By Max Bryan, MediaNews Group

As the Great Lakes Water Authority continues to investigate what caused a 42-inch water main break to break in Novi last week, officials say they spent tens of millions of dollars to mitigate the pipe’s risk of failure in recent years and it still failed.

The water main on 14 Mile Road west of M-5 broke Sept. 28, flooding some streets and leading to a boil water advisory for several days in Wixom, Commerce Township, Walled Lake and parts of Novi. The rupture also prompted Novi schools to close for one day along with some public facilities.

At a presentation this week to the Novi City Council, GLWA officials pointed out they have spent $129.2 million on mitigation work to the water main since 2019. GLWA Chief Planning Officer Jody Caldwell said the water mai

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