More than 1.5
billion gallons of sewage, enough to fill nearly 2,300 Olympic size swimming
pools, have been dumped into Michigan’s rivers, lakes and streams during
April’s historic rainfall.
billion gallons of sewage, enough to fill nearly 2,300 Olympic size swimming
pools, have been dumped into Michigan’s rivers, lakes and streams during
April’s historic rainfall.
Of course, for us in Macomb County, that’s not particularly startling. Our sewage discharge sites alone have produced more than 3 billion gallons of sewage in some past summers, with all that waste eventually ending up in Lake St. Clair.
Nonetheless, 1.5 billion in one month is obviously a problem.
According to a statewide analysis by the Michigan
Infrastructure and Transportation Association, or MITA, the people who build our sewers, the final
April total discharge figure will be substantially higher because not all
areas of the state have reported their full details to the Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality, or DEQ.
Infrastructure and Transportation Association, or MITA, the people who build our sewers, the final
April total discharge figure will be substantially higher because not all
areas of the state have reported their full details to the Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality, or DEQ.
Michigan has
eight water resource districts, that include multiple counties, and nearly
every district reported discharges during the month of April, with the
exception of the Lansing district, based on the most current data available.
The front-runners are the Southeast Michigan district (1.1 billion gallons of
sewage discharged) and Grand Rapids district (364 million gallons of sewage
discharged).
eight water resource districts, that include multiple counties, and nearly
every district reported discharges during the month of April, with the
exception of the Lansing district, based on the most current data available.
The front-runners are the Southeast Michigan district (1.1 billion gallons of
sewage discharged) and Grand Rapids district (364 million gallons of sewage
discharged).
“We all can’t
help but take notice when our roads and bridges are in bad shape, and usually
our aging sewer infrastructure is out of sight and out of mind,” said Mike
Nystrom, executive vice president of MITA.
“But this month, during catastrophic flooding, more of us are becoming
aware of what is lurking in Michigan’s greatest natural resource after a heavy
rainfall – sewage.
help but take notice when our roads and bridges are in bad shape, and usually
our aging sewer infrastructure is out of sight and out of mind,” said Mike
Nystrom, executive vice president of MITA.
“But this month, during catastrophic flooding, more of us are becoming
aware of what is lurking in Michigan’s greatest natural resource after a heavy
rainfall – sewage.
The solution,
Nystrom said, is more state funding for municipalities to upgrade their
sanitary and storm sewer systems so that they do not overflow during heavy
rainfalls.
Nystrom said, is more state funding for municipalities to upgrade their
sanitary and storm sewer systems so that they do not overflow during heavy
rainfalls.
Governor
Snyder included in his budget recommendations $97 million for grants and loans
to municipalities for sewer upgrades and $3 million for wetland mitigation
banks. Revenue would come from bond issues under Proposal 2 of 2002.
Snyder included in his budget recommendations $97 million for grants and loans
to municipalities for sewer upgrades and $3 million for wetland mitigation
banks. Revenue would come from bond issues under Proposal 2 of 2002.
Sewage
discharges result when overloaded and aging sewer systems are flooded by heavy
rains. Communities are required by law to report discharges to the state DEQ
within 24 hours, with a more detailed report to follow. Historically, state and federal low-interest
loans helped communities finance projects that separate combined sewers
(sanitary and storm) to avoid overflow during heavy rains. More recently, dollars for infrastructure
have been cut from the state and federal budgets, leaving local communities to
fend for themselves.
discharges result when overloaded and aging sewer systems are flooded by heavy
rains. Communities are required by law to report discharges to the state DEQ
within 24 hours, with a more detailed report to follow. Historically, state and federal low-interest
loans helped communities finance projects that separate combined sewers
(sanitary and storm) to avoid overflow during heavy rains. More recently, dollars for infrastructure
have been cut from the state and federal budgets, leaving local communities to
fend for themselves.
MITA continues
to be a leader in addressing the problem of combined sewer overflows at the
legislative level, most notably in 2002 with the passage of the Clean Water
Michigan legislation. In the summer of
2010, recommendations arose from the State Revolving Fund Advisory Group,
established by legislation, which MITA supported, that would determine how the
state funds long-term water and sewer systems in Michigan. Bills reflecting
those recommendations passed the Legislature in 2012 and will open up much
needed opportunities for improvements in our underground infrastructure.
to be a leader in addressing the problem of combined sewer overflows at the
legislative level, most notably in 2002 with the passage of the Clean Water
Michigan legislation. In the summer of
2010, recommendations arose from the State Revolving Fund Advisory Group,
established by legislation, which MITA supported, that would determine how the
state funds long-term water and sewer systems in Michigan. Bills reflecting
those recommendations passed the Legislature in 2012 and will open up much
needed opportunities for improvements in our underground infrastructure.
MITA
represents a broad spectrum of heavy construction companies and suppliers. For more information, visit www.mi-ita.com.
represents a broad spectrum of heavy construction companies and suppliers. For more information, visit www.mi-ita.com.
