Off-Peak Water Move Saves Farmington Money

While the can't change the price per gallon of water purchased from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Dept. (DWSD), the Dept. of Public Works (DPW) has figured out a way to save some money on the overall bill. 

DPW Director Kevin Gushman explained last week that the cost of water is determined in part by the city's elevation and how far water must be pumped. While those aspects can't be controlled, he said, "One thing you can control if you have storage, which we are fortunate to have, is how you manage that."

Changes in the DWSD contract has allowed more flexibility when it comes to using the city's 1 million gallon storage tank, which is located behind Oakwood Cemetery, Gushman added. 

The city worked with the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner's office and city engineers to create a system that monitors water use during peak times (6 a.m.-11 a.m. and 7 p.m.-10 p.m.), when charges for water are higher. By using stored water, the city can eliminate spikes in use, then refill the tanks during off-peak times. 

"The computer program senses when we're pulling too much water and cuts back," Gushman said. 

City manager Vince Pastue said the water system was modeled so that consumption peaks were leveled, while still maintaining pressure throughout the system. 

"It's more efficient, and it certainly helped with our rates," he said. "We've easily saved 20 percent."