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Request a permit for the water and sewer system.
NOTE: This Page is in the prcoess of being updated
Water service work must be completed by a licensed Master Plumber registered with the City of Detroit.
DWSD Engineering Review and a Permit is required before carrying out any of the following activities:
Scroll down for more information specific to residential water/sewer connections, commercial or development water/sewer work, and urban harder water connections.
Apply Online
Residential Development Water and/or Sewer Service Customer Resources
Additional situations where a DWSD permit is required to install or connect water services include:
A Water and Sewer Service Permit will not be required to turn on services that have been shut off at the stop box, but not disconnected. For more information about turning on water service, visit the How Do I Turn On/Transfer/Turn off Water Service page
Apply Online
1. Water/Sewer Service Tap Permitting Process
2. Water and Sewer Service Connection Standards
3. Example of Residential Sketch Requirments for Permit Engineering Review
4. Water and Sewer Service Permit Application Guide
5. Application Packet to be submitted for Water and Sewer Permit after Permit Engineering Approval is granted
Apply Online
Commercial/Developer Water/Sewer Service Customer Resources:
Projects in the City of Detroit Buildings, Safety, Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) Plan Review Process should apply online for a DWSD permit once receiving DWSD approval in ProjectDox.
Submit the final site plans with a scope of work description indicating which sheets contain your civil site drawings related to water and/or sewer. These plan sheets should clearly highlight the connection points to the DWSD system(s) on the plans./drawings.
Apply Online
1. Water/Sewer Serice Tap Permitting Process
2. Water and Sewer Service Connection Standards
3. Plan Submittal Requirements
4. Water and Sewer Service Permit Application Guide
5. Application Packet to be submitted for Water and Sewer Permit after Permit Engineering Approval is granted
6. DWSD Standard Specifications and Details
Irrigation Service Customer Resources
Irrigation Services for Urban Famrs will require a Water Service Permit through the above Water and/or Sewer Service Permit process.
Note:
1. A Water and Sewer Service Permit will be required for the following types of reconnections:
a. Services that have previously been disconnected. The permit is required regardless of if the service was disconnected on the public or private side.
b. Water services reconnected without a permit. The permit is required prior to DWSD turning the water on to the property.
c. Water services that are inactive due to connection to an abandoned main. Unoccupied houses and houses scheduled for demolition are not reconnected during new water main construction and will require a new water tap.
d. Active accounts that are only billing for stormwater.
e. Services for split parcels. If a parcel is split into multiple parcels, the parcel where the service is located becomes the service owner. The new parcels are required to make new taps.
2. Irrigation Services for Urban Farms will require a Water Service Permit through the above Water and/or Sewer Service Permit process. Go to the Water and Sewer Service Permit Engineering Review Request online form to obtain Permit Engineering approval prior to Water and Sewer Permit Application submittal for your Irrigation Service.
a. Irrigation Services are to be 1″ services.
b. Meters are required to be in Wabash Boxes. DWSD does not provide or sell Wabash Boxes.
c. Either an Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker (AVB) or Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB) shall be utilized for backflow prevention. The AVB or PVB shall be located 6-inches above the highest piping point.
d. If chemicals are introduced into the irrigation system via a chemical feed pump, the portable piping must be protected by a Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Assembly (RPZ) upstream of the chemical feed pump.
3. Submit the final site plans with a scope of work description indicating which sheets contain your civil site drawings related to water and/or sewer. These plan sheets should clearly highlight the connection points to the DWSD system(s) on the plans/drawings.
4. If your application for the building permit or fire suppression system is in process through BSEED ProjectDox, then BSEED will route your application to DWSD for review and approval within ProjectDox before you apply for an official DWSD permit.
5. A Water and Sewer Service Permit will not be required to turn on services that have been shut off at the stop box, but not disconnected. For more information about turning on a water service, visit the How Do I Turn On/Transfer/Turn off Water Service page.
Buildings with a lead water service line create an increased risk of exposure to lead from the drinking water. The drinking water from DWSD’s system is safe; however, lead particles can dissolve into the water passing through a lead water service line. Lead can cause serious health and development problems, especially in developing fetuses and young children. If a property owner has work performed on their private lead water service line, DWSD recommends that the lead lines be replaced in full and not reconnected to the stop box. A permit applicant who reconnects a lead water service line does so at their own risk. Please contact DWSD Permitting for more information on a property’s historical water service line records and how to determine if the property has a lead service line. Visit Michigan.gov/MILeadSafe for more information about sources of lead and what you can do to reduce your exposure.
Detroit property owners who are proposing to tap a DWSD water main for a fire line are required to have DWSD perform a fire line flow test.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected] and include “Fire Flow Test Inquiry” in the subject.
Note:
Detroit property owners who require a sewer service to be repaired are required to obtain a Sewer Service Repair Permit. A Sewer Service Repair Permit is required regardless of if the repair is located on private property or in the road right-of-way.
Detroit Property owners who want to demolish a building/structure are required to obtain a Demolition Water Clearance for the disconnection of water services. They are also required to obtain a Fire Hydrant Use Permit to use for demolition purposes.
The Demolition Water Clearance and Associated Fire Hydrant Use Permit will be issued concurrently and not until water service(s) have been disconnected.
If you need to use a fire hydrant for purposes other than demolition, you are required to obtain a Fire Hydrant Use Only Permit.
A customer/designer/developer is required to complete a FAR Request when accessing DWSD facilities for activities such as completing a CCTV video or any other investigation/cleaning. An ESR request is required to be completed for any shutdown activities, such as exercising or turning off valves or any other equipment.
Water and sewer drawings provided by DWSD are for information only. It is the responsibility of the developer/contractor to field verify locations and/or existence of DWSD assets before any plan for water and/or sewer connection is developed. If discrepancies are found, it is the responsibility of the developer/contractor to notify DWSD prior to submittal of any site plans and before any work begins. DWSD water mains typically have 5′ to 6′ cover and sewers typically have 8′ or more of cover, depending on the location and is subject to field verification by the developer/contractor.
If you are seeking a Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) Special Discharge Permit and need a Letter of Acceptance from DWSD, submit your completed GLWA Special Discharge Permit application and contact information through this online form to request a letter of acceptance from DWSD.
Your plumber must stop work, obtain a DWSD Permit, and schedule a DWSD inspection before resuming work under inspection by a DWSD inspector.
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Right-of-way is the area outside of the private property. It typically includes alleys, sidewalks, roads, and the area in between the sidewalk and road.
A permit cannot be issued before the necessary materials are received. Missing information in the first submittal will delay permit issuance.
Detroit Water & Sewerage Department (DWSD) Sewer Service Repair Permit Guide
DWSD’s Service Connection Standards
DWSD’s Water and Sewer Service Permit Application Form Packet
DWSD’s Water and Sewer Service Permit Application Guide PDF
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) Water and Sewer Service Permit Application Checklist
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) Equipment Shutdown Request (ESR) and Facility Access Request (FAR)
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