1. Reducing Sewage Contamination in Stormwater:
Southeast Michigan Success Stories
HOW-Great Lakes Coalition
7th Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference
October 14, 2011
Detroit, Michigan
Annette DeMaria, P.E.
Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc.
Clinton Township, Michigan

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Subject Area
• Macomb County
• Oakland County
• St. Clair County
• Washtenaw County
• Wayne County

8. 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

9. Public Involvement: Pollution
Complaint Lines
Michigan’s Pollution
800-292-4706
Alert System
877-679-4337
Macomb Co.
IDEP@macombcountymi.gov
Oakland Co. 248-858-0931
St. Clair Co. 877-504-SWIM
Washtenaw Co. 734-222-3880
Wayne Co. 888-223-2363

10. Public Education Campaign
SEMCOG: Seven Simple Steps Campaign

11. Using the public as your eyes and ears: “How to Spot” Card
Sanitary Discharges
Observations:
- Sanitary debris
- Staining on pipe
- Heavy foam
- Gray or Discolored Water
- Odors (sewage, chlorine,
rotten eggs and detergents)
Staining
Illegal Dumping, Spills, or Industrial Discharge Agricultural Runoff, Fertilizers,
Floor Drain Connection Observations: or Sanitary Sewer Waste
Observations: - Discolored water Observations:
- Oily sheen - Chemical odor - Algae growth at or near outlet
- Trash, non-sanitary debris - Heavy vegetation at or near outlet
- Petroleum odors
- Stained sediment, rocks,
and vegetation
*This slide was produced by the New York State Thruway Authority and is used with their permission.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Source Tracking Investigations
• Track suspected problems back to a source
∞ Visual / olfactory inspection
∞ Sample collection
∞ CCTV (closed circuit TV) inspection
∞ Dye testing
∞ Smoke testing

16. Visual Signs
Sanitary debris in storm drain Gray staining under inlet
Gray water, odor, and turbidity Excessive algal growth

17. Visual Signs
Flow through drain tile Soap suds
Low lying wet areas with
sewage odors Dilapidated sewer

18. Visual Signs
Dumpster juice Oil, fuel, grease sheens
Manure leachate Cattle input

19. Source Identification: Dye testing
• For sewers

20. Source Identification: Dye testing
• For septic systems

21. Source Identification: Sewer Inspection

22. Source Identification: Sewer Inspection

23. Source Identification: Smoke Testing
• Cooperation with homeowners – traps inside homes
need to be filled with water.
Photo credit: Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc

24. Eliminating 15 years of discharge
along the Upper Rouge River
Up
pe
r Ro
ug
e
Ri
S
# S
#
ve
S S S
# # # S
# S
#
r
SS
##
S
#
S
#
U .S . S
#
1 S
#
6 Dr a i S
#
n S
#
S S
# #
T
$

25. Problems in an Urban Watershed
• Dry weather
results
Number of E.coli
outlets (cfu/100ml)
19 0 – 300
7 301 – 3,000
3 > 3,000
Total samples: 29

26. Problems in an Urban Watershed
E.coli
(cfu/100ml)
• Upstream 0 – 300
Sampling 301 – 3,000
• Drain walk > 3,000
∞ 120 taps
identified
∞ 18+ contain
sewage

27. Sources Identified
Leaking dumpster
Cheater pipe from an on-site system
Government facility Elementary School (suspected)
Apartment complex
Automatic car wash
Wrong pipe bulkheaded
Broken sanitary line
Transmission shop
Catering trucks
Failing bulkhead on sanitary
6 Failing bulkheads on taps
48” sanitary connected
3/4

28. 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

29. Macomb County Accomplishments
Since 2001… Since 2006….
• Over 5,400 drains • 5,000 septic systems
inspected via surveys inspected via Ordinance
∞ Over 75 million gallons ∞ Ave: 11% failures/month
of pollution per ordinance definition
eliminated/year
• Funding: $1.5 M (75%
grant)

30. Washtenaw County Accomplishments
• 200+ drains inspected
• ~50 illegal connections
identified
• 3.5 million gallons
eliminated/year

31. Wayne County Accomplishments: Dye
testing
Since 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
Swimming Pool Machinery Process Floor Sinks
Sump Drains Water 0.3% Showers
0.7% 0.5% 2.1% Urinals
Sump Pumps 1.1%
1.3%
Drinking Fountains
Other (Not
2.6%
specified)
Washing Machines 1.4%
2.6%
(Horse) Washing
Pads
3.1% Floor Drains
49.3%
Toilets
11.0%
Catch Basins with
Sinks Oil Separators
21.4% 2.5%

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

33. Oakland County Accomplishments
Belle
Leonard
Oxford
Since 1999…
Ortonville
Holly Brandon
Addison
Groveland
Flint Oxford
• 1,466 drains inspected Fenton
Holly
Lake
Orion
• 8,300+ outfalls mapped and
Independence
Oakland
Shiawasee Orion
Springfield
Rose Village of
screened
Clarkston
Clinton
Auburn
∞ 305 illicit discharge
Lake
Angelus Hills Rochester
Rochester
investigations Waterford Hills
White
Highland Lake Pontiac
• 293 complaint-based
Sylvan
Lake
Keego
Huron Harbor
Orchard
investigations Milford Commerce
Wolverine
Lake
Village
West
Bloomfield
Bloomfield
Hills
Troy
• 196 sourcesremoved
Lake Bloomfield
Milford
Walled Birmingham Clawson
Lake
Beverly
Franklin
Wixom Bingham Hills Southfield Royal
Madison
Rouge Farms Heights
• 11.5 million gallons of
Farmington Oak
Hills Berkley
Lathrup
Novi Village Huntington
Lyon Southfield Woods Pleasant
sewage eliminated
Ridge Hazel
Farmington Oak Park
South Ferndale Park
Lyon Novi Royal
Oak
Northville
Location of discharge points and outfalls screened
from 2003-2010

34. 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)

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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