TRANSCRIPT OF CONFERENCE
IN THE MATTER OF
POLLUTION o tie NAVIGABLE WATERS
tie
DETROIT RIVER W LAKE ERIE
THEIR TRIBUTARIES WITHIN
tie
STATE ^MICHIGAN
First Session
March 27-28, 1962
Detroit, Michigan
Volume II, Part 1
March 28, 1962
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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
JOINT FEDERAL-STATE OF MICHIGAN CONFERENCE
ON
POLLUTION OF NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE
DETROIT RIVER, LAKE ERIE, AND THEIR
TRIBUTARIES WITHIN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN
First Session
Wednesday, March 28, 1962
Banquet Hall, Veterans Memorial Building
Detroit, Michigan
Volume II - Part 1 . Pages 1?8 through 515
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CONTENTS
STATJiMEN'i.' QF; PAGE:
LORING F. OEMING, Chief Engineer, Water
Resources Commission, State of Michigan 185
MILTON P. ADAMS, Executive Secretary, Michigan
Water Resources Commission 191
JOHN E. VOGT, Director of the Division of
Engineering, Michigan Department of Health,
and Donald M. Pierce, Cihef of the Section
of Sewerage and Sewerage Treatment of the
Division of Engineering 208
LORING F. OEMING, Further statement 277
NICHOLAS V. OLDS, Assistant Attorney General,
State of Michigan 337
ARTHUR C. ELMER, Chief, Division of Parks and
Recreation, Department of Conservation,
State of Michigan 361
H. J. MILLER, Department of Conservation, State
of Michigan 367
KEITH WILSON, Director, Michigan State Waterways
Commission 393
GLENN C. RICHARDS, Commissioner, Department of
Public Works, Room 513 City-County Building,
Detroit 26, Michigan 397
CLYDE L. PALMER, City Engineer, City of Detroit,
Michigan
GERALD J. REMUS, General Manager, Board of Water
Commissioners, City of Detroit, Water Board
Building, 735 Randolph Street, Detroit 26,
Michigan
JAMES M. DAVEY, Managing Director, Board of
Wayne County Road Commissioners k62
GEORGE R. BINGHAM, Sanitary Engineer, Wayne
County Road Commission Director, Department
of Public Works, on behalf of the County of
Wayne, Michigan U65
DAVID R. CALHOUN, Chairman, Physical Planning
Committee, Supervisors Inter-County
Committee, Mac omb-Monroe -Oakland -St.
Clair-Washtenaw-Wayne, Michigan
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TABLE OF £ONTENTS
(Continued)
STATEMENT OF; PAGE;
KENNETH L. HALLENBECK, Director, the Huron-
Clinton Metropolitan Authority, 1750
Guardian Building, Detroit 26, Michigan W3l
EDWARD A. MALLONEN, representing Mr. Kenneth
Hallenbeck, Director, the Huron-Clinton
Metropolitan Authority 1*83
PAUL M. REID, Executive Director, Detroit
Metropolitan Area Regional Planning
Commission, 800 Cadillac Square Building,
Detroit 26, Michigan U85
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, County of
Oak]and, Michigan, and the Drain
Commission, County of Oakland, Michigan U88
CARL F. BUFE, Superintendent, Department of
Municipal Service, and George J. Hazey,
Superintendent, Water Division, Department
of Municipal Service, 2555 Van Alstyne
Boulevard, Wyandotte, Michigan k$k
JOHN CHASCSA, President, Lake Erie Clean-up
Committee, Newport, Michigan 515
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PROCEEDINGS 180
The Conference in the Matter of Pollution of the
Navigable Waters of the Detroit River and its Tributaries
within the State of Michigan, and Lake Erie and its trib-
utaries within the State of Michigan, reconvened at 9 a.m.,
Eastern Standard Time, March 28, 1962, Banquet KaM,
Veteran's Memorial Building, Detroit, Michigan.
PRESIDING:
Mr. Murray Stein, Chief, Enforcement
Branch, Water Supply and Pollution Control,
Public Health Service, Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare, Washington, 25, D. C.
PRESENT:
Mr. Murray Stein, Chief, Enforcement
Branch, Water Supply and Pollution Control,
Public Health Service, Department of Health,
Education,, and Welfare, Washington 25, D. C.
MICHIGAN WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION
Albert E. Heustls, M.D., Chairman,
State Health Commissioner.
Gerald E. Eddy, Director of Conservation.
George F. Liddle, Muskegon, Municipal
Groups.
James S. Gilmore, Jr., Kalaraazoo,
Industrial Management Groups.
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
H. W. Poston, Regional Program Director,
Water Supply and Pollution Control, Public
Health Service, Region V, 433 West Van Buren
Street, Chicago 7* Illinois
THE CHAIRMAN: May we reconvene. This is a con-
tinuation of the hearings in the matter of pollution of
waters of the United States in Lake St. Clair, the Detroit
River, and Western Lake Erie in the Detroit Area.
At this point we will call on Dr. Heustis, of
the Health Department of the State of Michigan. Dr. Heustis.
DR. HEUSTIS: Mr. Stein, and gentlemen, and ladies,
too. I am very happy to accept the assignment to present
to the conference the statement of the State of Michigan
and its invited participants. I would ask that you, Mr.
Stein, convey on our behalf to the Secretary of the Depart-
ment of Health, Education, and Welfare, our sincere appre-
ciation for allowing us to seat as conferees Mr. James
Gilmore, representing Industrial Management, on the far
right; Mr. George Llddle, beside me, representing the
municipalities; Mr. Gerald Eddy, the Director of the Munic-
ipal Department of Conservation, at Mr. Stein's right,
and myself. We realize very well that this is a greater
number of State conferees than has been the practice in past
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procedures such as this, and we do appreciate the kindness
of the Secretary in allowing us to have the representation
we believed Important.
Mr. Stein, to show our appreciation of this,
and In order not to complicate the recommendation process,
I propose to recommend to my colleagues that we State con-
ferees jointly cast but one vote at the time of the making
of the recommendations, thus granting a clear majority to
the Federal representatives. The State representatives were
Impressed by the report presented yesterday by the Public
Health Service, and while we reserve the full right to dis-
agree, we would compliment them on the Job which they did
in so short a time.
We appreciate too the remarks of some of the other
Federal representatives, and we are tolerant of the remarks
made by others. We are certainly looking to the United
States Attorney's office to carry out the legal responsi-
bilities which it has under other statutes in cooperation
with other Federal agencies. However, for the moment,
speaking of tolerance and asking questions, Mr. Stein, I
wonder if I may trouble you for a glass of water?
THE CHAIRMAN: Surely. While you are doing this,
we hope we won't have a vote at the end of this. We hope
we can get a consensus.
DR. HEUSTIS: Real fine water. Only one thing,
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Mr. Stein. The thing Is every time I drink this fine
Detroit water my heart goes out to all of the kids in this
vast metropolitan area that are deprived of the benefits
of fluoridatlon and the wonderful public health benefits
in preventing cavities in teeth. I would think maybe we
might under somewhat different circumstances look forward
in the future to the continued help of the Public Health
Service and helping our friends in Detroit and the metro-
ppiitan area just to accomplish this wonderful public
health protection matter.
As I have discussed with the Chairman, I would
propose a slight modification of yesterday's procedure.
We have a lot of material to present, and so do our in-
vitees. All of the material that will be presented today
is in written form. We would propose then as each witness
is called upon, to place his written testimony in the record
Just as though he had read it. We would propose further
that if the individuals concerned have an opportunity to
informally present oral testimony, that this oral testi-
mony be not made a part of the written record, unless it
Is specifically requested by the witness, and only such
parts as may be specifically requested by the witness will
be made parts of the written record. In this way, first
of all, should there be any discrepancy the Chairman and
I have agreed, between what is said orally and what is in
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writing, the written record will prevail. By this method
we would hope to present a great amount of material and
would hope to discourage the reading of long statements.
My proposal, which is made with the Water Resource?
Commission of Michigan is made in view of my feeling that
everyone is entitled to place everything they wish in the
record but very little good Is gained by anyone repeating
what has been said before. Yet, by the fact that their
statement may be placed in the written record, which Mr.
Stein assured me will be printed, and which each one of
the conferees will thoroughly consider before arriving at
any recommendation, we feel that this will give them an
opportunity to be heard and at the same time might cut down
on our time a little bit today.
If this procedure is agreeable, as I have been
assured it will be, the State's first presentation will
be a combined report of the Michigan Water Resources Com-
mission and the Michigan Department of Health. This report
will be presented by several persons who will be Introduced
by Mr. Loring Oeming, the Chief Engineer of the Water Re-
sources Commission, who will also introduce the report.
I would request, Mr. Stein, as was done yesterday,.
that the full report be placed before us before any questions
or comments are entertained, and I would hereby place in
the official record of this proceeding a copy of the report
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which, if you do not have it in front of you, you should
have it in a minute, with all of the maps, and all of the
maps that will be used this morning. Here are the copies
for the conferees.
I would also announce to those present that at
the conclusion of the State's report, within the numbers
available, within the numbers we have with us, the copies
of this report will be available, and if any members of
the press should come in, of course, they may have a copy
of the report as we go along.
Mr. Oeming, will you begin?
STATEMENT OF LORING F. OEMING, CHIEF
ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION,
STATE OF MICHIGAN
MR. OEMING: Dr. Heustis, Chairman Stein, con-
ferees, and ladies and gentlemen.
My name is Loring F. Oeming. I am the Chief
Engineer for the Michigan Water Resources Commission. As
Dr. Heustis pointed out, we have placed before you this
morning a report which is the result of a joint effort by
the employed staffs of the Water Resources Commission and
the Michigan. Department of Health. This report is entitled,
"Water Pollution Control in the River Basins of the South-
eastern Michigan Region" and is dated March 1962. The re-
port contains information on the municipal sewage and Indus-
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trial waste disposal situation in Lake St. Glair, the
Detroit River, upper Lake Erie, and in the river basins
tributary to these waters. It delineates accomplishments
in controlling pollution and measures being taken to provide
improved control. It also defines the needs to effect fur-
ther improvement in the condition of these waters.
The report was prepared for presentation to the
conferees at the Federal conference called by the Secretary
of Health, Education, and Welfare for their consideration
and appraisal in arriving at conclusions as to the adequacy
of measures taken toward abatement of pollution and in de-
termining the nature of delays, if any, being encountered
in abating pollution.
The area encompassed by the report includes all of
the drainage basins of the Clinton, Rouge, Huron and Raisin
Rivers and the shoreline area of Lake St. Glair, Detroit
River and Lake Erie within Michigan which drains directly
or through minor tributaries to these bodies of water.
All sources of municipal sewage and industrial
waste discharges to these waters are covered. The nature
of waste treatment or control measures in effect are de-
scribed and the state agency action to control pollution is
related.
The files and records of the Michigan Department oi
Health and Michigan Water Resources Commission are the sources
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of information contained in the report. The employed
staffs of both agencies collaborated In assembling the
material and in preparing the report.
The report Is divided into four main headings,
first, the statutory authority, policies and procedures;
Chapter II municipal sewage collection and treatment;
III industrial waste treatment and control; and IV, the
accomplishments and the work to be done.
Chapter I discusses state laws available to con-
trol pollution and the relationships that exist between the
several agencies of the state in administering these laws.
A resume of the contents of this chapter will be given by
Mr. Adams, the Executive Secretary of the Commission.
Chapter II gives detailed information on the
types and extent of the sewer systems; the disposal and
treatment methods in effect at all governmental units with-
in the region. It presents the opinions of the staff of
the two state agencies and the adequacy of the systems and
methods of disposal or treatment in preventing unlawful
pollution as defined in the state statutes. The contents
of this chapter, together with the applicable portions in
Chapter IV will be presented by J. £. Vogt and Donald
Pierce of the Michigan Department of Health,
Chapter III Identifies each of the sources of
industrial waste discharges to the water courses in all of
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the river basins involved. It discusses in general terras
the principal waste constituents and the methods of control
or treatment in effect; the types of action taken by the
Water Resources Commission and its predecessor, the Stream
Control Commission, to obtain control. It shows the rating
assigned to each at the present time.
I will conclude the presentation of the report
with a review of the contents of Chapter III, together with
the applicable portions of Chapter IV.
As an aid in visualizing the area covered by
the report we have prepared a series of orientation maps
which will be referred to in briefing these chapters of
the report.
At this time I would like to take a minute to
run through these maps and to familiarize you with them.
The base orientation map is the one entitled "Municipal
Sewage Disposal in the Elver Basins of Southeastern Mich-
igan," This map shows the outline of all the drainage
basins referred to in the report. The outline Is shown
in orange with red dots and it encircles the drainage basins
of the Clinton, the Rouge, the Huron, and the Raisin Rivers.
In addition, this map shows the location of all
of the incorporated municipalities lying within the drain-
age basins outlined here. A legend is shown on this map
which describes the degree of treatment, the degree of col-
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lection, and treatment of ttie municipal sewage in these
municipalities. The municipalities shown shaded in brown
have no sewer system and no formal treatment. The munici-
palities colored in green all have primary treatment. That
is in the City of Detroit, which is colored green, there
is a primary treatment plant.
Now to show the municipalities connected to De-
troit, or in the case of the Wayne County plants at Trenton
and Wyandotte we have shaded those tributary municipalities
in green, shading from the northeast to the northwest for
the Detroit system, and from the northwest to the northeast
for the Wayne County system.
The municipalities tinted in pink all provide
secondary treatment. Here again we have shaded the tribu-
tary municipalities, showing whether they go to the Wayne
County system or to nearby township or city plants.
This map also shows the course of the St. Clair
River as it comes down into Lake St. Clair, and the outline
of Lake St. Clair and the Michigan shore of Lake St. Clair,
and the Detroit River and its discharge into Lake Erie,
and it goes down to the Michigan-Ohio line.
We have taken the large map, the base orientation
map, and have enlarged each of the river basins in the total
area of southeastern Michigan. This is another consideration
here. I think to shorten this up I would just refer to one
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of these. They are all of the same nature. Here again
we have used the same key to show the degree of treatment
provided and whether there is a sewer system or not, but
we have also added the location of all of the industries
which discharge to the water courses within the river basin.
In the case of the River Rouge basin we have
listed 19 industries and with numbers preceding the name
of the industrial establishment, and that is keyed in to
the location on the basin map so that where the red arrows
appear on the basin map with th$ number this would designate
the location of a specific industry. In each of these maps
the same procedure has been followed. All of the industries
are listed on the map with numbers, and the arrows are
placed on the rivers and water courses to show where they
discharge into the water course.
I think with that, Mr. Chairman, and conferees,
I would like to ask Mr. Adams to brief you on Chapter I of
the report.
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you. At this point I would
like to Indicate and state that there is one thing we cannot
do, I believe, which is reproduce these maps in color. If
I can go off the record here,
(Discussion off the record.;
THE CHAIRMAN: On the record. Dr. Heustis.
DR. HEUSTIS: Mr. Adams.
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STATEMENT OP MILTON P. ADAMS, EXECUTIVE
SECRETARY, MICHIGAN WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION
MR. ADAMS:
CHAPTER I
Statutory Authority, Policies and Procedures
Statutory Authority
Michigan's legislative effort to control water
pollution started nearly 100 years ago. The result Is
summarized below:
1. Act 350, P.O. 1865 Conservation Department
2. Act 98, P.A. 1913 Health Department
3. Act 17, P.A. 1921 Conservation Department
4. Act 245, P.A. 1929 Stream Control Commission
5. Act 61, P.A. 1939 State Supervisor of Wells
(Conservation Department)
6. Act 117, P.A. 1949,
amending (4) above Water Resources Commissioti
7. Act 219, P.A. 1949,
amending (2) above State Health Commissioner
8. Act 40, P.A. 1956
(Drain Code) County Drain Commissionere
or
Intercounty Drainage Boards
9. Act 306, P.A. 1927,
as amended County Health Departments
No. 1 was enacted for the protection of fish and
fisheries.
