoln Park residents facing quarterly bills hundreds of dollars higher. The strain on budgets raises questions about aging infrastructure and billing accuracy.

Sandra “Sandy” Sawicki told WDIV-TV she has scaled back daily routines to cut water use.

“I’m wearing dirty clothes all week, not taking a shower because I don’t want to run the water,” Sawicki said.

One resident said her family’s bill has increased by more than $200 since July, including a 47% spike in sewer charges.

“I’d love to landscape my yard to be a pollinator’s paradise, but I can’t afford to pay the water to keep everything alive,” the resident said.

City Manager, Lisa Griggs said, “There are various reasons for potential spikes in a water bill.” She cites unknown leaks, seasonal usage, previously estimated readings and past-due balances that may appear as new charges.

City officials point to broader infrastructure challenges throughout the city.

Griggs said the city tracks water main breaks to prioritize replacement areas, though detailed performance metrics are not publicly posted.

Still, she acknowledged that full system replacement is gradual due to cost.

“When we have water main breaks, those are getting repaired, but we’re not replacing the entire line, so it’s kind of a band-aid until we can fully replace the entire line,” Griggs said.

Under the city’s 2025-26 rate schedule, sewer usage is $83.13 per 1,000 cubic feet and water usage is $60.03 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The increase was adopted as part of Lincoln Park’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget following a public hearing in May and City Council approval in June. Griggs said the hike reflects higher wholesale costs from the Great Lakes Water Authority, which supplies drinking water, and the Downriver Utility Wastewater Authority, which treats sewage.

“Any rate increases from GLWA must be passed on when we sell the water back to the residents,” the statement said, adding that stricter wastewater treatment requirements have increased operating costs,” Griggs said.

A Feb. 6 statement posted on the city’s Facebook page from Mayor Moreen Tobin and Griggs said more than $35 million has been invested in water and sewer upgrades in recent years, much of it funded through state and federal grants.

Rates apply to bills issued July 1 or later and are tied to the billing period, not specific usage dates.

The Feb. 6 statement also acknowledged problems with estimated bills, citing that aging meters, dying batteries and signal interference have led to more frequent estimates.

Griggs encourages residents who receive an estimated bill to contact the water department, provide a current meter reading or request a service technician visit rather than waiting until the next billing cycle for correction.

“As soon as we get an actual read off it, we do an adjustment to their bill,” Griggs said.

Residents can also request leak inspections and arrange payment plans.

In December, the City Council approved financing for a citywide meter replacement program. Installation of new ultrasonic meters is expected to take 10 to 12 months and will allow residents to monitor usage and receive leak alerts through an online platform known as My Water Advisor 2.0, according to a city news release.

Officials say the new meters are intended to reduce estimated billing and improve reliability.

City officials encourage residents concerned about high bills to check for running toilets, dripping faucets and leaking outdoor spigots, and to contact the water department with questions.

Residents say they are watching closely to see whether new meters and infrastructure upgrades lead to more predictable bills, or whether higher costs are becoming the new normal.

Updates on water department projects and rate information are posted on the city’s official website.

City Council meetings are livestreamed on YouTube and archived online, and residents may speak during designated public comment periods.

Documents from Lincoln Park: