Detroit just finished a $40.4 million project built to cut the risk of basement flooding for about 1,200 homes. The Far West Detroit Stormwater Improvement Project wrapped in 2026 after four years of construction, a year ahead of schedule, and it is the largest green stormwater infrastructure project the water department has ever completed. Here is what was built, how it works, and why basement flooding is the problem it solves.
The Project at a Glance
| Cost | $40.4 million |
| Homes protected | About 1,200 in the Far West neighborhood, with reduced risk rather than a guarantee |
| Stormwater diverted | More than 119 million gallons a year |
| Area drained | About 213 acres |
| What was built | Two basins inside Rouge Park near Warren and Outer Drive |
| Timeline | 2022 to 2026, finished a year early |
Why Basements Flood in the First Place
Detroit runs a combined sewer, which means stormwater and sewage travel the same pipes. On an ordinary day that is fine. During a heavy rain, the volume overwhelms the system, and the water backs up the path of least resistance, which is a floor drain in somebody’s basement.
So the fix is not a bigger pump. The fix is keeping rain out of the sewer entirely, and that is what this project does.
What They Actually Built
Crews put in a new storm sewer network that pulls runoff from roughly 213 acres and routes it into two new basins inside Rouge Park, near Warren and Outer Drive. The basins hold the water temporarily, slow it down, and filter it before it discharges into the Rouge River through a new outfall.
The result is more than 119 million gallons a year that never enters the combined sewer. DWSD deputy director Sam Smalley framed why the approach matters: “Large-scale green stormwater infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to prepare our city for heavier and more frequent rain events.”
What It Means for the People Who Live There
Mayor Mary Sheffield tied it to a complaint residents have made for years. “Thanks to this investment and DWSD’s leadership, 1,200 homeowners in this area won’t have to worry their basement is going to flood the next time we have a major rainstorm,” she said. She added that the protection means peace of mind for families and could also strengthen home values in the neighborhood.
That second part is the quiet argument. A house that floods is worth less than a house that does not, and flood history follows a property. Infrastructure spending on this scale shows up in the value of every home behind it.
DWSD director Gary Brown called it “a major milestone for our department and the residents of the Far West neighborhood.”
Who Paid, and What Comes Next
The Oakland County Water Resources Commission provided significant funding, and the work also benefits the Evergreen-Farmington Sanitary Drain Drainage District, which is a reminder that water does not stop at the city line.
Detroit has absorbed two floods since 2014 severe enough to be rated 500-year events or worse, in August 2014 and June 2021, and flooding remains the live infrastructure problem across several neighborhoods. On the east side, the city launched a $1 million pilot in 2026 to repair sea walls along the canals, which we covered in our story on the Detroit Canal District. Follow our Community coverage for what gets built next.
Far West Stormwater Project FAQ
What did it cost?
$40.4 million, completed in 2026.
How many homes?
About 1,200 in the Far West neighborhood.
Where is it?
Two basins in Rouge Park near Warren and Outer Drive.
How much water does it hold back?
More than 119 million gallons a year, from about 213 acres.