No. 2 Initiated Health Department supervision of
GPO 8E08I9-B-2
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municipal water and sewerage facilities and related de-
velopments concerned with public health.
No. 3. The b^sic Act creating the Conservation
Department. This entries a broad grant of authority in
the following words found in Section 3: "to prevent and
guard against the pollution of lakes and streams within
the state, and to enforce all laws provided for that pur-
pose with all authority granted by law."
No. 4. The Legislature's attempt to resolve
Health and Conservation Department differences of the late
1920's by the creation of a Stream Control Commission. The
Act also provided for compliance under a formal notice,
hearing, and order procedure. Unlawful pollution was defined
as the discharge to waters of the state as "any waste or
pollution of any kind that will tend to destroy fish life or
be injurious to public health."
Section 12 of the new Act provided that it should
be construed "as ancillary to and supplementing" existing
provisions of law governing pollution of lakes and streams
"except as the same may be in direct conflict herewith."
The Commission was further required to ascertain in
taking appropriate action whether the conditions created were
"unreasonable and against public interest in view of the ex-
isting conditions in any lake, river, stream or other waters
of the state."
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Monthly meetings were required of the five member
Commission to consist of the Director of Conservation,
Commissioner of Health, the Highway Commissioner, the
Commissioner of Agriculture and the Attorney General.
No. 5. This enactment made the Director of Con-
servation the State Supervisor of Wells (for oil and gas).
Among his other duties he was authorized "to prevent waste
or damage to oil and gas, the fresh, brine and mineral
waters or to life and property."
No. 6. A Water Resources Commission of seven
members was created to replace the Stream Control Commission
of 1929. To make up its membership of seven, there was
added to the four hold-over ex-offlclo members heading the
Health, Conservation, Agriculture and Highway Departments,
three Executive appointees (with Senate approval). The
citizen members represent respectively, Industrial Manage-
ments, Municipalities and Organized Conservation Groups.
The preservation and encouragement of member
departmental activity in this field was continued as was
authority to call upon "any officer,board, department,
school, university or other state institution for any
assistance deemed necessary to the,carrying out of this Act.
The Commission's responsibility is further de-
fined by Attorney General's Opinion No. 1056 of September
28, 1949 holding that "the Water Resources Commission does
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not have sole and exclusive jurisdiction in all matters per-
taining to the pollution of waters of the state, including
drains."
No. 7. The last of a series of amendments to (2)
above strengthened the Health Department's control of plans,
construction, operation and supervision of public water sup-
ply, sewerage and sewage treatment facilities. From the
standpoint of water pollution control one sentence of the
Act is particularly significant: "The State Health Com-
missioner shall exercise due care to see that sewerage sys-
tems are properly planned, constructed and operated so as
to prevent unlawful pollution of the streams, lakes and
other water resources of the state."
Authorization "to act as agent to the Stream
Control Commission on request" appears in Section 11 of
the Act.
No. 8. The Drainage Code, up for further amend-
ments each year, carries in Section 423 its definition of
the unlawful use of county drains and intercounty drainage
facilities for the carrying of sewage and other wastes.
Action under this law has been the least productive of pol-
lution control results of all other efforts.
No. 9. The basic Act providing for the establish-
ment of county and district health departments authorizes
the County Board of Health to exercise the same powers as
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conferred on boards of health of townships, villages and
cities. On this basis the local health departments in
the area have adopted and enforce county regulations con-
trolling the installation and operation of private sewage
disposal systems.
Policies and Procedures
Administration of the water pollution control
function in Michigan necessarily follows the division of
statutory responsibility previously indicated subject to
correlation, wherever possible, of member department inter-
ests and objectives with those of the Commission.
While the State Health Commissioner and Water
Resources Commission and their respective supporting staffs
carry the principal burden of water pollution control,
this section will attempt to list the activities of all
member agencies in this field including pertinent inter-
relationships .
The Water Resources Commission
1. Fosters the policy of each member agency as
well as local governmental units and industries doing their
utmost to so control waste substances as to prevent unlaw-
ful pollution as defined in Act 245, P.A. 1929, as amended.
2. Receives complaints of pollution and acts
on reported findings.
3, Receives statements for new or increased use
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of waters of the state for waste disposal and acts on Order
restrictions recommended by staff, except in case of mun-
icipal or other uses solely involving public health where
the Commission relies on Health Department action.
4. Schedules and conducts preliminary information
conferences as well as conferences "to show cause."
5» Orders preparation and adopts Notice of Deter-
mination and Hearing for problems not corrected or oorrectibXe
through staff approach and effort; takes like action where
necessary and when requested to support a member agency's
efforts.
6. Holds Statutory Hearings on proposed Orders.
7. Adopts Final Order setting date for compliance
following date for submission of plans for approval:
(a) to State Health Commissioner for municipal
sewage treatment.
(b) to Chief Engineer, Water Resources Commission!,
for industrial waste treatment.
8. Takes appropriate action on staff reports of
failure to comply with previously adopted Orders by declaring
default and referring problem to Attorney General for en-
forcement .
9. Passes on budget requests and proposed staff
programs following legislative appropriation (with or with-
out Federal program grant funds).
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10. Determines priority of one eligible mun-
icipal project over another to qualify for Federal con-
struction grant assistance.
11. Contributes toward the State's share of
the U.S. Geological Survey program for stream gaging and
lake level records.
12. Contracts with universities for conduct of
research projects involving water resource evaluation.
Water Resources Commission Staff (Pollution Control)
1. Conducts field investigations to secure basic
information and evidence, which includes pollution surveys
to evaluate magnitude and extent of pollution problems.
2. Explores and evaluates polluting effects of
wastes from new types of industries.
3. Receives and processes statements of new or
increased use of waters of the state for waste disposal pur-
poses, conducts related investigations and recommends ap-
propriate waste restrictions to the Commission.
4. Investigates pollution complaints and reported
fish or wildfowl mortalities.
3. Develops recommendations on necessary degree
of treatment or time for compliance upon request of Com-
mission.
6. Reviews and approves or rejects plans for
industrial waste treatment or control facilities.
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7. Makes regular inspections and performance
surveys on existing industrial waste control facilities.
8. Counsels with management on industrial waste
treatment or disposal problems.
9. Reviews and takes appropriate action on basis
of industrial waste treatment plant operating reports.
10. Acts on matters referred from the Michigan
Department of Health.
11. Performs work required in carrying out State
functions under provisions of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act.
12. Cooperates with Federal and other State agen-
cies in matters related to water pollution.
13. Provides Department of Conservation with
stream survey information that might affect future fish
plantings.
14. Represents the State's or Agency's interests
at conferences and on committees concerned with water
pollution and water resource matters.
15. Chief Engineer represents the interests of the
Commission on the Advisory Board to the International Joint
Commission.
16. Patrols the entire Detroit River and the lower
Rouge River. This program was initiated in August, 1960
and has been continued on a routine basis since that time.
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During the summer months, patrols are made twice weekly as
well as Immediately following storms which produce surface
runoff. During the colder months, when the need for pro-
tection of migratory waterfowl becomes critical, patrol
frequency Is Increased to every other day. As long as
weather permits, patrols are made by means of a radio-
equipped powerboat. At other times, observations are lim-
ited to those made by automobile at vantage points along
the shore. Airplane patrols are relied upon to supplement
shore patrols and for making emergency Inspections when time
Is a critical factor.
Patrol personnel keeps a log of all observations
and copies are later distributed to the Departments of
Health and Conservation. Observations of unusual or ob-
jectionable waste discharges or river conditions are re-
ported Immediately by radio or telephone to Water Resources
Commission District Headquarters at Pointe Houillee and the
District Engineer in turn contacts the offender and initiates
whatever follow-up investigation may be indicated.
As of March 1, 1962 the patrol program had been
in operation for nineteen months during which time a total
of 187 patrols were made. Following is a summary by years,
of the number of patrols made by boat, automobile or air-
plane:
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Boat Automobile Airplane Tota]
Aug. 1, I960 - Dec. 31, I960 49 l 2 52
Jan. 1, 1961 - Dec. 22, 1961 108 13 i 122
Jan. 1, 1962 - Mar. 1, 1962 n 2 13
The number of pollution incidents found and cor-
rected during this period total 112.
State Health Commissioner (Member)
and
Division of Engineering, Michigan Department of Health,
Section of Sewerage and Sewage Treatment
(Water Pollution Control):
1. Reviews, approves or rejects plans submitted
for new municipal systems or changes in existing ones.
2. As agent for the Commission, reviews, approves
or rejects plans submitted for all new sewerage systems or
changes in existing ones, other than municipal.
3» Issues or withholds issuance of construction
permits,
4. Counsels with officials of municipalities as
to the collection and treatment of sewage. This activity
is supplemented and strengthened by programs of local health
departments to control the installation of private sewage
disposal systems.
5. Consults, confers with and assists staff of
Water Resources Commission in all phases of activities related
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to sewage treatment.
6. Conducts an educational program to foster and
encourage the construction, utilization and effective
management of adequate sewage collection and treatment
works «
7. Conducts inspections to determine that con-
struction conforms to approved plans.
8. Makes periodic inspections and exercises gen-
eral supervisory control over plant personnel to assure
effective operation of sewerage works at municipalities,
institutions, trailer parks, schools and hospitals.
9. Trains and certifies the competency of sewage
p lant ope rat ors.
10. Reviews and takes appropriate action on basis
of monthly plant operating reports.
11. With aid of mobile laboratory (furnished and
operated in part by Federal funds) conducts on-the-site
municipal plant performance evaluations.
12. Orders changes in physical facilities or
their operation to assure that sewage shall not be "po-
tentially prejudicial to the public health."
13. Reports to Commission when municipal facility
has been completed substantially in accordance with ap-
proved plans and specifications.
14. Refers appropriate cases to Water Resources
Commission for action.
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15. Director, Division of Engineering, represents
the interests of the State Health Commissioner on the Ad-
visory Board to the International Joint Commission.
Director of Conservation (Member)
and
Department of Conservation (Water Pollution)
Following organization of employed staff of
Stream Control Commission late in 1930, this Department
withdrew from its former active participation in general
pollution control activity except as follows:
1. Its Law Enforcement Division presses occasional
attempts to secure convictions under Act 350, P.A. 1865.
2. It organizes and has conducted active oil
field patrol and developed highly effective means of brine
conservation and oil pollution prevention since 1939.
3. Conservation Officer field assistance has
continued to support Water Resources Commission staff
efforts to control pollution.
4. The Department has shared the services of
its Assistant Attorney General to support the pollution
control activities of the Health Department and Water Re-
sources Commission. Since November, 1961, Federal funds
have made possible part-time employment of a Special
Assistant Attorney General by the Commission.
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5. Institute of Fisheries Research at Ann Arbor,
a part of the Department of Conservation, has over many
years made its laboratory facilities and scientific knovl-
3dge available to provide Commission staff with fish toler-
ances and other information necessary to fish propagation
and development.
6. The Department is the single largest contrib-
utor to the State's share of the U.S. Geological Survey
program of stream flow and lake levels investigation.
7. The Department looks to the Commission and
Health Department to improve the quality of water at
Sterling State Park and Pointe Mouillee just as early as
possible.
8. Governor Swainson has recently assigned the
Department the task of conducting a broad State recreational
study and to prepare a recreation plan. Water quality in-
formation coupled with unrelenting effort to Improve such
conditions where necessary by the Commission and Health
Department is of utmost importance to this program.
9. Docking and headquarters accommodations pro-
vided Water Resources Commission staff and boat at Pointe
Mouillee.
Director of Agriculture (Member)
and
Department of Agriculture (Water Pollution)
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204
While possessing no officially direct responsi-
bility for the fcontrol of water pollution, the Director
of Agriculture finds himself in a position to view the
problem from several vantage points.
He has on occasion had to carry the pollution com-
plaints of aggrieved farmers before the Commission. He is
also ex-officio Chairman of all Intercounty Drainage Boards.
These are frequently involved in drain pollution matters.
Section 423, Act 40, P.A. 1956, defines the unlawful use
of county drains and intercounty drainage facilities. For
some years past it has been "unlawful to connect sewage or
other waste to county or intercounty drains except with the
written approval" of the appropriate authority. Yet offen-
sive conditions continue to appear in too many locations.
In the absence of a petition to take action to correct misuse
of county drains, the individual commissioner or intercounty
board claims inability to act. The Water Resources Com-
mission may file the necessary petition with the Drain
Commissioner on a showing of injury to public health certi-
fied by the State Health Commissioner. With one possible
exception, however, such petitions have failed in the past
to bring results. It follows, therefore, that attempts under
Drainage Code to provide outlets for sewage or waste and
land drainage in the same facilities without creating odor
nuisance or unlawful pollution, have not been successful.
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205
The Director of Agriculture has official con-
nections with several farm product promotion groups. The
processing of these products for market, gives rise to
sewage or waste whether milk, apples, peaches, cherries,
livestock, animal hides, or pulpwood are involved. Such
wastes comprise a substantial percentage of the total num-
ber of industrial waste problems with which the Commission
and staff must necessarily deal.
State Highway Commissioner (Member)
and
Highway Department (Water Pollution)
While his Department interests are for the most
part in other phases of the State's water resources program,
the Commission looks to the State Highway Commissioner
through his authorized deputy to prevent misuse of many
thousands of miles of Department-owned drains.
State Highway drains, open and closed, invite
"midnight" and other connections to receive septic tank
drainage, sewage and industrial wastes—always with the
same end result.
The State Highway Commissioner makes a substantial
annual contribution to the State's portion of the U. S.
Geological Survey program of stream gaging.
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206
Appointive Members
The appointive citizen members of the Commission
have three year staggered terms of office. Two of them
represent the most commonly encountered sources of waste
or pollution which comes from certain industries and all
municipalities. Conservation groups and interests, on the
other hand, are ever seeking an improved natural water qual-
ity in the best interest of fish and wildlife, recreation
and other uses of waters of the State.
I want to put this on the record at the request
of the Chief Engineer. Mr. Clarke, speaking yesterday
about the work of the United States Geological Survey —
THE CHAIRMAN: It should be emphasized you are
talking about Mr. Clarke of the Geological Survey and not
Mr. Clark of the Public Health Service.
MR. ADAMS: When the Clarke of the United States
Geological Survey appeared, he mentioned 7>000 basic data
stations. I think we account for about 200 of them, and
this gives our distribution. I would like to submit this
table.
Thank you very much.
(The table referred to is as follows:)
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20?
U.S.G.S. Program 1961-62
Water Resources Commission
Cash (surface water)
Services (quality of water)
Highway Department
Cash (surface water)
Conservation Department
Cash
Surface water
Ground water
Quality of water
Services
Surface water
Ground water
Total State
Local contributions
Cash
Surface water
Ground water
Quality
Services
Ground water
Total local
Total non-Federal
Federal
U.S.G.S.
Surface water, matching
Surface water, unrestricted
Ground water, matching
Ground water, unrestricted
Quality of water, matching
U. S. Corps of Engineers
Surface water
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Surface water
Ground water
Federal Power Commission
Total Federal
$14,300
3,600
8,400
31,630.63
19,038.65
500.00
10,500
7,000
43,325
15,100
3,350
1,400
108,155.63
20,100
42,538.65
735
14,275
1,540
3,600
900
$94,969
63,175
158,144
$199,293
GPO 820819—B-3
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208
DR. HEUSTIS: Mr. Oeming, will you continue?
MR. OEMINQ: At this time, with a very brief
introduction, Mr. John Vogt, the Director of the Division of
Engineering, Michigan Department of Health, and Donald M.
Pierce, the Chief of the Section of Sewerage and sewage
Treatment of the Division of Engineering, will present a
Joint review and brief of Chapter II on Municipal Sewage
Collection and Treatment.
