Reducing Sewage Contamination in Stormwater: Southeast Michigan Success Stories

Annette DeMaria, P.E.Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc.Clinton Township, Michigan

HOW-Great Lakes Coalition7th Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference

October 14, 2011Detroit, Michigan

The Problem

• Infrastructure issues, although not seen, are affecting water quality∞ Illicit connections between the storm and sanitary sewers

exist in most urbanized areas∞ Failing septic systems are impacting rural areas

How does this happen?

• Mistaken identity: Accidental connections

• Sins of the past: High level connections purposely created to prevent sewage backup into basements

• Plumbing short cuts: Improper connections (sometimes) not caught during sewer separation projects

• Aging infrastructure and insufficient funding for maintenance

The Challenge

• Sources are diffuse and sometimes intermittent• Masked by stormwater runoff• No good indicator for sewage contamination

∞ E. coli or fecal coliform: can indicate contamination for any warm-blooded animal and doesn’t necessarily indicate recent contamination

∞ Genetic (DNA) methods too sensitive and costly

Motivation to fix it

• The hammer:∞ Much of southeast Michigan is subject to storm water

regulations• Municipalities are required to conduct illicit discharge elimination

programs to prevent non-storm water from discharging to surface waters

• The carrot:∞ Improved water quality∞ Funding was available through the Clean Michigan

Initiative bond initiative

Strategies (select)

• Conduct a systematic survey of your stormwater system ∞ Map your system∞ Visual observations and sampling data

• Training municipal staff • Conduct septic system inspections• Encourage public involvement• Continued maintenance on the

sanitary sewer

Subject Area

• Macomb County• Oakland County• St. Clair County• Washtenaw County• Wayne County

The Results

• Elimination of 599 million gallons per year of untreated sewage from entering surface waters∞ > 24,000 outfalls surveyed∞ >9,000 facilities dye tested∞ 4,500 illicit connections/discharges identified

Public Involvement: Pollution Complaint Lines

Michigan’s Pollution Alert System

800-292-4706

Macomb Co.877-679-4337IDEP@macombcountymi.gov

Oakland Co. 248-858-0931

St. Clair Co. 877-504-SWIM

Washtenaw Co. 734-222-3880

Wayne Co. 888-223-2363

Public Education CampaignSEMCOG: Seven Simple Steps Campaign

Observations:

- Sanitary debris

- Staining on pipe

- Heavy foam

- Gray or Discolored Water

- Odors (sewage, chlorine, rotten eggs and detergents)

Sanitary Discharges

Observations:

- Oily sheen - Trash, non-sanitary debris - Petroleum odors - Stained sediment, rocks, and vegetation

Illegal Dumping, Spills, or Floor Drain Connection

Industrial DischargeObservations:

- Discolored water - Chemical odor

Agricultural Runoff, Fertilizers, or Sanitary Sewer Waste Observations:

- Algae growth at or near outlet - Heavy vegetation at or near outlet

Staining

*This slide was produced by the New York State Thruway Authority and is used with their permission.

Using the public as your eyes and ears: “How to Spot” Card

Training municipal staff

• Wayne County’s Illicit Discharge Elimination Training Program∞ Purpose: Screen and investigate for illicit discharges∞ Trained 1,200 municipal staff

• Across lower MI• Duluth, MN• Lake County, IL

Storm System Screening

• Surveyed stormwater drainage system for signs of∞ Illicit connections

• Gray staining, soap suds

∞ Failed septic systems• Cheater pipes from

clogged fields• Wet drain fields

∞ Illegal dumping• Drums, pet waste, trash• Household hazardous

waste

∞ Ag-related discharges• Manure runoff

Screening: Outfall Sampling

• Take sample of flow (no precipitation or significant melt off for last 48 hours)

- Bacteria (E. coli)- Surfactants (detergents)- Temperature (winter time)- Conductivity- pH

Source Tracking Investigations

• Track suspected problems back to a source∞ Visual / olfactory

inspection∞ Sample collection∞ CCTV (closed circuit TV)

inspection∞ Dye testing∞ Smoke testing

Visual Signs

Gray staining under inletSanitary debris in storm drain

Excessive algal growth Gray water, odor, and turbidity

Visual Signs

Low lying wet areas with sewage odors Dilapidated sewer

Soap sudsFlow through drain tile

Visual Signs

Dumpster juice Oil, fuel, grease sheens

Manure leachate Cattle input

Source Identification: Dye testing

• For sewers

Source Identification: Dye testing

• For septic systems

Source Identification: Sewer Inspection

Source Identification: Sewer Inspection

Source Identification: Smoke Testing

• Cooperation with homeowners – traps inside homes need to be filled with water.

