Date post: | 14-Jan-2015 |
Category: |
Technology |
Upload: | healthy-lakes-healthy-lives |
View: | 108 times |
Download: | 1 times |
Lyman Welch Water Quality Program Director [email protected]
Advoca=ng Water Quality Improvement in Detroit—
Great Lakes impact September 11, 2013
Combined Sewer Overflow
• Sewage and storm runoff flow together in a single pipe to the treatment plant
• Increased volume from heavy rains causes overflows, CSOs
• Raw sewage, trash, toxic industrial waste and other pollutants are discharged to the Great Lakes and its tributaries without treatment.
• Built at the end of 19th century, and common around the Great Lakes
Detroit Water and Sewer Department Treatment Facility Detroit, Michigan
NPDES Permit Reissuance Detroit Water and Sewage Department (DWSD)
Detroit, Michigan
2011 Lake Erie Contaminants :
• 3.2 billion gallons of diluted raw sewage
• 4.3 billion gallons of par=ally treated sewage
• 1.2 million pounds of phosphorus
Alliance Policy Efforts
§ Working closely with USEPA and DEQ agency staff § Recommending science-‐based permit revisions consistent with
na=onal policy and local condi=ons in Detroit
Detroit’s Financial Situa=on • City filed for Chapter 9 Bankruptcy on July 18, 2013 • City had been dealing with a worsening financial condi=on for years • Permit reduced CSO infrastructure requirements in 2013-‐2019
period. • Comple=on of “core” program in 2019 will treat and disinfect 95%
average annual wet weather flow.
Working with Partner Organiza=ons
• 2011: Michigan regulators revised the DWSD facility’s permit
without extensive public comment or discussion
• The Alliance for the Great Lakes, Sierra Club, Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, Lake Erie WaterKeeper, Michigan Environmental Council, and Friends of the Detroit River sent an appeal lefer sent to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment encouraging MDEQ to revisit the DWSD permit
The Alliance and Partner Groups' Recommenda=ons:
• Mechanism for increased and meaningful
public par=cipa=on during permit process
• Strengthen green infrastructure programs in the Detroit River/Lake Erie area
• Reduc=on of phosphorus discharges that contribute to algae blooms in Lake Erie
NPDES Permit Modifica=on Success Story Detroit Water and Sewage Department
Detroit, Michigan
The Revised Permit:
• DWSD will improve its sewage treatment
operations and develop an implementation plan for its green infrastructure program.
• Reduction of 2.8 million gallons of storm water from reaching the combined sewer system by June 30, 2017.
• The plant must also maintain lower phosphorus discharges to prevent algae growth in Lake Erie.
NPDES Permit Modifica=on Success Story Detroit Water and Sewage Department
Detroit, Michigan
Continuing Action:
• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has created a web page to provide detailed information on the DWSD plant
• Commitment to public meetings with DWSD during the coming year to address community concerns
Many Thanks for Suppor=ng this Work!