STATEMENT OP JOHN E. VOGT, DIRECTOR OF THE
DIVISION OF ENGINEERING, MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH, AND DONALD M. PIERCE, CHIEF OF THE
SECTION OF SEWERAGE AND SEWAGE TREATMENT
OF THE DIVISION OF ENGINEERING
MR. VOGT: Mr. Chairman, Conferees, and ladies
and Gentlemen: For the benefit of the reporter, I am Mr.
Vogt. My colleague is Mr. Pierce.
CHAPTER II. MUNICIPAL SEWAGE COLLECTION AND TREATMENT
The river basins of the Southeastern Michigan
region extend into Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, Washtenaw, Lenawee
and Monroe Counties. The region contains a total of 104
incorporated villages and cities.
Twenty-six municipalities with a total population
of 3*1*686 have no sewer systems but rely on individual house-
hold disposal methods. The largest municipality in this
group is Novi on the upper reaches of the Huron River with
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209
a population of 6,390.
The renainlng 78 municipalities, together with
20 townships which are served either wholly or in part by
sewers, total 98 governmental units having sewer systems.
All of these governmental units provide treatment in degrees
varying from primary settling type plants to secondary treat-
ment by biological oxidation using trickling filters or the
activated sludge process. Chlorination of the effluents is
practiced at all plants except one, at least during the
period May 15 to September 15 of each year. The waste
assimilating capacity of the receiving waters and the preven-
tion of unlawful pollution defined by state statute have
dictated the selection of degree of treatment throughout the
region. Accordingly, plants providing secondary treatment
predominate on the tributary streams while primary treatment
plants are situated along or immediately adjacent to the
shoreline of the Detroit River.
Treatment of the sewage from the 98 governmental
units is provided in 44 plants. In some instances one plant
treats the sewage from a single governmental unit or a sec-
tion thereof. In others, a plant serves as an area facility
receiving the sewage from a number of governmental units
under contractual arrangements made either directly with the
city owning the plant or through a county or a contracting
agency created under State law.
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210
The following sections of this chapter give
detailed information on the type and extent of the sewer
systems, the disposal and treatment methods in effect at all
governmental units within the region. It presents the
opinions of the staff of the two State agencies on the
adequacy of the systems and methods of disposal or treatment
in preventing unlawful pollution as defined in the State
statutes.
Detroit River
Waste discharges into the Detroit' River from
municipalities consist of shoreline installations and those
discharging indirectly through the Rouge River and Ecorse
Creek. These sources may be categorized as the treated
effluents from sewage treatment plants, untreated sewage and
intermittent overflows from combined sewer systems. Along
the shoreline are three major sewage treatment plants: one
owned by the City of Detroit near the mouth of the Rouge
River; the plant at Wyandotte owned by Wayne County; and the
Wayne County plant at Trenton. On Grosse lie a small treat-
ment plant serving a subdivision discharges to the river.
Other sewered areas on the island are connected to septic
tank facilities which also discharge to the river.
The combined sewer systems of all of the shoreline
communities from St. Clair Shores to Trenton discharge
mixtures of sewage and storm water during periods of surface
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211
runoff. One shoreline community, Grosse Pointe, has a
separate sanitary sewer system. With the notable exception
of Grosse Pointe Woods, interceptor facilities are designed
and operated so as to retain for treatment up to about 325
gallons per capita from combined sewers.
Wastes originating in the Rouge River consist
primarily of the effluent from the Dearborn Sewage Treatment
Plant and the raw sewage bypassed at this plant. Overflows
from combined sewer systems of Detroit, Dearborn and other
upstream communities during periods of runoff also contribute
to the pollutional load on the Detroit River.
To the above may be added direct discharges from
homes, either untreated or as effluent from septic tanks.
Detroit
The city has a population of 1,670,144. Virtually
all occupied properties are connected to the combined sewer
system.
Pollution control was established In 1940 when a
primary type sewage treatment plant with effluent disinfec-
tion was completed. Two major sanitary interceptors were
completed at that time. One, known as the Detroit River
Interceptor, runs parallel with the Detroit River, extending
from the sewage treatment plant to the northeastern boundary
of the city at Grosse Pointe Park, The other, known as
the Northwest Interceptor, runs parallel with the Rouge
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212
River. The first section, constructed at that time, extended
a short distance northwesterly from the sewage treatment
plant and was known as the Oakwood Section. These two inter-
ceptors, having a combined capacity of about 2,000 cubic
feet per second, were designed to transport sewage to the
treatment plant from an ultimate population of 4 million.
Subsequently, the Northwest Interceptor was constructed in
stages as a major branch of the Oakwood Interceptor extending
northwesterly to serve the northwestern areas.
The sewage treatment plant was so designed as to
be readily expanded in stages to provide treatment for an
ultimate population of 4 mflllon and flow rates of 2,000
cubic feet per second. Additions have been built to meet
the needs of an expanding service area, the most recent of
which were completed last year. Other improvements are
currently scheduled for construction.
The interceptor system and sewage treatment plant
were so designed and constructed that the city may provide
service to a large district outside of the city by accepting
sewage at or near its corporate limits and delivering it to
its treatment works. This district today includes 47
communities with a connected population including Detroit of
over 2.5 million. These communities, whose sewerage facili-
ties are described in this report, are grouped by service
areas in Table 1.
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213
Table I
Communities in Detroit Service Area For
Sewage Treatment - Presently Connected
I. Detroit River Interceptor District
A. Directly Connected to Detroit
Center Line Grosse Pointe Park
Grosse Pointe Hamtramck
Grosse Pointe Farms Highland Park
B. Connected by Wayne Count Metropolitan Sewerage and
Sewage Disposal System (Northeast Interceptor District)
Grosse Pointe Shores East Detroit
Grosse Pointe Woods Rosevllle
Harper Woods St. Clair Shores
C. Connected by Oakland County (Southeast Oakland
County Sewage Disposal System)
Berkley Huntington Woods
Beverly Hills Madison Heights
(portion) Oak Park
Birmingham Pleasant Ridge
(portion)
Clawson Royal Oak
Ferndale Royal Oak Township
Hazel Park Troy
(Portion)
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II. Northwest Interceptor District
A. Directly Connected to Detroit
Allen Park Farmington
(north portion) Melvindale
Dearborn
(east portion)
B. Connected by Wayne County Metropolitan Sewerage and
Sewage Disposal System (Middle Rouge District)
Dearborn Township Northville
(portion) Northville Township
Garden City
Plymouth
Livonia
Plymouth Township
Nankin Township
Bedford Township
C. Connected by Oakland County (Evergreen-Farmington
Interceptor Districts)
Beverly Hills Lathrup Village
(portion)
Pontiac Township
Birmingham
(portion) Southfield
(portion)
Bloomfield Hills
Troy
Bloomfield Township (portion)
Farmington Township West Bloomfield Township
Keego HSrbor
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215
In addition to the communities listed above, the
City of Detroit contracted in the fall of 1961 to provide
sewage treatment services to the following communities
through its Northwest Interceptor sewer system by connection
to be completed by July, 1962.
Dearborn Nankin Township
(west side) (portion)
Inkster Wayne
Adequacy of the existing facilities to control
pollution and provide the requisite protection prescribed
by existing Michigan statutes is under continuing considera-
tion and evaluation by the Michigan Department of Health
and Water Resources Commission.
The sewage treatment facilities currently in
operation are capable of providing that degree of treatment
normally associated with primary sedimentation with mechanical
sludge removal and effluent disinfection for the presently
connected population. An intensive laboratory study con-
ducted by the plant operating staff on bacteriological
control of the plant effluent, involving some adjustment in
chlorination methods and testing procedures, will provide
significantly improved bacteriological controls to be exer-
cised this year.
In recent years and yet today large quantities of
raw and poorly treated sewage are discharged by the City of
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216
Dearborn and the Wayne County Metropolitan Sewerage and
Sewage Disposal System in addition to many large and varied
industrial discharges into the Rouge and Detroit Rivers in
waters also affected by the waste discharges of the City
of Detroit. The effects of these multiple discharges on
water quality for long distances downriver are to a very
significant extent additive, cumulative, and interrelated.
No reasonably accurate determination of the
separate effect of discharges from the two major systems of
Detroit and Wayne County can be made until the control
measures currently planned and under way at Detroit, Dearborn
and the Wayne County system have been effectuated.
MR. PIERCE: Areas Served by Detroit
Areas served by the Detroit sewerage system lie in
Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties within the drainage basins
of the Rouge River, Clinton River, Detroit River, Ecorse
Creek and Lake St. Clalr. As previously Indicated In Table I
and detailed in Table II, 10 communities or portions thereof
are connected directly to the Detroit system. All other
communities are located in areas served by Wayne and Oakland
County agencies which deliver sewage to the Detroit system
by contractual arrangement with each community and Detroit.
Communities Directly Connected
The sewer systems and sewered population of communi-
ties connected directly to Detroit are summarized in Table II.
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217
The present connected population In these areas Is estimated
at about 200,000.
Table II
Community
Allen Park
(north portion)
Center Line
Pop.
(I960)
5,000
10,164
% of Pop
Sewered
SO
j**
100
.Type of
Sewers
San
Comb.
Combined Sewer
Overflows Dis-
charge To
Clinton River
Dearborn
(east portion)
56,000
Farmington 6,881
Grosse Pointe 6,631
Orosse Pointe Farms 12,172
Grosse Pointe Park 10,457
Hamtrarack 34,137
Highland Park
38,063
Melvindale 13,089
*Currently being connected to
100
90
100
100
100
100
100
100
Detroit
(Bear Creek)
Comb. Rouge River
Comb. Rouge River
San.
Comb. Lake St. Clair
Comb. Lake St. Clair
Comb. Completely
intercepted to
Detroit
Comb. Completely
intercepted
to Detroit
San.
See also Clinton
River Basin
County Sewerage Districts
The sewered population and types of sewer systems
in districts in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties connected
to the Detroit sewerage system are summarized in Table III.
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Table III
218
County Sewerage Dis-
tricts
River
Basin
Est. Sewered
Pop.
Type of Sewers
Largely san.
Half san. -
half comb.
Wayne County
Rouge Valley (Middle Rouge 275,000
Rouge Section) River
Northeast Inter- Lake St. 225,000
ceptor (Includes Clair
South Macomb Sani-
tary District)
Oakland County
Evergreen-Parmington Rouge 100,000
Districts River
Southeast Oakland Clinton 275,000
Co. Sewage Disposal River
District
Largely san.
Largely comb.
Wayne County - Rouge Valley District (Middle Rouge Section)
The pollution control facilities provided by the
county in this district consisted originally in 19^0 of sev-
eral sections each physically separated from the other. One
portion was known as the Middle Rouge System and the other as
tikeMichigan Avenue Interceptor (now called the Lower Rouge
Branch - see Rouge River). About 19^0, two interceptor
sewers were completed and placed in operation. Each termi-
nated at a new treatment plant discharging Into the Middle
Branch of the Rouge River. In 195^ the plants were abandoned
and the interceptor sewers were joined and extended to the
Detroit Northwest Interceptor so as to deliver all of the
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219
sewage from the sewered areas of the following communities
to Detroit.
The communities served by these facilities are
identified in Table IV. Present connected population is
estimated at about 275,000.
Table IV
Community
Pop. % of Pop. Type of
(I960) Sewered Sewers
C omb ined Sewe r
Over-Flows Dis-
charge to
Dearborn Town- 40,000
ship (North
portion)
Garden City 32,01?
Livonia 66,702
Nankin Township 67,183
Northville 3,967
Plymouth 8,766
Plymouth Township 8,364
Redford Township 71,276
90
Largely San.
100
QO
yu
fin
ou
on
yu
i nn
1UU
cr\
50
100
Largely comb.
jLicirge j.y son .
jjcirge j.y BCUII .
Qo v>
oan.
Con
Ocul .
Qort
oan.
Comb.
Rouge ft
Rouge R
MR. VOGT: The sewer systems existing in this area
prior to 1940 were largely of the combined type. During
the last 10 years all communities in this area have developed
sanitary sewer systems in newly sewered areas and have con-
verted systems from combined to separate type In certain
built-up areas.
Existing interceptor facilities do not have sufficient
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220
capacity and are inadequate to control local health hazards and
provide the requisite protection prescribed by Michigan
statutes. Inadequacies of the system were officially recog-
nized by the county in 1956. In December, 1958 the Michigan
Department of Health, following a series of meetings with
officials and committees of the county having official responi-
sibility for the system, notified the county and the commun-
i itles in this service district of the deficiencies of the
system. An agreement was reached by the department and the
county's agent, the Road Commission, to enlarge and improve the
system with completion of all work by March 1, 1962. Although
the need for the scheduled improvements was generally recog-
nized and undisputed, the communities could not agree on the
method of financing or the division of costs. Accordingly,
in June, 1959 the State Health Commissioner notified all
communities in the district that henceforth, until con-
struction of the needed facilities was assured, no sewer
extensions would be approved. Continued failure to proceed
with the required construction prompted the State Health
Commissioner in June, 1961 to order all communities in the
district to desist from adding any more connections to ex-
isting sewers.
In December, 1961 construction contracts were let
for Improvements to this system sufficient to provide
capacity adequate for the 1980 projected population. This
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221
work Involves a relief interceptor and a new section of an
interceptor to deliver flow from this area to Detroit together
with the total flow from the Lower Rouge Branch.
The work on this project has been scheduled so as to
provide temporary relief for present flows by July, 1962 with
completion of the total project by December, 1963. When this
construction was assured in August, 1961 the Health Depart-
ment removed its restrictions on sewer construction and use
in this area.
Wayne County - Northeast Interceptor District
Pollution control facilities consist of an inter-
ceptor sewer and pumping station to collect sewage and trans-
port it to Detroit for treatment from the South Macomb
Sanitary District and three Wayne County communities. The
summary in Table V identifies the communities and their
sewer systems. Present connected population is estimated at
about 225,000.
Table V
Combined Sewer
Pop. % of Pop. Type of Overflows Dis-
Community (i960) Sewered Sewers charge to
*South Macomb San.165,000 100 San. - 40$ Lake St.Glair
Dist. Comb. - 60$
Grosse Pointe Shores 2,301 100 Comb. Lake St.Clair
Grosse Pointe Woods 18,580 100 Comb. Lake St.Clair
Harper Woods 19*995 100 San.
*See South Macomb Sanitary District, pages 22 to 23.
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222
Overloading of interceptor and pumping facilities
by 1956 prompted the State Health Commissioner to impose
restrictions on sewer extensions in this service area in a
manner similar fco that taken in other Wayne County areas
(see Rouge Valley District above). When relief facilities
providing adequate capacity were placed under construction
in the spring of 1961 these restrictions were removed.
These facilities, when completed this year, will have ade-
quate capacity for ultimate development of this service area.
Other work in this area to control pollution is noteworthy.
The facilities for retention and treatment of combined sewer
overflows for Grosse Pointe Woods and Harper Woods (see Lake
St. Glair - Milk River Drainage System) completed last year
provide a large measure of control for these wastes. A
similar project is proposed by communities in the South
Macomb Sanitary District.
South Macomb Sanitary District
In 1943 the County of Macomb completed construction
of an interceptor sewer and related control facilities for
interception of sewage from the 9 Mile Drain and Martin Drain
which were utilized as major combined sewer outlets for the
following communities: East Detroit, Roseville, St. Glair
Shores, Warren and Center Line. Overflows from the combined
sewers and drains discharged to Lake St. Clair (see Lake St.
Glair - South Maoomb Sanitary District). The sewage inter-
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223
cepted from these drains was delivered to the Wayne County
Sanitary Interceptor which transported the sewage to Detroit
for treatment (see Wayne County Metropolitan Sewerage and
Sewage Disposal System - Northeast Interceptor District; also
Detroit - Table I, Section 1A).
In 19^8, the South Macomb Sanitary District was
created to acquire and operate this interceptor system by
contractual agreement among the communities served by it.
The service district today consists principally of East
Detroit, St. Glair Shores and Roseville as shown in Table VI.
Total population connected to the system is estimated at
about 165,000.
