Since 2017 there have been 5,539 sinkholes reported for investigation on the Improve Detroit app. That’s a big number, but overall make up just 1.15% of all issues reported on the app.

Most of Detroit’s sewer and water pipes are more than 90 years old

Outlier Media recently reported that there are 300 active sinkholes and that number seemed too high on my initial reading. What I actually found was 1,299 sinkhole reports that haven’t been closed yet through the open data portal. As of August 10, there have already been 41 new sinkhole reports this month.

Detroit’s water mains burst 80% more often than the North American average, according to a 2017 report.

Outlier Media

The 5,539 number is easily an over-count based on likely inaccurate reports on the Improve Detroit app. However, if there are 300 active as reported out of the 1,299 open sinkhole investigations that is still about 23% accuracy rate. The infrastructure woes of Detroit are not unknown, but this one is quite massive.

Data show reports citywide, every corner, every neighborhood experiences sinkholes. Hot spots appear in the Greater Downtown area as well as New Center/North End, Near Eastside, Southwest, and Grandmont-Rosedale area.