DETROIT, MI, Nov. 17, 2011 -- After unanimous approval by the Board of Water Commissioners (BOWC), Sue McCormick is the new Director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). McCormick fills the water utility's top leadership vacancy after the department had been without a director since July 2010.
McCormick's appointment by Detroit Mayor Dave Bing was spurred by a Nov. 4 ruling by U.S. District Judge Sean Cox, who has been charged with ensuring the department's compliance with Clean Water Act regulations. The ruling reorganized the department and gave the director's position expanded power.
McCormick will start work for DWSD on January 1, 2012. She comes to the department from her position as Public Services Administrator for the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she managed that city's entire physical infrastructure, including the water and sewer system. She first joined Ann Arbor city government as Water Utilities Director in January 2001. Prior to that, she was employed for 22 years by the Lansing Board of Water and Light, serving as environmental chemist, environmental laboratory manager, manager of water and steam planning, water technical support manager and business development manager.
McCormick is active in the 58,000-member American Water Works Association (AWWA), a prominent international organization for water industry professionals. She has served as AWWA-Michigan Director and as an association Vice President.
DWSD supplies high-quality drinking water to about 4 million people who live and work in Detroit and 126 other communities in southeast Michigan. The department provides wastewater services to three million people who live and work in Detroit and 76 other southeast Michigan communities.
###