(The City of Warren has provided its own treatment
facilities and Center Line is being connected directly to
Detroit.)
Table VI
Type Combined Sewer
Community Pop. % of Pop. of Overflows Dis-
(196Q) Sewered Sewers charged to
East Detroit ^5,956 100 Comb. Lake St. Clair
*Roseville 40,195 100 Comb. Lake St. Clair
St. Clair Shores 76,657 10 Comb. Lake St. Clair
70 Sep.
*Approximately 10,000 additional population connected to
Clinton Township sewerage system.
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224
Existing pollution control facilities are not ade-
quate to control local health hazards and provide the requi-
site protection prescribed by Michigan statutes. These inad-
equacies were established by the Water Resources Commission
in 195@ when statutory proceedings were instituted against the
communities comprising the district« In 1960 the communities
formally stipulated to provide improvements to the system by
September 1963* This work is to consist of increased control
of combined sewer overflows and higher rates of interception
to the Wayne County Northeast Interceptor for treatment. The
latter is to be completed this year.
MR. PIERCE:
Oakland County - Evergreen and Farmington Interceptor Districts
The Evergreen-^Farming ton Interceptor Districts were
established In 1957 under the provisions of the County De-
partment of Public Works statute. Construction of a system
of interceptor sewers, major trunk sewers and related facil-
ities to collect sewage from the communities listed in Table
VII was commenced In 1959. The sewage from this area has
been delivered to Detroit for treatment since July, I960
(see Detroit - Table I, Section lie). Total population
presently connected to the interceptors is estimated at about
100,000.
(Table VII is as follows:)
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Table VII
Community
Beverly Hills (portion)
Bloomfield Hills
Bloomfield Townshin
Fanninfft on TownshiD
Lathrup Village
Pont iac Townshin fnoi*fcion^
Southfield
Troy (portion)
West Bl cornfield Twn.
Pop. #of Pop.
(i960) Sewered
5,000 100
20.000 100
22 R30 RO
20
26 6Q2 ^0
2 761 QO
3,556 100
Q OQl "^
y , v;» *• j
"31. SOI 70
•2 000 7S
lii.QQ/i 2iO
Type of Combined Sewer Over-
Sewers flows Discharge To
Comb. Rouge River
Comb. Rouge River
Comb. Rouge River
San _•--
ro
ro
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226
These facilities with provision for treatment by
Detroit were constructed in compliance with Orders of the
Water Resources Commission of 1952, affirmed by decree of
the Circuit Court, to abate pollution of the Rouge River.
Until connection was made to the Evergreen Inter-
ceptor, the sewage from Birmingham, Bloomfleld Hills, Bloom-
field Township and that portion of Troy in the Rouge Basin
had been treated at the overloaded sewage treatment plant at
Birmingham. Sewage from several other areas was discharged
directly to the Rouge River.
Rates of interception from the combined sewered areas
of Birmingham, Beverly Hills and Bloomfield Township are
regulated at about 10 times the normal dry weather flow
rate. Studies are in progress to determine the adequacy of
these controls. Adjustments in these controls are to be
made as required for adequate protection.
The combined sewer system of Lathrup Village is
to be converted to a separate system with connection of the
sanitary sewer system to the Evergreen Interceptor. This
action is in conformity with the Circuit Court Decree of
1961 enforcing an Order of the Water Resources Commission.
When these adjustments in local facilities are
completed, adequate pollution control will be established in
these districts.
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22?
Southeast Oakland County Sewage Disposal System
The County of Oakland since 1943 has built and
maintained a sewerage system consisting of an interceptor
sewer and pumping facilities which deliver sewage to Detroit
from the 13 communities located in Southeastern Oakland
County for treatment and disposal. The communities served
by the system are listed in Table VIII. Total population
presently connected is estimated at about 275,000.
Table VIII
Community
Berkley
Beverly Hills (portion)
Birmingham (east portion)
Clawson
Ferndale
Hazel Park
Hunt ing ton Woods
Madison Heights
Oak Park
Pleasant Ridge
Royal Oak
Royal Oak Township
Troy (portion)
Pop.
(I960)
23,275
3,633
5,525
14,795
31,347
25,631
8,746 "
21,343
36,632
3,807
80,612
8,147
8,000
% of Pop.
Sewered
100
100
100
70
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
40
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228
The combined sewer systems of these communities
discharge into three major county drains, built originally
as surface water drains. Prior to 19^3 the entire contents
of these drains including all of the wastes from this area
were discharged into Red Run, a branch of the Clinton River,
improved as an intercounty drain.
When the interceptor sewer and pumping station
were built in 19^3, all dry weather flow and some storm
water was intercepted for treatment, but in recent years
even the dry weather flow has exceeded the capacity of the
interceptor, resulting in some overflow to Red Run.
Inadequacies of the existing system of drains
and sanitary Interceptor facilities are two-fold. Lack
of capacity in the local combined sewers and county drains
causes flooding of basements and streets with mixtures of
sewage and storm water; and lack of capacity in the county
interceptor sewer results in excessive overflows to Red Run.
Both of these deficiencies create a menace to public health
and constitute violations of Michigan statutes. These de-
ficiencies have been officially recognized by the communities,
the county and the state regulatory agencies since about 1951.
In 1952 the Water Resources Commission held a
conference with the county and the communities served by the
system to consider deficiencies In facilities. In 1953 the
Michigan Department of Health alerted responsible local
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229
officials to the need for building relief facilities.
Accordingly, the County Drain Commissioner as agent for the
county authorized the preparation of plans for construction
of both relief sewers and pollution control facilities.
Although the need for the planned facilities was generally
recognized and undisputed, the communities could not ggree
on the division of costs. When in 1957 very little progress
had been made, the Michigan Department of Health formally
ordered the communities in the area and the county to con-
struct these facilities. Continuing disagreement over
cost apportionment greatly delayed the project, as litigation
in both Circuit and Supreme Courts extended over a five year
period, terminating in the fall of 1961 with resumption of
proceedings to finance and build the facilities.
Relief sewer facilities are currently under con-
struction. A new interceptor coupled with facilities for
control of overflows from combined sewers, both adequate
for ultimate development of the area, are expected to be
under construction this year.
All of the sewage from this area together with
the retained storm water will be delivered to Detroit for
treatment. The excess, not so Intercepted, will be dis-
charged to Red Run.
MR. VOGT:
Wayne County Metropolitan Sewerage and Sewage Disposal System
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230
The County of Wayne since 1939 has built and main-
tained a system of interceptor sewers, major trunk sewers and
sewage treatment works serving the majority of the sewered
area of the county with the notable but not exclusive ex-
ception of Dearborn, Melvindale, Detroit and those commun-
ities entirely or substantially surrounded by Detroit. (The
Northeast Interceptor District and Rouge Valley District,
which are connected to Detroit for treatment, have been dis-
cussed above as a part of the Detroit service area.)
The original system completed in 1939-^0 included
an interceptor sewer terminating at the sewage treatment plant}
located at Wyandotte to serve several communities in the
area generally south of Detroit. Another interceptor and
treatment plant were built to serve the Cisy of Trenton.
Wyandotte District (also known as Downriver District)
Pollution control facilities consist of a sewage
treatment plant of the primary type with effluent disin-
fection and an interceptor sewer in combination with a
county drain for collecting sewage from local community
systems and delivering same to this plant.
The following summary identifies the communities
or portions of communities served by these facilities.
Connected population is estimated at 275,000.
(Table IX is as follows:)
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Table IX
Community
Pop.
(I960)
Allen Park (south portion) 37,052
Dearborn Township (south portion] 39,809
Ecorse 17,328
Lincoln Park
River Rouge
Rivervlew
Southgate
Taylor Township
Trenton (north portion)
Wyandotte
53,933
18,147
7,237
29,404
49,658
1,000
43,549
% of Pop.
Sewered
90
100
100
100
100
85
80
70
100
100
Type of
Sewers
Comb.
San.
Comb.
Comb.
Comb.
Comb. - 7O#
Sep. - 30#
Comb.
Sep.
Comb.
Comb.
Combined Sewer Over-
flows Discharge To
Ecorse Creek
Ecorse Creek -
Detroit River
Ecorse Creek
Rouge River
Hun ting ton Drain
Detroit River
Detroit River
Detroit River
ro
CO
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232
The local sewer systems of the communities are
largely of the combined sewer type with overflows discharging
into Ecorse Creek, Rouge River and the Detroit River during
runoff periods. Two major county drain systems, the LeBlanc
Drain and No. 5 Drain, are utilized as combined sewers to pro-
vide local service to portions of these areas.
In 1956 it was recognized by the State Health De-
partment and confirmed by engineers of the County Road Com-
mission, who operated the county-owned system as the county's
agent, that reserves in capacity in the interceptor system
were rapidly diminishing. The department notified the
county and the communities served by the district of the im-
pending deficiencies, entered into an agreement with the
county, imposed restrictions on sewer construction in June,
1959* ordered further reduction in use of sewers in June, 1961
and in all respects took actions and adopted measures sim-
ilar to those taken in the Rouge Valley District as outlined
previously.
These restrictions and those denying approval of
sewer extensions are still in effect today. These measures
have been responsible to a marked degree for the determined
effort by all parties in recent months to accelerate the
entire project for construction of relief interceptors,
treatment works and trunk sewers. Contracts have been
signed and an accelerated time schedule calls for commence-
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233
ment of construction by June, 1962.
Work scheduled for completion by October, 1962
consists of additional settling tanks and chlorination
facilities sufficient to provide the degree of treatment to
be expected from adequate primary type sewage treatment
facilities with effluent disinfection. The installation
of two-stage chlorination will assure a high degree of
bacteriological control.
The remainder of the project, scheduled for com-
pletion by July, 1963* will substantially reduce overflows
from combined sewer areas, reduce local overloads on trunk
and Interceptor sewer systems, enlarge and extend treatment
facilities for future needs and extend trunk sewers into
areas now undeveloped or lacking in sewer systems. As indi-
cated in other portions of this report, equivalent controls
are scheduled for completion in other nearby areas concur-
rently with this project.
When the proposed facilities are completed there
will be overflows from combined sewer systems for a
portion of the original service area. Adequacy of the com-
pleted facilities, in combination with other Improvements
made concurrently in other nearby communities and indus-
tries whose waste discharges affect the same reaches of the
Detroit River, will be evaluated and determined at that
time by the Water Resources Commission and the Michigan
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234
Department of Health. No reasonably accurate determination
of the separate effect of discharges from this system can
be made until all the control measures currently scheduled
for completion by the end of 1963 are in operation.
Trenton District
Since 19^-0 the county has built and operated a
sewage treatment plant at Trenton and an interceptor sewer
to serve the majority of this city. In 1957 the Village of
Gibraltar was connected to this plant on the condition that
the plant be expanded and improved. Although this condition
was accepted by the county, no progress toward construction
had been made by June, 1959. The restrictions imposed by
the Michigan Department of Health on sewer construction in
June, 1959 and June, 1961 were identical to those outlined
in the preceding discussion on thaWyandotte (Downriver)
District. Steps taken by the City of Trenton to construct
its own sewage treatment plant have retarded the program
for correction of existing deficiencies.
Existing facilities are grossly overloaded and not
adequate to provide treatment sufficient to control pollution
as prescribed by Michigan statutes.
It is expected that corrective measures to provide
an adequate facility will be undertaken by early summer by
the city or the county and completed by early 1963.
The sewered populations and sewer systems of the
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235
two communities served by these facilities are summarized
in Table X. Present connected population is estimated at
about 20,000.
Table X
Combined Sewer
Pop. % of Pop. Type of Overflows
Community (i960) Sewered Sewers Discharge to
Gibraltar 2,196 20 San.
«Trenton 17,439 60 San.
40 Comb. Detroit River
•See also Wyandotte District (Table IX).
Grosse lie Township
The township has a population of 6,318. Approx-
imately 50 percent of the occupied dwellings are served by
a public sewer system and the remainder have private systems
consisting of septic tank and tile field. About 50 percent
of the dwellings in the sewered area are connected to combined
sewers, the remainder being connected to sanitary sewers.
The combined sewers are county drains which dis-
charge into the Detroit River at several locations. Treat-
ment facilities are inadequate on the combined sewer systems.
In 1957 the Water Resources Commission, acting on a finding
of the State Health Commissioner that the inadequate sewerage
facilities constituted a menace to public health, petitioned
the Wayne County Drain Commissioner to take the necessary
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236
steps to correct the deficiencies. The Drain Commissioner
expects to begin construction of a new treatment plant and
interceptors to serve the needs of the township this summer
and to complete same in 1963.
Combined sewer overflows discharge into the
Thoroughfare Canal and Detroit River and are under surveil-
lance by the Michigan Department of Health to determine the
need for additional control beyond that presently provided.
The sanitary sewers were built in 1956-57 and con-
nect to an adequate primary type treatment plant with effluenfc
disinfection before discharging to the Detroit River.
MR. PIERCE:
Rouge River
Waste discharges to the Rouge River consist of the
effluent from the Dearborn Sewage Treatment Plant and over-
flows from combined sewer systems of Detroit, Dearborn and
several other communities in Wayne and Oakland Counties.
As the lands adjacent to the river have been developed in-
creasingly for organized recreation and residential purposes,
it has become Increasingly necessary to reduce waste dis-
charges to a minimum. As discussed earlier under the Wayne
County - Rouge Valley and Oakland County - Evergreen-
Farmington District of the Detroit sewerage system, sewage
from these major districts previously discharged to the
Rouge River is now connected to the Detroit system for dis-
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237
charge to the Detroit River. The City of Farmington, which
previously discharged to the Rouge River, has also been con-
nected to the Detroit System.
All that remains in the Rouge River today is the
Dearborn Sewage Treatment Plant effluent and the overflows
from combined sewer system. Such overflows occur under
varying conditions of runoff in certain areas in Detroit,
Dearborn and other communities in Wayne and Oakland Counties.
The sewage treatment plant owned and operated by
Dearborn serves the west portion of Dearborn and three com-
munities in the Lower Rouge section of the Rouge Valley Dis-
trict of the Wayne County Metropolitan sewerage and sewage
disposal system. Areas connected to the plant are shown on
Table XI. Connected population is estimated at about
150,000.
(Table XI is as follows: )
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Table XI
Community
Pop.
(I960)
56,000
% of Pop.
Sewered
*Dearborn (west side)
Wayne County System:
Inkster
Nankin Township
(south portion)
Wayne
*See also Detroit connection for east portion.
100
Type of
Sewers
Combined Sewer Over-
flows Discharge To
Comb.
39,097
30,000
19,071
100
85
100
San.
Comb.
San.
San.
Comb.
Rouge River
- 20$ Rouge River
- 20$ Rouge Rivei
ro
OJ
OD
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239
Dearborn
The city has a population of 112,007. Virtually
all occupied properties are connected to the combined sewer
system.
Pollution control was first established in 1931
when the west side chemical precipitation treatment plant
and the east side primary type treatment plant were com-
pleted. In 1939 additions to the west side plant were com-
pleted. Treatment service was provided also for the area in
the City of Detroit served by the Southfield sewer. This
portion of the City of Detroit was later connected to the
Detroit treatment plant. In 19^0 treatment service was ex-
tended to Wayne, Inkster and part of Nankin Township (see
next section).
In conformity with a stipulation to the Water
Resources Commission, the City of Dearborn discontinued use
of the east side treatment plant by making a connection to
the Detroit Northwest Interceptor and treatment plant in
1959. Construction has started on a connection for the
west portion of Dearborn to this same interceptor and is
expected to be completed by July, 1962. When this con-
nection Is completed all of the sewage from Dearborn, Wayne,
Inkster and a portion of Nankin Township will be treated by
Detroit.
Combined sewer overflows to the Rouge River are
GPO 820B19-B-S
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240
under surveillance by the Michigan Department of Health to
determine the need for additional control beyond that
presently provided.