Photo credit: Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc

#S

#S#S#S#S#S #S#S #S#S

#S#S#S#S#S #S#S #S

$T

#S#S#S

#S#S#S

#S#S#S#S#S

Eliminating 15 years of discharge along the Upper Rouge River

Number of outlets

E.coli (cfu/100ml)

19 0 – 300

7 301 – 3,000

3 > 3,000

Total samples: 29

• Dry weather results

Problems in an Urban Watershed

E.coli (cfu/100ml)

0 – 300

301 – 3,000

> 3,000

• Upstream Sampling

• Drain walk∞ 120 taps

identified∞ 18+ contain

sewage

Problems in an Urban Watershed

Automatic car wash

Cheater pipe from an on-site system

Government facility

Catering trucksTransmission shop

Elementary School (suspected)

Apartment complex

Wrong pipe bulkheadedBroken sanitary line

Leaking dumpster

6 Failing bulkheads on taps

Failing bulkhead on sanitary

3/4

48” sanitary connected

Sources Identified

Septic System Inspection Ordinances

• 3 of 5 counties have a “Time of Sale” Ordinance• Problems are found before direct impacts to surface

waters• Failures include

∞ Backup of sewage into a home’s plumbing∞ Improper drainage of tank∞ Dilapidation of the tank∞ Breakthrough to ground, surface water, groundwater or

storm drain

Macomb County Accomplishments

Since 2001…• Over 5,400 drains

inspected via surveys∞ Over 75 million gallons

of pollution eliminated/year

• Funding: $1.5 M (75% grant)

Since 2006….• 5,000 septic systems

inspected via Ordinance∞ Ave: 11% failures/month

per ordinance definition

Washtenaw County Accomplishments

• 200+ drains inspected• ~50 illegal connections

identified• 3.5 million gallons

eliminated/year

Wayne County Accomplishments: Dye testingSince 1987…• Inspected 9,163 facilities; 7% had illicit connections/discharges

∞ 2,566 illicit connections/discharges identified∞ Over 463 million gallons of polluted water eliminated/year

Sump Pumps1.3%

Washing Machines2.6%

Drinking Fountains2.6%

Swimming Pool Sump Drains

0.7%

Machinery Process Water0.5%

Showers2.1%

(Horse) Washing Pads3.1%

Toilets11.0%

Sinks21.4%

Other (Not specified)

1.4%

Catch Basins with Oil Separators

2.5%

Floor Drains49.3%

Urinals1.1%

Floor Sinks0.3%

Wayne County Accomplishments: Septic system inspections Since 2000…• 1,560 systems inspected• 21% were failing per ordinance definition

Oakland County Accomplishments

Since 1999…• 1,466 drains inspected• 8,300+ outfalls mapped and

screened∞ 305 illicit discharge

investigations• 293 complaint-based

investigations• 196 sources removed • 11.5 million gallons of

sewage eliminated

Belle

Shiawasee

Flint

Clinton

Rouge

Huron

Farmington

FarmingtonHills

FerndaleHazelPark

HuntingtonWoods

KeegoHarbor

LathrupVillage

Northville

Novi

OrchardLake

Village

PleasantRidge

RochesterHills

Southfield

SylvanLake

Troy

WalledLake

Wixom

Leonard

Ortonville

Commerce

WolverineLake

Groveland

Highland

Holly

Independence

Brandon

Clawson

Berkley

Addison

Novi

OaklandOrion

LakeOrion

Oxford

Rose

SouthfieldBinghamFarms

Franklin BeverlyHills

WestBloomfield

BloomfieldHills

Bloomfield

Birmingham

Pontiac

AuburnHills

Oxford

MadisonHeights

Milford

Milford

RoyalOak

LakeAngelus Rochester

SouthLyon

Oak Park

Waterford

Village ofClarkston

Holly

Fenton

RoyalOak

Springfield

WhiteLake

Lyon

Location of discharge points and outfalls screened from 2003-2010

St. Clair County Accomplishments

Since 2003…• 3,087 miles surveyed• 6,150 outfalls screened• 590 failing septic

systems identified• 50 million gallons of

sewage eliminated• Funding: $1.2 M (75%

grant)

Barriers to Success: Rural Areas

• Misconception: Septic systems can be repaired. Field replacement was more typical.

• Bad soils for fields∞ Fields need to be oversized, raised, fill brought onsite

• Elevation challenges∞ Grinder pumps needed when the home sits below the field

• Financing: $10,000 - $15,000 for field replacement∞ Many not eligible for federal assistance∞ Home equity loans are currently tough to secure

• Areas requiring regional solutions

Barriers to Success: Urban Areas

• Improper connections are diffuse and difficult to locate

• Investigations even more complicated in lake front communities

• No good indicator for sewage contamination• Municipalities are not a custom to providing funding

for storm sewer maintenance• Investigations are costly and you may just be chasing

your tail

These efforts would not have occurred without the funding made available by federal and state grants!

Acknowledgements•Federal agencies and the Michigan Department of Environment

• Rouge River Wet Weather Demonstration Project

•Residents of the State of Michigan• Clean Michigan Initiative

•Local and regional units of government:

Annette DeMaria, P.E. ademaria@ectinc.com