Detroit's Water Wars

"A half-century of skirmishing between Detroit and its suburbs over control of one of the nation's largest water and sewer systems, a network of plants, pumps, and pipes that serves 4.3 million people and has heavily influenced patterns of development across southeast Michigan, will reach a climax in the next six months.

Yet it's unclear what the outcome will be. A court-backed blue ribbon panel studying the system is seeking an agreement between the city and suburbs that not only modernizes the system, but also could lead to a new era of regional cooperation and racial understanding, two of the principal elements southeast Michigan needs to be economically competitive in the 21st century. But partisan differences, and long standing urban-suburban rivalries could lead to even sharper divisions, undermining chances for southeast Michigan’s recovery."