Farmington - Treatment of Combined Sewer Overflows
The City of Farmington has a system of sewers,
largely of the combined type, serving virtually all the
present population of 7,000. In 1957 the city established
pollution control in conformity with an Order of the Water
Resources Commission adopted April, 1952 and affirmed by
Circuit Court Decree of 1953.
Facilities consist of a connection to the Detroit
sewer system for rates of flow about three times the average.
This connection was made in 1956. In addition, the city in
1957 placed in operation sedimentation and chlorination
facilities for control of the excess flows from the combined
sewer system during wet weather. Adequate control of pol-
lution is provided by this combination of facilities.
Wayne County - Rouge Valley District - Lower Rouge Section
About 1940 an interceptor sewer was constructed
by the county generally parallel with the lower branch of
the Rouge River to collect sewage from the communities listed
in Table XI and convey it to Dearborn for treatment at the
Greenfield Road (west side) plant.
The sewer systems of these communities were largely
of the combined type. Some progress has been made in recent
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241
years to convert these sewers to separate systems.
As in the Middle Rouge Section and in the Downriver
District, it was recognized in 1956 that serious deficiencies
existed in the facilities to control pollution for this area.
The greatest deficiency was lack of capacity at the Dearborn,
plant to provide treatment for wastes delivered from this
district together with wastes collected within the City of
Dearborn. No reserve capacity remained at that time in the
interceptor. Actions taken by the department to acquaint
responsible officials with the need for immediate correction
and so restrict further overloading of the sewer system
were identical to those taken in relation to the Middle
Rouge area previously discussed.
In August, 1961 contracts were executed between the
Cities of Detroit and Dearborn to connect to the Detroit
Northwest Interceptor. This work is scheduled for completion
by July, 1962. In addition, contracts between the county,
the communities in this service area and Dearborn call for
utilization of this same connection to Detroit for a tempo-
rary period pending completion of a new and separate inter-
ceptor connection to Detroit to be built by the county to
serve this area. This interceptor is also under contract
for construction. The connection to Detroit, both in its
temporary and permanent form, will remove the discharge of
untreated sewage and inadequately treated plant effluent from
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242
the Rouge River.
Pollution control facilities thus provided will
have sufficient capacity adequate for the 1980 projected
population.
THE CHAIRMAN: We will recess at this time for
ten minutes.
(Whereupon a recess was had.)
THE CHAIRMAN: May we reconvene. It is always
rash to make predictions, but we confidently hope with
the cooperation of the people here we will be able to be
through this afternoon. Our schedule now will call for a
prompt recess for lunch at twelve o'clock:, one hour and a
quarter for lunch, and we will convene at one-fifteen p.m.
and push on until we are completed. Dr. Heustis.
DR. HEUSTIS: Mr. Pierce, will you continue, if
you please.
MR. PIERCE: Yes.
Clinton River
There are 20 communities located along the Clinton
River and its branches from mouth to headwaters. The muni-
cipal facilities for collection and treatment of sewage in
these communities is summarized in Table XII.
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243
Table XII
Total Number of Communities 20
Total Population (i960) 323,500
Population in Communities With 315,000
Sewage Treatment Plants
Population Connected to Sewers 250,000
and Treatment Plants
Number of Communities With 15
Sewer Systems
Number of Communities With *15
Treatment Plants
Type of Treatment (All Have
Facilities for Chlorination)
Primary 3
Secondary **12
•"•Includes three communities who contract with other
communities for sewage treatment.
**Three communities each have two secondary type plants.
All except four of these communities have adequate
sewage collection and "treatment works to meet the requisites
of Michigan statutes. Three of these are under Court order
to abate pollution, two are improving existing treatment
facilities and the third is building a connection to the
Detroit system. The remaining community, a city of about
1,500 population, is considering the addition of secondary
treatment.
In the five communities without sewers or sewage
treatment works the total population Is about 7,000. Sewage
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244
disposal is by septic tanks and soil absorption on individual
properties..
Almont
The village has a population of 1,279 (I960) of vrtiiqh
1,250 are connected to the municipal sewerage system. About
half of the community is served by separate sanitary sewers,
the remainder of the served area being connected to combined
sewers.
Pollution control was established in 1958 when a
secondary type sewage treatment plant consisting of trickling
filters and effluent disinfection was completed, as urged
by the Michigan Department of Health and the Water Resources
Commission.
Existing facilities are adequate and have reserves
for an additional population of 300.
Armada
The village has a population of 1,111. Virtually
all occupied properties are served by a combined sewer system.
Pollution control was established in 1957 when a
secondary type sewage treatment plant consisting of trickling
filters and effluent disinfection was completed, as urged
by the Michigan Department of Health and the Water Resources
Commission.
Existing facilities are adequate and have reserves
for an additional population of 400„
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245
Center Line (see also Detroit Table II)
The city has a population of 10,164 (1960), vir-
tually all of which is served by a system of combined
sewers, about one-half of which discharge into the South
Macomb Sanitary District system, with treatment provided in
the Detroit Sewage Treatment Plant.
Conversion of the entire municipal sewer system to
a separate sanitary type and construction of trunk sewers
and pumping facilities to discharge the entire municipal
sewage flow directly to the Detroit system for treatment is
now under way in accordance with an Order of the Water Re-
sources Commission affirmed by a Circuit Court Order issued
August 1, I960. Upon completion of this construction, ex-
pected by December 1, 1962, pollution control facilities
will be adequate and have reserves for a population of
5,000.
Clarkston
The village has a population of. 769. Only the
business section is served by sewers. These are separate
sanitary type. The remainder of the community utilizes
private on-property septic tank type sewage disposal systems,
Pollution control facilities consist of septic
tank followed by sand filters with undislnfected effluent
discharged to a small tributary of the Clinton River.
Disinfection currently under consideration. No reserves for
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246
additonal connections are available in the existing treat-
ment facilities.
Clinton Township
The township has a population of 25,688 (i960).
Two separate portions of the township, with a combined pop-
ulation of about 12,000, are served by systems of separate
sanitary sewers which also serve a population of about 5,000
in the City of Frazer. The remainder of the township util-
izes private, on-property septic tank type sewage disposal
systems.
Pollution control facilities consist of two sepa-
rate secondary type sewage treatment plants consisting of
trickling filters with effluent disinfection.
The existing facilities are adequate with reserves
for an additional population of 19,000.
Fraser
The city has a population of 7,027 (i960). About
70 percent of the community is served by a system of sepa-
rate sanitary sewers, the remainder utilizing private on-
property septic tank type sewage disposal systems.
Pollution control consists of connection of the
sanitary sewer system to the Clinton Township system, described
elsewhere in this report.
Lake Angelus
The village has a population of 231 (I960. The
community
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24?
has no formal sewer system and utilizes private on-property
septic tank type sewage disposal systems.
Lake Orion
The village has a population of 2,698 (i960). The
community has no formal sewer system and utilizes private
on-property septic tank type sewage disposal systems.
Leonard
The village has a population of 391 (I960). The
community has no formal sewer system and utilizes private
on-property septic tank type sewage disposal systems.
Mt. Clemens
The city has a population of 21,016 (i960). Vir-
tually all properties within the city are served by the
combined sewer system.
Pollution control was established in 1951 when a
secondary type sewage treatment plant consisting of trickling
filters with effluent disinfection was completed.
Existing facilities are inadequate with no reserves
for additional growth.
Orchard Lake
The village has a population of 1,127 (1960). The
community has no formal sewer system and utilizes private
on-property septic tank type sewage disposal systems.
Oxford
The village has a population of 2,357 (I960). The
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248
community has no formal sewer system and utilizes private
on-property septic tank type sewage disposal systems.
Pontlac
The city has a population of 82,233 of which about
75*000 are connected to the sewer system. Two-thirds of
the system is of the separate sanitary type, the remainder
being combined sewers. Several large industries discharge
sanitary and industrial wastes to the system.
Pollution control was established in 1921 by the
construction of a secondary type sewage treatment plant con-
sisting of Imhoff tanks and trickling filters. Some additions
were completed in 1929. Additional facilities, including
activated sludge and effluent disinfection, were completed
In 19^0. Further additions to relieve overloads were com-
pleted in 1953» under an Order issued by the Water Resources
Commission in!951. Construction of a new sewage treatment
plant to supplement the existing plant was commenced in the
spring of 1961 in conformity with a Circuit Court Decree
issued November, I960 affirming the defaulted Order of the
Water Resources Commission issued August, 1959.
When the additions now under construction are com-
pleted (estimated June, 1963) pollution control facilities
will be adequate and will have reserves for a population of
40,000.
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249
Rochester
The village has a population of 5,431. Virtually
all occupied properties are connected to the combined sewer
system. The system also collects sanitary sewage and in-
dustrial wastes from industries, located both within and
outside of the corporate limits, having a population equiv-
alent of about 3*000.
Pollution control was established in 1940 when a
primary type sewage treatment plant with effluent disinfection
was completed to serve a population of 6,500. Expansion of
the plant and addition of secondary treatment consisting of
activated sludge was commenced early in 1961 and completed
early in 1962 in conformity with requirements of the Mich-
igan Department of Health.
Existing facilities are adequate and have reserves
for an additional population of about 10,000.
Romeo
The village has a population of 3,32? (i960) which
is virtually all served by the sewer system. About 90 per
cent of the sewers are of the separate sanitary type and the
remainder are combined.
Pollution control was originally established in
1925 wben a primary type sewage treatment plant consisting
of Imhoff tanks was completed. Addition of disinfection
facilities was completed in 1937.
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250
When additions to the sewage treatment works in-
cluding trickling filter type secondary treatment facilities
and the separation of the sewer system are completed as
required by the Order of the Circuit Court issued February
19, 1962, pollution control facilities will be adequate and
will have reserves for a population of 1,6?5.
Sterling Township
The township has a population of 14,622 (i960).
Two separate portions of the township, with a combined pop-
ulation of about 10,000, are served by systems of separate
sanitary sewers. The remainder of the area utilizes private^
on-property septic tank type sewage disposal systems.
Pollution control facilities consist of two second-
ary type sewage treatment plants, each with effluent disin-
fection. One of these plants is of the activated sludge
type, the other is of the trickling filter type (now being
enlarged and converted to activated sludge).
The existing facilities are adequate with present
reserves for a population of 7*000. When the present con-
struction work is completed (estimated to be June, 1962)
reserves will exist for a population of 12,000.
Sylvan Lake
The city has a population of 2,004 (1960), vir-
tually all of which is connected to a system of separate
sanitary sewers discharging to the City of Pontiac's muni-
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251
clpal sewer system with treatment provided at the Pont lac
Municipal Sewage Treatment Works, described elsewhere in
this report.
Utioa
The village has a population of 1,454 (1960), vir-
tually all being connected to the combined sewer system.
Pollution control was originally established in
1938 with the construction of a primary type sewage treat-
ment plant with effluent disinfection. This plant was
expanded in 1950.
Secondary sewage treatment facilities are needed,
thus the existing facilities are inadequate. No reserves
exist for additional connections.
Warren
The city has a population of 89,246 (I960), vir-
tually all of which is served by the sewer system. About
85 percent of the system is of the separate sanitary type,
the remainder being combined.
Pollution control was established in 1959 with the
completion of a secondary type sewage treatment plant con-
sisting of activated sludge with effluent disinfection as
urged by the Michigan Department of Health and the Water
Resources Commission.
Existing facilities are adequate with reserves for
a population of 30,000.
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252
Waterford Township
The township has a population of 47,107 (1960).
Two portions of the township, with a combined population of
about 1,300, are served by systems of separate sanitary
sewers. Pollution control facilities for these two portions
consist of two secondary type sewage treatment plants, each
consisting of trickling filters, and sand filters with
effluent disinfection.
Both of these existing facilities are adequate with
no reserves for additional connections.
A third portion of the township, with a population
of about 5,000, is served by a system of separate sanitary
sewers which discharge Into the City of Pontiac sewer system
with treatment provided at the Pontiac Municipal Sewage
Treatment Plant, described elsewhere in this report.
The remainder of the township utilizes private
on-property septic tank type sewage disposal systems.
Huron River
The municipal sewerage facilities existing today
in the 17 municipalities located along the river from mouth
to headwaters are summarized in Table XIII.
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253
Table XIII
Total Number of Communities 17
Total Population (i960) 147,000
Population in Communities with 140,000
Sewage Treatment Plants
Number of Communities With 12
Sewer Systems
Number of Communities With 12
Sewage Treatment Plants
Total Number of Sewage Treatment 14
Plants
Type of Treatment (All Have
Facilities for Chlorination)
Primary 4 plants
Secondary 10 plants
(8 communities)
The facilities for pollution control are adequate
to meet the requirements of Michigan statutes in all except
three of the communities. Each of these have contracted
with Wayne County for expansion and improvement of treat-
ment facilities, scheduled for construction this year.
The five communities without formal sewer systems
have a total population of about 7,000. Sewage disposal
is by septic tanks and soil absorption.
Ann Arbor
The city has a population of 67,340. Virtually
all occupied properties are connected to the sanitary sewer
system.
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254
Pollution control was established originally in
1936 when a secondary type treatment plant was completed.
Additions to the plant were made in 1951. Treatment con-
sists of activated sludge and effluent disinfection and is
adequate. The plant is approaching capacity and an engineer-
ing report has been completed outlining a program for plant
expansion which will serve future needs of the city.
Belleville
The city has a population of 1,921. Virtually all
occupied properties are connected to the sanitary sewer sys-
tem.
Pollution control was established in 1940 when a
primary type treatment plant with effluent disinfection
was completed by Wayne County for use by the city.
Existing facilities are inadequate. Correction
was ordered by the Water Resources Commission in 1956 af-
firmed by Decree of the Circuit Court in 1957. The city
in March, 1962 again contracted with Wayne County for sewage
disposal service. The county plans to complete an inter-
ceptor from its Wyandotte plant to Belleville by July, 1963.
When this interceptor is completed the existing plant
serving the city will be abandoned and pollution control will
then be adequate.
Brighton
The city has a population of 2,282. Virtually all
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255
occupied properties are connected to the sanitary sewer
system.
Pollution control was established in 19^0 when a
trickling filter type treatment plant with effluent disin-
fection was completed. In 1958 the plant was enlarged to
meet the future needs of the city.
The existing facilities are adequate for an addit-
ional population of 2,500.
Chelsea
The village has a population of 3,355. Virtually all
occupied properties are connected to the sanitary sewer
system.
Pollution control was established originally in
1937 when a secondary type treatment plant was completed.
In I960 additions to the treatment plant were completed in
conformity with an agreement with the Michigan Department of
Health.
Treatment consists of activated sludge and effluent
disinfection which are adequate for an additional population
of 1,000.
Dexter
The village has a population of 1,702. Virtually
all occupied properties are connected to the sanitary sewer
system.
Pollution control was established originally in
GPO 820619-B-6
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256
1936 when a primary type treatment plant was completed.
In 1937 effluent disinfection facilities were added. Exist-
ing facilities are up to capacity and plans and specifications
have been approved for plant expansion. The village is
presently making arrangements to finance the plant enlarge-
ment.
Flat Rook
The city has a population of 4,696. Virtually all
occupied properties are connected to the sewer system.
Approximately 30 percent of the occupied properties are
connected to combined type sewers and the remainder to sep-
arate type sewers.
Pollution control was established in 1940 when a
primary type treatment plant with effluent disinfection was
completed by Wayne County for use by the city.
Existing facilities are inadequate; however, plans
are completed for the expansion of the plant and construction
is expected to commence prior to May 1, 1962 and be completed
in 1963. Combined sewer overflows are under continuing sur-
veillance by the Michigan Department of Health to determine
the need for additional control beyond that presently pro-
vided.
Milford
The City has a population of 4,323. Virtually all
occupied properties are connected to the sanitary sewer sys-
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257
tern.
Pollution control was established in 1936 when an
Imhcff tank was completed. The plant was expanded and a
trickling filter and effluent disinfection were added in
1952 in compliance with an Order of the Water Resources
Commission adopted November, 1950. The existing facili-
ties are adequate but there are no reserves. The city
had an engineering report prepared outlining the manner that
the plant will be expanded when the need arises.
