Sterling Heights asks residents to cut water use outdoors

STERLING HEIGHTS — Sterling Heights says the Great Lakes Water Authority is asking its member communities, including Sterling Heights, to curb their usage of outdoor water use while repair work continues on a recent water main break.

The city said it would update residents on when the request expires via social media, Sterling Heights Television, texts, emails and its website, sterling-heights.net.

“We were fortunate to be one of the first communities to have the Boil Water Advisory lifted in Sterling Heights,” Community Relations Director Melanie Davis said in a statement.

“But water system repairs continue, and we’re asking our residents to be good neighbors and support GLWA’s efforts to get the regional water transmission system back to 100% as quickly as possible. If surrounding communities don’t comply, we could risk significant repair delays and even end up on another boil water advisory for Sterling Heights.”

A 120-inch Great Lakes Water Authority transmission line broke on Aug. 13 near Port Huron, causing more than 100,000 Macomb County residents to be under boil water advisory at one point.

While there is no threat to the water supply, Shelby Township officials said, the township maintains its ban on outdoor irrigation and other nonessential outdoor water use to minimize impact during the boil water advisory.

“While Shelby Township is among the communities under the Great Lakes Water Authority’s boil water advisory, there is no water shortage,” Shelby Township Supervisor Rick Stathakis said. “To ensure that remains the case and we do not add stress to the system, we’re asking residents to refrain from activities such as lawn irrigation.”

Township crews distributed 1-gallon jugs and 24-pack cases of water to residents at distribution centers for residents who cannot sanitize their water by boiling.

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