While construction crews at the Fraser sinkhole sight engage in a weeks-long job of preventing sewage discharges into the Clinton River or basements of nearby homeowners, Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel this afternoon declared a state of emergency and called on county residents to limit their use of water and flushing of toilets.
The emergency applies to approximately 150,000 homes in 11 communities: Fraser, Sterling Heights, Utica, New Haven and Chesterfield, Shelby, Clinton, Harrison, Lenox, Washington, and Macomb townships, plus Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
The Christmas Eve sewer break on 15 Mile Road forced crews to undertake building a sewer bypass system, a project that may last another three or four weeks. Until the underground sinkhole, measuring 250 feet by 100 feet, is dried up and stabilized, a long-term fix of the collapse cannot be undertaken.
The state Department of Environmental Quality reported earlier this week that the heavy rain and snow melt on Dec. 26-27 forced the dumping of 12.6 million gallons of raw sewage into the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair. The sewage discharges occurred at three locations in the area of the sinkhole, located on 15 Mile, west of Utica Road.
Heavy flows due to weather or household usage make it impossible for the damaged sewer pipe to contain sewage and storm drainage.
“This has been a major sewer situation and disruption of services,” said Hackel. “Our emergency management team continues to receive requests for assistance from local residents and businesses who are in the affected area.”
“Each one of us can contribute to water conservation efforts that will, in turn, reduce the wastewater flowing into the damaged sewer.”
County officials urge those in the affected area to follow these tips:
- when cooking, peel and clean vegetables in a large bowl of water instead of under running water.
- fill the sink with water when washing and rinsing dishes.
- only run the dishwasher when it’s full.
- take short showers instead of baths.
- turn off the water to brush teeth or shave.
- run the washing machine only with full loads of laundry.
For more information, contact the Macomb County Department Public Works Office at (586) 493-6744.