Pinckney
The population of the village is 732. No formal
public sewer system exists. Most occupied properties are
served by private sewage disposal systems consisting of
septic tank and tile field.
Rockwood
The city has a population of 2,026. Virtually all
occupied properties are connected to the combined sewer
system.
Pollution control was established in 19^0 when a
primary type treatment plant with effluent disinfection was
completed by Wayne County for use by the city. Existing
facilities are inadequate. Improvements are scheduled for
construction by the county in 1963.
Combined sewer overflows are under continuing sur-
veillance by the Michigan Department of Health to determine
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258
the need for additional control beyond that presently pro-
vided.
Romulus Township
The population of the township is 3,500. Approx-
imately 2,000 are served by sanitary sewers and a trickling
filter type treatment plant with effluent disinfection oper-
ated by Wayne County. The Detroit Wayne County Airport is
served by a county operated activated sludge type treatment
plant with effluent disinfection. The township on March
7, 1962 contracted with Wayne County for expanded sewerage
service. The county plans to complete an interceptor from
their plant at Wyandotte through the township by July, 1963.
This interceptor will provide service for almost the entire
township and make it possible to abandon the two existing
plants.
South
The City has a population of 1,753. Virtually all
occupied properties are connected to the sanitary sewer sys-
tem.
Pollution control was established in 1939 when an
activated sludge type plant was completed. In I960 the
plant was enlarged and effluent disinfection added in con-
formity with an agreement with the Michigan Department of
Health. Treatment facilities are adequate for an additional
population of 3,000.
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South Rockwood
The population of this village is 1,337. No formal
public sewer system exists. Most occupied properties are
served by private sewage disposal systems consisting of
septic tank and tile field.
Stookbrldge
The population of this village is 1,097. No formal
public sewer system exists. Most occupied properties are
served by private sewage disposal systems consisting of
septic tank and tile field.
Wixom
The population of this city is 1,531. No formal
public sewer system exists. Most occupied properties are
served by private sewage disposal systems consisting of
septic tank and tile field.
Wolverine Lake
The population of this village is 2,404. No
formal public sewer system exists. Most occupied properties
are served by private sewage disposal systems consisting of
septic tank and tile field.
Ypsilanti
The city has a population of 20,957. Virtually all
occupied properties are connected to the sewer system.
Approximately 20 percent of the occupied properties are
connected to combined type sewers and the remainder to
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separate type sewers.
Pollution control was established in 1939 when a
primary type treatment plant with effluent disinfection was
completed. In conformity with an agreement with the Mich-
igan Department of Health construction of additions including
activated sludge type treatment are now in progress and ex-
pect to be completed by September, 1963. The expanded plant
will be adequate for an additional population of 10,000. Com-
bined sewer overflows are under continuing surveillance by
the Michigan Department of Health to determine the need for
additional control beyond that presently provided.
Ypsilanti Township
The township has a population of 25,900. Approx-
imately 23,000 people are connected to the sanitary sewer
system.
In 1944 the U.S. Government constructed in the
township sanitary sewers and two activated sludge type treat-
ment plants with effluent disinfection. After World War II
these facilities were purchased by the township.
Existing facilities are adequate and have a limited
reserve. The township has plans completed for making addi-
tions to one plant which will make it possible to abandon
the other plant and provide some additional treatment capacity
for future growth. A Court action has been filed against
the township by downstream riparians. Construction of the
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plant additions is being delayed because bonds cannot be
sold with litigation pending. This work will commence as
soon as the litigation is terminated.
Raisin River
The municipal facilities for sewage collection
and treatment in the 16 communities located along the
Raisin River and its branches from mouth to headwater are
summarized in Table XIV.
Table XIV
Total Number of Communities 16
Total Population (I960) 67,000
Population in Communities With 62,000
Treatment Plants
Number of Communities With 9
Sewer Systems
Number of Communities With 9
Treatment Plants
Type of Treatment (All Have
Facilities for Chlorination)
Primary 4
Secondary 5
The facilities for pollution control are adequate
to meet requisites of the Michigan statutes at all plants
and have reserves for expansion at all except one.
In the seven communities without sewer systems
total population is about 5,000. Sewage disposal is by
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septic tanks and soil absorption.
Adrian
The olty has a population of 20,34?. About 90
percent of the occupied properties are connected to the
sewer system. About half of the sewered population is
served by separate sanitary sewers, the remainder being
connected to combined sewers.
Pollution control was established originally in
1926 when a primary type sewage treatment plant was com-
pleted. Secondary treatment was added in 1939 by Order of
the Stream Control Commission and expanded in 1951 In con-
formity with an Order of the Water Resources Commission af-
firmed by Circuit Court Decree. Treatment consists of
activated sludge and effluent disinfection. The plant has
reserves for a population of 5*000. Combined sewer overflow?
are under continuing surveillance by the Michigan Department
of Health to determine the need for additional control beyonqi
that presently provided.
Blissfield
The village has a population of 2,653. Virtually a).l
occupied properties are connected to the combined sewer
system.
Pollution control was established In 1957 when a
primary type sewage treatment plant with effluent disin-
fection-was completed in conformity with an Order of the
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Water Resources Commission adopted September, 1951. Ex-
isting facilities are adequate and have reserves for an
additional population of 1,500. Combined sewer overflows
are under continuing surveillance by the Michigan Department
\
of Health to determine the need for additional control beyond
that presently provided.
Britton
The population of this village is 622. No formal
public sewer system exists. Most occupied properties are
served by .private sewage disposal systems consisting of
septic tank and tile field.
Brooklyn
The population of this village is 986. No formal
public sewer system exists. Most occupied properties are
served by private sewage disposal systems consisting of
septic tank and tile field.
Cement City
The population of this village is 4?1. No formal
public sewer system exists. Most occupied properties are
served by private sewage disposal systems consisting of
septic tank and tile field.
Clayton
The population of this village is 4?0. No formal
public sewer system exists. Most occupied properties are
served by private sewage disposal systems consisting of
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septic tank and tile field.
Clinton
The village has a population of 1,481. Virtually
all occupied properties are connected to the separate sewer
system.
Pollution control was established in 1942 when a
primary type treatment plant with effluent disinfection was
completed. Existing facilities are adequate and have re-
serves for an additional population of 200.
Deerfield
The population of this village is 866. No formal
public sewer system exists. Most occupied properties are
served by private sewage disposal systems consisting of
septic tank and tile field.
Dundee
The village has a population of 2,377. Virtually
all occupied properties are connected to the combined sewer
system.
Pollution control was established in 1958 when a
primary type sewage treatment plant with effluent disin-
fection was completed in conformity with an Order of the
Water Resources Commission adopted 1951 and affirmed by
Circuit Court Decree dated May, 1956. Existing facilities
are adequate and have reserves for an additional population
of 1,000. Combined sewer overflows are under continuing
surveillance by the Michigan Department of Health to deter-
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mine the need for additional controls beyond that presently
provided.
Manchester
The village has a population of 1,568. Virtually
all occupied properties are connected to the combined sewer
system.
Pollution control was established in 1957 when a
secondary type sewage treatment plant consisting of trickling.
filters and effluent disinfection was completed in conformity
with an Order of the Water Resources Commission adopted 1951
and affirmed by Circuit Court Decree. Existing facilities
are adequate and have reserves for an additional population
of 800. Combined sewer overflows are under continuing sur-
veillance by the Michigan Department of Health to determine
the need for additional controls beyond that presently pro-
vided .
Milan
The village has a population of 3,6l6. Virtually
all occupied properties are connected to the combined sewer
system.
Pollution control was established In 195^ when a
secondary type sewage treatment plant consisting of trickling
filters and effluent disinfection was completed in conform-
ity with an Order of the Water Resources Commission adopted
1931. Existing facilities are adequate and have reserves
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for an additional population of 400. Combined sewer over^
flows are under continuing surveillance by the Michigan De-
partment of Health to determine the need for additional
controls beyond that presently provided.
Monroe
The City of Monroe has a population of 22,968.
Virtually all occupied properties are connected to the
sewer system. Approximately 40 percent of the occupied
properties are connected to combined type sewers and the
remainder to separate type sewers.
Pollution control was established in 1937 when a
primary type sewage treatment plant with effluent disin-
fection was completed. Existing facilities are adequate
and have reserves for an additional population of 2,000.
Combined sewer overflows are under continuing surveillance
by the Michigan Department of Health to determine the need
for additional controls beyond that presently provided.
Onsted
The village has a population of 526. About 50
percent of the occupied properties are connected to the com-
bined sewer system.
Unlawful pollution has not been demonstrated;
however, the village has completed an engineering report
setting forth the means by which a sewerage system and
treatment would be provided.
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Petersburg
The population of this village is 1,018. No
formal public sewer system exists. Most occupied prop-
erties are served by private sewage disposal systems con-
sisting of septic tank and tile field.
Saline
The village has a population of 2,334. Virtually
all occupied properties are connected to the sewer system.
Approximately 20 percent of the occupied properties are
connected to combined type sewers and the remainder to
separate type sewers.
Pollution control was established originally in
1956 when a trickling filter type sewage treatment plant
with effluent disinfection was completed in conformity with
an Order of the Water Resources Commission adopted in 1951.
Existing facilities are reaching capacity and the village
has been notified by the Michigan Department of Health to
commence planning plant additions.
Teoumseh
The city has a population of 7,045. Virtually
all occupied properties are connected to the sanitary sewer
system.
Pollution control was established in!953 when a
trickling filter type treatment plant with effluent disin-
fection was completed in conformity with an Order of the
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Water Resources Commission adopted in 1949. Existing fac-
ilities are adequate and have reserves for an additional
population of 400.
Lake St. Glair
Waste discharges to Lake St. Glair consist of the
effluent from the sewage treatment plant at New Baltimore,
residual pollutants in the tributary streams and St. Glair
River and the overflows from the combined sewer systems
of the South Macomb Sanitary District and the Milk River
Drainage District. The tributary streams are the Salt
River and Clinton River. The Salt River is not within the
scope of this report. The Clinton River has been discussed
under a previous section.
New Baltimore
The city has a population of 3,159 (i960), virtually
all of which is served by a system of separate sanitary
sewers.
Pollution control was established in 1961, with
completion of a secondary type sewage treatment plant con-
sisting of a trickling filter with effluent disinfection, as
urged by the Michigan Department of Health. The existing
facilities are adequate with reserves for a population of
3,000.
Milk River Drainage District
-Until the summer of I960 the sewage and storm water
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of the City of Grosse Pointe Woods was discharged to Milk
River during periods of runoff. The storm water and some
sewage from the City of Harper Woods also was discharged to
this stream. Inadequacies in capacity of the system re-
sulted in flooding of basements in Grosse Pointe woods with
mixtures of sewage and storm water during wet weather per-
iods. These conditions were found by the State Health Com-
missioner in 1954 to create a menace to public health and
a public nuisance.
Facilities completed in I960 by the Intercounty
Drainage Board of Wayne and Macomb Counties were installed,
at the urging of the Michigan Department of Health, to
control these health hazards and nuisances. They consist of
enclosure of a major portion of Milk River, thereby pro-
viding an adequate outlet for the combined sewer system of
Grosse Pointe Woods and a combination of facilities for re-
tention, storage and treatment of the excess flows from
such system during period of surface runoff.
As described earlier under Wayne County-Northeast
Interceptor District, the sanitary sewage flow is inter-
cepted to Detroit for treatment, thereby providing adequate
control of pollution during dry weather periods. The facil-
ities for treatment of the overflows from the system during
wet weather are under the continuing surveillance of the
Michigan Department of Health to determine the need for addi-
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tlonal control beyond that presently provided.
South Maoomb Sanitary District
As stated previously under Wayne County-Northeast
Interceptor District, the South Macomb Sanitary District
and its constituent municipalities stipulated in I960 to
provide facilities by September, 1963 adequate to control
pollution from the overflows of combined sewer system which
presently are discharged to Lake St. Clalr. Plans for
such facilities for a portion of the area have been com-
pleted. Financing the project is currently delayed by
Court action contesting assessments.
Lake Erie
Wastes discharged to Lake Erie consist of the
residual pollution from the Detroit River and tributary
streams together with some shoreline pollution from un-
sewered areas. The principal tributary streams in Michigan
are the Huron River and Raisin River discussed previously
in this report. Minor tributaries are Sandy, Stony and
Swan .Creeks.
Carleton
The village has a population of 1,379. No formal
public sewer system exists. Most occupied properties are
served by private sewage disposal systems consisting of
septic tank and tile field.
Plans are being prepared for the development of a
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public sewerage system and treatment plant. Means of
financing the project are also being evaluated.
Estral Beach
The population of this village is 254. No formal
public sewer system exists. Host occupied properties are
served by private sewage disposal systems consisting of
septic tank and tile field.
Maybee
The population of this village is 459. No formal
public sewer system exists. Most occupied properties are
served by private sewage disposal systems consisting of
septic, tank and tile field.
I would like to ask that this additional statement
be incorporated in the record.
DR. HEUSTIS: Would the proper place for this be
at the end of Chapter II?
MR. PIERCE: That is correct.
DR. HEUSTIS: The following statement will be in-
corporated in the written record, then.
MR. PIERCE: Thank you.
A report completed this month, March 1962, by the
"City of Monroe, makes provision for treatment in its plant
of sewage collected from the developed shoreline properties
in Prenchtown Township.
A program is being developed in the township to
GPO B208I9-B-7
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provide lateral sewers In these areas to be connected to
the City of Monroe for treatment. This is a partial so-
lution to a problem that was discussed yesterday, and It
is well recognized in the area that shoreline property
both in Monroe County and in the counties to the north,
the counties of Wayne, Macomb, and St. Clalr, the unin-
corporated areas do not have adequate facilities in many
instances to provide the requisite protection to the re-
ceiving waters. In several of these areas plans are under-
way for the development of lateral sewers and treatment
works where the population is sufficiently dense to make
this possible and practicable from a financial standpoint.
One of these areas is Prenchtown Township, a township
lying directly north, in this area, north of the City of
Monroe, and which very naturally can connect to the city
where the sewage can be treated and discharged into the
Raisin River, Much more work needs to be done in several
of these other areas in the other counties, and is under
continuing evaluation, and surveillance both by the County
Health Departments in these areas and by the state regu-
latory agencies.
Mr. Chairman, this completes Chapter II.
DR. HEUSTIS: Thank you. Mr. Oeming, will you
continue with Chapter III.
MR. VOGT: I would like to summarize.
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DR. HEUSTIS: Oh, I beg your pardon. Briefly.
MR. VOGT:
Ace omp11shment s
During the last ten years nearly all of the com-
munities in the five river and two lake basins covered by
this report have been active in developing improved facil-
ities for control of pollution discharged to these waters.
Today every city, village and township, having a sewer system,
has either a sewage treatment plant of its own or contracts
with another governmental unit for treatment of its collected
wastes. For many years no proposed sewer has been author-
ized by the State Health Commissioner for construction un-
less adequate provision has been made for treatment of the
wastes so collected. Of a population of approximately
3,500*000 living in developed sections of this area, less
than two percent live in municipalities having no sewer
system. In most communities nearly all of the population
is connected to the sewer system. Thus it is apparent that
virtually all of the sewage from residential areas, except
in small scattered developments, is being treated currently
in municipally owned sewage treatment plants.
Adequacy of Facilities
There are no other municipal projects outstanding
where actionable violations of the requisites of the Mich-
igan pollution control statutes have been officially recog-
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nized or identified by either agency. Two communities
covered in previous sections currently are planning to
install additional treatment facilities without formal
action by either agency.
The extent of adequacy or completeness of compli-
ance with statutory requirements is constantly being ap-
praised by the staffs cfthe two agencies. The dynamic
nature of a mobile and expanding population, and industry
continually changes the relationship between pollutional
loadings on the stream, resultant water quality and water
objectives. That these changing needs have been recognized
and are being met is evident from the large number of com-
munities and industries which have installed or are sched-
uling the installation of additions to existing treatment
or control facilities (see especially column 2 of Table
XV). The term "additions" is used here to differentiate
between the original facilities designated as "new" and
those expanded in capacity or to which secondary treatment
is added. It is significant to note also that nearly all
of the treatment plants and interceptor systems, except
those under construction or scheduled for construction,
have rather substantial reserves in capacity. A few like
the Evergreen-Farmington Interceptor in Oakland County have
reserves sufficient for ultimate population, in this instance
about-275,000.
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Combined Sewers
Measures taken in relation to combined sewers
fall into three categories, namely: elimination, treatment
of overflows and continuing appraisal of the need for or
nature of controls required.
Throughout this area most newly developing com-
munities are building separate type sewer systems. In
many of these areas this required a radical departure from
established practice. Except for the Cities of Detroit
and Dearborn and a few adjLoent communities almost com-
pletely served now with combined sewers, practically all
of the area has initiated and will continue to build sep-
arate systems.
At Farmington and Grosce Pointe Woods-Harper Woods,
facilities have been completed during the last two years for
storage, retention and treatment of excess flows from com-
bined sevrer systems in wet weather. Both the South Macomb
Sanitary District and the Southeastern Oakland County com-
munities havs projects for similar controls ready for con-
struction.
In all other areas, both in small communities on
fche small streams and the communities on the shore of the
Detroit River, the two agencies keep the overflows from
such systems under continuing surveillance and investigation,
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Work Yet To Be Done
Needs which have been identified and determined
are listed in Tables XV and XVII and Identified under Status
of Compliance as "commenced" or "scheduled 1962," in the
former Table and as "not demonstrated" or "additions re-
quired" in the latter. All of the municipal projects
should be completed in 1963. No other unsatisfied muni-
cipal needs are known, except at two small communities pre^-
vLously mentioned where the projects for expansion are in
the planning stage.
It is significant that all of the se projects are
for additions to existing systems. Most of these are for
ultimate development of the service area.
The majority of the municipal projects involve
relief to a common interceptor or additions to a treatment
plant serving several communities — usually ten to fifteen
in one project. The complexities of apportioning the
costs, arranging the financing and completing contractual
arrangements among these governmental units tends to delay
the project substantially, compared with one serving a
single community. The need for all of these projects was
accepted by the communities from three to five years ago.
Each of these projects is now assured. Several are under
construction and the rest are to be commenced this year.
Chief among the currently outstanding problems of industrial
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waste disposal, which have not been fully evaluated to estab-
lish the extent of corrective measures required, is the dis-
solved oxygen deficiency and bacterial contamination caused
in the lower Raisin River by the paper mills at Monroe.
Developments expected to mature in 1962 will have a mate-
rially beneficial effect on the present river conditions as
measured by these parameters.
Investigation and appraisal of pollutional dis-
charges from all sources is a continuing process. What is
satisfactory today in relation to water quality objectives
and uses of receiving waters may be inadequate or unsatis-
factory tomorrow. The staffs of the two agencies contin-
ually appraise the magnitude and quality of pollutional
discharges, both present and impending. Their present
effect upon resources and uses of the receiving waters is
examined and evaluated. As additional controls are found
to be necessary to meet the requisites of Michigan statutes: ,
such facilities will be required.
Thank you.
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
DR. HEUSTIS: Thank you very much. Mr. Oeming.
FURTHER STATEMENT OF LOWRING F. OEMING,
CHIEF ENGINEER, WATER RESOURSES COMMISSION,
STATE OF MICHIGAN
MR. OEMING: Mr. Chairman, and conferees. We would
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like to point out that the report which has been presented
to the conferees will be available to anyone in the audience
who wishes one following the conclusions of my remarks.
These gentlemen will have more reports out here so see them
and get your copies. We think we have enough to cover
everyone in the room if everyone wants only one copy. If
we run out we will have copies assembled at Lansing,
and if you will see Ron Crane — if you will Stand up so
people can see you — he will take your name and address
so you will get a copy in the mail.
CHAPTER III. INDUSTRIAL WASTE TREATMENT AND CONTROL.
The majority of the industries in the basin dispose
of their wastes into the public sewage collection systems
described in Chapter II. In these cases, responsibility for
control of industrial wastes together with the sanitary
sewage rests with the municipality. Those industries
discharging wastes separately to watercourses through com-
pany owned sewers have a direct obligation to the Commission
to comply with the Water Resources Act.
A program to control wastes from the latter class
os industries on the Detroit River was initiated by the
Michigan Stream Control Commission at a conference with these
industries i-n May, 1946. This conference concluded with
the Issuance by v«e Commission of a statement describing
the controls which it Qcnired to attain. This statement
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279
has served as the basis for much of the pollution control
activity pursued by the Commission staff up until the
present, modified only as required by the Objectives,
adopted by the International Joint Commission in its report
to the governments of United States and Canada in 1951.
As an important adjunct to this program, the Commission
through its staff, has developed and issues an annual in-
dustrial Pollution Status Report. All industries dis-
charging wastes directly to the waters of the state are
listed and each is assigned a rating on the degree of control
maintained during the preceding year. Thedegree of control
is evaluated in relation to the statutory test of unlawful
pollution as defined in the Water Resources Act (Act 245,
P.A. 1929* as amended). Each industry rated receives a
copy of the entire status report, providing a continuing
record by which it can measure its accomplishments and
can compare its progress with others.
In the river basins of southeastern Michigan,
ratings were assigned on April 1, 1961, to 104 separate
problems in a total of 93 industrial establishments.
The succeeding portion of this Chapter identifies
each of these sources of industrial waste discharged de-
scribes in general terms the principal waste constituents;
recites the types of actions taken by tne Water Resources
Commission and its predecessor stream Control Commission
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280
to attain control; and shows the rating assigned to each
at the present time.
ALLIED CHEMICAL CORPORATION operates four separate manu-
facturing plants discharging wastes to the lower Rouge
and Detroit Rivers:
The General Chemical Division is located in the
City of River Rouge. Operations produce cooling waters
which are normally unchanged in the process except for rise
in temperature. Wastes flow to the Rouge River Short Cut
Canal. Cooling is by the indirect method. Prevention of
product leaks to the sewer is maintained by continuous
automatic monitoring within the plant. Sanitary sewage is
disposed of by subsurface percolation methods on the plant
premises with no direct discharge to the river. Control
of wastes is rated as adequate.
Plastics and Coal Tar Division is located in the
City of Detroit. Wastes are produced from the processing
of coal tars and are discharged to the Old Rouge River
Channel. Following request by the Michigan Stream Control
Commission in 19^7* measures were taken to reduce waste
flows, to restrict phenols, oils, tars and ammonia and to
eliminate raw sewage discharges. Reduction in waste volume
was attained by process changes. Oil and tar bearing wastes
are treated in gravity type separators. Restriction of
phenols was attained in 1955 by installation of a solvent
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281
extraction system which yielded 94$ reduction with ac-
companying reduction In ammonia. Sanitary sewage segregated
and connected to the Detroit system since 19^7. Control of
wastes is rated as adequate.
Semet-Solvay Division Is located in the City of
Detroit. Wastes are produced from operations of a by-product
coke oven plant and discharged to the Old Rouge River Chan-
nel. Following request by the Michigan Stream Control Com-
mission in 19^7* measures were taken to restrict phenols,
oil and ammonia and to eliminate raw sewage discharges.
Oil and ammonia are controlled by recovery methods within
the plant. Restriction of phenols by a solvent extraction
system was instituted in 1957* accomplishing 95 percent
reduction. Sanitary sewage segregated and connected to
Detroit system since 19^9. Control of wastes is rated as
adequate.
Solvay Process Division is located in the City of
Detroit. The principal waste constituents produced are
Inert calcium carbonate solids In suspension, chlorides and
ammonia in solution and lubricating oils. Following request
by the Michigan Stream Control Commission in 19^7» measures
were taken to improve the removal of solids, reduce oil losses
and eliminate raw sewage discharges. Solids discharges are
presently treated in settling facilities on Zug Island.
Effluents are discharged to Detroit River and Old Channel
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282
of Rouge River. Control of oil and ammonia discharges is
maintained by operating procedures within the plant. Seg-
regation of sanitary sewage and connection to Detroit sys-
tem was provided in 19^9. Control of wastes is rated as
adequate.
AMERICAN CEMENT CORPORATION
The Peerless Cement Division is located in the
City of Detroit. Wastes are produced from, the^production
of cement and are discharged to the Old Channel of Rouge
River. Control measures were initiated following an eval-
uation by the Michigan Stream Control Commission of the
solids content of the wastes. These solids originated from
the collection of dust and ash. They have been virtually
eliminated from the discharges since 195^ when dry methods
of collection were installed to replace wet methods of
washing stack gases. Present waste discharges consist
mainly of cooling waters and clay filtrate. Sanitary sewage
is connected to the Detroit system. Control of wastes is
.rated as adequate.
ANACONDA AMERICAN BRASS COMPANY is located in the City of
Detroit. Wastes are produced from copper and brass casting
and rolling operations and flow into Detroit River. Measures
were taken upon request of the Michigan Stream Control Com-
mission to restrict oils, to control acids and to eliminate
raw sewage discharges. Oils are removed in gravity type
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283
separators, acid wastes are segregated and neutralized.
Sanitary sewage segregated and connected to the Detroit
system since 1947. Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
ANDERSON CHEMICAL COMPSNY is located in Fai.-field Township,
Lenawee County. Wastes originate from chemical compounding
operations and flow to Black Creek, a tributary of Raisin
River. Restrictions and conditions on the acidity-alkalinity
range, on solids, oil and oxygen consuming content of the
process wastes and on sanitary sewage were established by
a new use Order of Determination issued January 21, I960
by the Water Resources Commission. Control facilities were
installed coincident with start of manufacturing operations
employing equalization and settling in an earthen basin.
Sanitary sewage is disposed of by subsurface percolation
on company premises with no direct discharge to the river.
Adequacy of process waste control has not been fully demon-
strated.
ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY is located in the City of
Wyandotte on the Pennsalt Manufacturing Company premises.
Wastes are produced from the manufacture of hydrogenated
glycerides and fatty acids and are discharged to Detroit
River. Measures were taken upon request by Michigan Stream
Control Commission in 19^7 to reduce the content of oils
and fatty acids in the discharges and to eliminate raw
sewage discharges. Treatment system for process wastes,
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expanded in 19^9* consists of gravity type oil-water sepa-
rators. Sanitary sewage segregated and connected to Detroit
system since 1947. Control of wastes rated as adequate.
ARGUS CAMERA is located in Ann Arbor. Wastes originate from
electroplating operations and are discharged to Allen
Creek Drain, a tributary to the Huron River. A new use
Order of Determination issued by the Water Resources Com-
mission on January 20, 1955 restricted the acidity-
alkalinity range, cyanide, metallic ions, solids and oils.
Facilities for treatment and control of these substances
is connected to the Ann Arbor municipal sanitary system.
Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
BELLEVILLE PLATING COMPAKY is located in Van Buren Township,
Wayne County. Wastes originate from electroplating oper-
ations and are discharged to Huron River. Discharges are
required to meet restrictions on acidity, alkalinity, oils,
cyanide, toxic metals and sewage by a new use Order of
Determination Issued by the Water Resources Commission on
May 28, 1958. Treatment and control methods necessary to
meet the Order requirements were provided coincident with
start of plating operations. Sanitary sewage is disposed
of by subsurface percolation methods on company premises
with no direct discharge to the river. Control of wastes
is rated as adequate.
THE BRIGGS MANUFACTURING COMPANY is located in Sterling
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285
Township, Maoomb County. Wastes originate from stamping
and porcelain coating operations and are discharged to
Beaver Creek, a tributary of Clinton River, A new use Order
of Determination issued by the Water Resources Commission
on September 19» 1936 establishes restrictions on acids and
alkalis, iron, oil and grease and settleable solids in the
process wastes discharges and prescribes quality of sani-
tary sewage effluents. Treatment and control methods neces-
sary for compliance with the Order requirements were pro-
vided coincident with the start of operations* Sanitary
sewage is treated in a secondary type plant with effluent
ohlorination provided on the company premises. Adequacy
of waste control has not been fully demonstrated.
BUCKEYE PRODUCTS CORPORATION is located in the City of
Adrian, Wastes originate from electroplating operations
and are discharged to the South Branch of Raisin River. In
1953 the Water Resources Commission invoked the statutory
procedure to abate pollution created by the wastes. ~
A final Order of Determination issued on June 27, 1954
restricts the chromium, cyanide and copper content and
the acidity-alkalinity range of the discharges. Action
to enforce compliance with the restrictions was taken in
Circuit Court in 1957 resulting in a Court Order restraining
the company from violating these requirements. Treatment
and control methods necessary to meet these restrictions
are now In effect employing chemical oxidation of cyanide
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and ohemloal reduction of chromium and neutralization by
intermixing of aoid and alkaline wastes. Sanitary sewage
is connected to the Adrian municipal system. Control of
wastes is rated as adequate.
BURROTOHS CORPORATION is located in Plymouth Township,
Wayne County. Disposal of wastes to Rouge River is limited
to cooling waters which are unchanged by the manufacturing
operations except for a rise in temperature. Process
wastes and sanitary sewage are connected to the Wayne
County system. Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
CHRYSLER CORPORATION operates five separate manufacturing
plants discharging wastes to the Detroit River and Clinton
River tributaries:
The Cyoleweld Chemical Products Division and
Amplex Division are located in the City of Trenton. The
Detroit River is used for disposal of cooling waters. No
process wastes originating from the production of adheslves,
sealers, rust preventatives and powdered metal products
enter the river. Sanitary sewage is connected to the
Wayne County system. Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
Defense Operations Division is located in Center
Line. Wastes originate from the manufacture and assembly
of military equipment and are discharged to the Center Line
Relief Drain, a tributary to Bear Creek and the Clinton
River. Discharges are required to meet restrictions on
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acidity-alkalinity, cyanide, metallic ions, solids, oils
and sewage by a new use Order of Determination issued by
the Water Resources Commission on June 19, 1958, Facilities
for treatment and control of substances originating in
electroplating operations were provided coincident with
the start of operations. Primary type facilities for
treatment of sewage with effluent chlorination are presently
being operated but are to be abandoned in favor of a con-
nection to the Warren municipal system upon completion of
negotiations now under way. Control of process wastes and
sewage is rated as inadequate, pending connection to muni-
cipal system as required by the Order.
Michigan Missile Division is located in Sterling
Township, Macomb County. Wastes originate from the electro-
plating, assembly and tasting of metal components for
missiles and are discharged to the Lockwood (or Moore)
Drain, a tributary to Red Run and the Clinton River. Dis-
charges are required to meet restrictions on acidity-
alkalinity, solids, turbidity, cyanide, toxic metals, oil
and greases and sanitary sewage by a new use Order of De-
termination issued by the Water Resources Commission on
December 16, 1952. Treatment and control methods necessary
for compliance with the Order requirements were provided
coincident with the start of operations* Sanitary sewage
is treated in a secondary type plant on company premises with
GPO 82081»-B-8
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effluent ohlorination provided. Control of wastes is rated
as adequate.
The MoPar Plant is located in the City of Center
Line. Wastes originate from automobile parts manufacturing
operations and are discharged to the Center Line Relief
Drain, a tributary to Bear Creek and the Clinton River. All
process wastes and sanitary sewage are treated on the
plant premises in a secondary type plant with effluent
chlorination. Treatment facilities were provided coincident
with start of manufacturing operations. Control of wastes
is rated as adequate.
Trenton Engine Plant is located in Trenton. Wastes
are produced from the machining and assembly of automobile
engines. All process wastes are connected to the Wayne
county system after pretreatment for removal of oils.
Sanitary sewage is treated in the Wayne County system.
Use of the Detroit River for waste disposal is limited to
surface water runoff from the plant premises and cooling
waters which are unchanged in the process except for a rise
in temperature. Oil drainage from outdoor storage and
loading of waste metal cuttings is collected and treated
prior to release to the county sewer. Control of wastes
is rated as adequate.
CONSOLIDATED PAPER COMPANY operates three paper manufactur-
ing plants within the City of Monroe, all of which discharge
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waste to the Raisin River:
North Side Division. Wastes originate from the
manufacture of liner board from waste paper and corrugating
medium from straw. Principal waste constituents are paper
and straw solids in suspension, oxygen consuming substances
and coliform group organisms. Measures were taken upon
request of the Water Resources Commission in 1953 to reduce
the content of suspended solids in the discharges. Treatment
methods employed are coagulation and settling. Sanitary
sewage is segregated and connected to the Monroe municipal
system. Adequate control of suspended solids has not been
demonstrated. Oxygen consuming substances exceed assimilative
capacity of the river and seasonal oxygen depletion in the
lower river occurs. No measures provided for control of
bacteria. Straw processing operation is a major source of
coliform group bacteria. Process is to be discontinued in
1962.
South Side Division. Wastes originate from paper
board manufacturing operations. Principal waste constituents
are paper solids in suspension and oxygen consuming sub-
stances. Measures were taken to control the paper solids
losses initially at the request of Michigan Stream Control
Commission and later to comply with requests of the Water
Resources Commission. Restrictions on solids losses and
provisions for Installation of additional settling facilities
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were incorporated in a stipulation between the company nad
the Water Resources Commission in 1955. A portion of the
facilities were rebuilt and expanded facilities Installed
in 1957. Treatment performance was inconsistent until
1961 when major changes in manufacturing operations were
made. Sanitary sewage is segregated and connected to the
Monroe municipal system. Oxygen consuming substances ex-
ceed assimilative capacity of the river and season oxygen
depletion in the lower river occurs.
West Side Plant. Wastes are produced from the
manufacture of paperboard. The principal waste constituents
are paper solids in suspension and oxygen demanding substan-
ces. Measures for control of the paper solids were taken
following request of the Michigan Stream Control Commission
in 19^7. Treatment and control methods in effect are
chemical coagulation followed by gravity separation. About
three-quarters of treated wastes are re-used in the manu-
facturing operations. Sanitary sewage is segregated and
connected to the Monroe municipal system. Control of
the suspended solids is rated as adequate. Adequacy of
control of oxygen consuming substances has not been fully
demonstrated.
CONTINENTAL MOTORS CORPORATION
Novi Governor Division, located in the City of
Novi, conducts machining and heat treating operations for
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production of automotive parts. Wastes produced are dis-
charged to a small tributary of Rouge River. The principal
waste constituents are oils, suspended solids and cyanide.
Waste control established at request of the Water Resources
Commission. Treatment and control methods employed are
settling for solids removal, separation and burning of
oils removed by gravity methods and chemical oxidation of
cyanides. Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
THE CROSS COMPANY is located in the City of
Fraser. Wastes originate from machine tool manufacturing
operations and are discharged to Sweeney Drain, a tributary
of Clinton River. The new use Order of Determination issued
by the Water Resources Commission on January 26, 1956 estab-
lishes restrictions on oils and sanitary sewage. Treatment
and control methods necessary for compliance with the
Order requirements were provided coincident with the start
of operations. Secondary type facilities for treatment of
sewage with effluent chlorlnation are provided on company
premises. Negotiations are under way to abandon the facil-
ity and connect sewage to Clinton Township system for
treatment. Control of wastes Is rated as adequate.
DANA CORPORATION is located in the City of Ecorse.
Wastes are produced from the forming and fabrication of
frames for automobiles. An increases use Order of Deter-
mination issued by the Water Resources Commission in July,
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1950 establishes restrictions on the acid, alkali and oil
content of all wastes from this plant. Treatment and
control methods required for compliance with the Order
requirements were provided coincident with the increased
use. Sanitary sewage was segregated and connected to the
River Rouge municipal system in 1957 following request by
the Water Resources Commission. Present operations produce
acid liquors only. Liquors are hauled and disposed of by
contract. Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
DARLING AND COMPANY is located in the City of
Melvindale. Wastes are produced from rendering operations
and are discharged to Rouge River. The principal constit-
uents originating from the operations are fats, greases and
solids in suspension and oxygen consuming substances. Con-
trol and treatment measures were initiated following a re-
quest by the Michigan Stream Control Commission in 19^6.
Settling and skimming methods are employed for removal of
solids, fats and greases from the discharges. Effluents
are chlorinated. Sanitary sewage is connected to the Mel-
vindale municipal system. Control of wastes is rated as
adequate.
DETROIT EDISON COMPANY. The steam electric portion
of the Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant is located in French-
town Township, Monroe County, adjacent to the Power Reactor
Development Company's atomic power reactor. Wastes origi-
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nating from electric power generating will be cooling
waters, demineralizing regenerants and sanitary sewage,
and will flow to Lake Erie via Swan Creek. Restrictions
and conditions have been established on the alkalinity-
acidity range and on the chlorine and radioactivity content
of the cooling water discharges and on the quality of sewage
effluents by a new use Order of Determination issued Decem-
ber 6, 1956 by the Water Resources Commission. Treatment
,and control facilities necessary to meet these restrictions
have been completed. Sanitary sewage is segregated and is
treated in a secondary type plant with ohlorination of
effluents provided on the premises. Power production awaits
completion of atomic reactor (see Power Reactor Development
Company).
DETROIT, TOLEDO AND IRONTON RAILROAD COMPANY
operates a railroad yard and repair shops in Brownstown
Township, Wayne County. Wastes originate during the repair
and fueling of diesel engines and are discharged to Silver
Creek, a tributary to Huron River. The principal waste con-
stituents are solids, oils
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discharge to the creek. Control of wastes is rated as
adequate.
DUNDEE CEMENT COMPANY is located in Dundee Town-
ship, Monroe County. Wastes are produced from the quarrying
of rock and production of cement, and are discharged to
Macon Creek, a tributary of Raisin River. Restrictions have
been established on the alkalinity-acidity range, on the
content of settleable solids in the discharges and on the
quality of sanitary sewage effluents by a new use Order
of Determination issued by the Water Resources Commission,
September 23, 1958. Methods provided for control of process
wastes coincident with start of operations have not been
adequate to meet restrictions Imposed. Corrective measures
have recently been installed. Sanitary sewage is treated
by secondary processes with effluent chlorination. Control
of wastes is rated as adequate, pending; appraisal of per-
formance by Water Resources Commission staff survey.
E. I. DUPONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
Industrial and Biochemlcals Division is located in
the City of Ecorse. Operations for manufacture of sulphuric
acid produce cooling waters which flow to Detroit River.
Cooling is by the indirect method and the waters used are
normally unaffected by the process operations except for
rise in temperature. Discharges are required to meet re-
strictions on acidity-alkalinity range and on sanitary sew-
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age disposal by an increased use Order of Determination
issued by the Water Resources Commission on May 22, 1957.
Prevention of product leaks is maintained by control devices
installed in the process. Sanitary sewage is settled and
disposed of by subsurface percolation methods on the plant
premises with no direct discharge to the river. Control of
wastes is rated as adequate.
EVANS PRODUCTS COMPANY is located in Plymouth Town-
ship, Wayne County, and uses Rouge River for disposal of
ccbling waters and surface runoff from the premises. Cooling
waters are unaffected by the process operations except for
temperature increase. Sanitary sewage and process wastes
are connected to municipal sewers. Control of wastes is
rated as adequate.
FEDERAL SCREW PRODUCTS CORPORATION is located in
the City of Chelsea. Wastes consist of oils and cooling
waters resulting from the operation of screw machines. The
oils are collected and disposed of by commercial waste oil
contractors. Cooling waters are discharged to a city-owned
storm drain connected to Letts Creek, a tributary of the
Huron River. Sanitary waste is treated in the municipal
plant. Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
FIRESTONE TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY
The Firestone Steel Products Division is located
in the City of Rivenrview and discharges wastes to the Trenton
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Channel of Detroit River. Wastes are produced from the
fabrication of metals Into wheels and tire rims. The prin-
cipal waste constituents produced from these operations are
acid and .alkaline liquors and oils. Measures for control
of these constituents were initially undertaken following
request of the Michigan Stream Control Commission in 19^7.
Treatment and control measures now in effect are gravity
separation, waste equalization and settling for oil bearing
wastes and miscellaneous process wastes and controlled re-
lease of acids with neutralization through diffusion with
Detroit River water. Sanitary sewage segregated and con-
nected to the Wayne County system. Control of wastes is
rated as adequate.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY conducts operations at nine
locations which discharge wastes to watercourses in the
Clinton, Rouge, Huron and Raisin River Basins:
The Chassis Parts Machining Plant is located
in Sterling Township, Macomb County. Wastes originate from
gear machining operations and are discharged to a county
drain tributary to Clinton River. A new use Order of De-
termination issued by the Water Resources Commission, Aug-
ust 25, 1955, establishes restrictions on acid, turbidity,
suspended solids, iron, oil and oxygen content of the pro-
cess wastes and on the quality of sewage effluents. Treat-
ment and control methods, necessary for compliance with the
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Order requirements, were provided coincident with the start
of operations. Sanitary sewage is treated in a secondary
type plant with chlorination of the effluent. Process
waste control performance was impaired in I960 and additional
facilities were installed. Adequacy has not been fully dem-
onstrated. Treatment of sewage rated as adequate.
The Engineering Proving. Ground is located in
Bruce Township, Macomb County. Wastes originate from oper-
ation of an automobile proving ground and are discharged to
Pisher Creek, a tributary of Clinton River. A new use Order
of Determination issued by the Water Resources Commission,
January 26, 1956, established restrictions on the oil and
solids content of the cooling water discharges and on the
quality of sanitary sewage effluents. Treatment and control
methods necessary for compliance with the Order requirements
were provided coincident with the start of operations. San-
itary sewage is treated in a secondary type plant with chlor-
ination of the effluent. Control of wastes is rated as
adequate.
The Lincoln Division is located in the City of
Wixom. Wastes originate from automobile assembly operations
and are discharged to Norton Creek, a tributary of Huron
River. A new use Order of Determination, issued by the Water
Resources Commission, April 26, 1956, establishes restrictions
on acids, solids, oils, toxic and oxygen consuming sub-
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298
stances and on sewage disposal. Treatment and control meth-
ods necessary for compliance with the Order requirements
were provided coincident with the start of operations.
Sanitary sewage is treated in a secondary type plant with
chlorination of the effluent. Control of wastes is rated
as adequate.
The Monroe Plant is located in the Gity of Monroe.
Wastes originate from electroplating operations and are
discharged to the Raisin River. The principal waste con-
stituents are cyanide, copper, nickel, chromium and zinc.
Measures for control of these constituents were initially
taken at the request of the Water Resources Commission;
subsequently on April 26, 1956 restrictions on the waste
discharges were formally established by an increased use
Order of Determination issued by the Water Resources Com-
mission. Treatment and control methods now in effect con-
sist of diluting weak rinse waters and chemical treatment
and sedimentation of concentrated baths prior to discharge
to the river. Sanitary sewage is treated on plant premises
in a primary type plant with effluent chlorination. Con-
trol of wastes is rated as adequate.
The Northville Plant is located in Northville. Use
of Rouge River for waste disposal is limited to cooling
waters from a valve manufacturing operation. Sanitary sew-
age is connected to the Wayne County system. V/aste control
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is rated adequate.
The Rouge Plant is located in the City of Dearborn
and discharges wastes to the Rouge River. Wastes originate
from Integrated automobile manufacturing and assembly oper-
ations which include blast furnaces, coke ovens, steel rol-
ling, metal casting, machining and fabrication. The prin-
cipal waste constituents produced from these operations are
solids in suspension, lubricating oils and greases, acids,
phenols and ammonia. Measures were taken initially to con-
trol these constituents at the request of the Michigan
Stream Control Commission and later to comply with requests
or Orders of the Water Resources Commission. Phenol, am-
monia and cyanide wastes created by subsequent expansion of
the coke ovens were placed under restrictions by an increased
use Order of Determination issued by the Water Resources
Commission, November 12, 1952. Treatment and control methods
now In effect consist of settling and skimming for removal of
solids and oils from rolling mill wastes, settling for re-
moval of solids from blast furnace wastes and deep well dis-
posal of coke oven wastes. Control of free and soluble oils
in wastes from machining operations is accomplished by puri-
fication and reclamation for re-use, supplemented by chemical
treatment of the portions discarded to the sewers. Skimming
and reclamation methods are employed for removal of oils
from a creek carrying the combined wastes from a large portioi)
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of the plant. Control of acid liquors Is limited to that
resulting from dilution with other process waste and cooling
water discharges. Sanitary sewage is segregated and con-
nected to the Dearborn municipal system. Control of sewage,
cyanides and solids is rated as adequate. Adequacy of con-
trol of phenol and oil wastes has not been fully demonstrated.
Acid wastes are rated as being uncontrolled and are under
continuing surveillance by the Water Resources Commission
to determine the need for control.
The Utica Plant is located in Shelby Township,
Macomb County. Plant only recently acquired by company.
No manufacturing operations being carried on at present.
Change-over to dry processing operations currently under
way. Secondary type sewage treatment plant with effluent
ohlorination available when needed.
The Wayne Plant is located in Nankin Township,
Wayne County, and discharges wastes to the Rouge River.
Wastes consist of oils and paint solids produced in as-
sembly plant operations. Paint sludges are treated prior
to discharge by a gravity type oil-water separator. San-
itary sewage Is discharged to the Wayne County System.
Waste control is rated as adequate.
The Ypsllanti Plant is located in the City of
Ypsilantl and discharges wastes to the Huron River. Wastes
consist of acids, oils and cooling waters produced in the
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manufacture of automotive parts and accessories. Treatment
facilities were provided at the request of the Water Re-
sources Commission and consist of neutralization and oil
recovery* Sanitary sewage is discharged to the Ypsilantl
municipal system. Waste control is rated as adequate.
FUEL OIL CORPORATION Is located in the City of
River Rouge. Wastes originate from the operation of facil-
ities for the storage and transportation of petroleum pro-
ducts. Disposal of wastes is to a boat slip connected to the
Detroit River. The principal constituent in the wastes
produced are products arising from cleaning of petroleum
cargo ships. Control measures were installed Initially at
the request of the Michigan Stream Control Commission.
Methods employed consist of retention, separation and
skimming, using holding basins and a gravity type oil-water
separator. Sanitary sewage is disposed of by subsurface
percolation methods on the company premises with no direct
discharge to the river. Control of wastes is rated as ade-
quate.
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION conducts operations at
four locations which discharge wastes to watercourses in
the Rouge and Huron River Basins.
The Detroit Diesel Engine Division located in the
City of Detroit uses the Rouge River for disposal of surface
runoff from the premises. The oil content of the runoff is
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controlled by a gravity type oil-water separator. Sanitary
sewage and process wastes are connected to the Detroit
system. Control of wastes Is rated as adequate.
The Detroit Diesel Engine Division located In
Romulus Township, Wayne County, uses the Rouge River for
disposal of treated sewage effluents. Treatment is of the
secondary type with chlorination of the effluents. Control
of wastes is rated as adequate.
The Detroit Transmission Division is located ad-
jacent to Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti Township, Wash-
tenaw County. Wastes originate from automobile trans-
mission manufacturing and assembly operations. Willow Run,
a tributary of Huron River, is used for disposal of oil
bearing wastes. Control is provided by two gravity type
oil-water separators, coupled with chemical treatment
measures within the plant. Sanitary sewage is segregated
and connected to the Ypsilanti Township system. Control of
wastes is rated as adequate.
The Fisher Body Division is located adjacent to
Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti Township, Washtenaw County,
Wastes originate from automobile body assembly operations
and are discharged to Willow Run, a tributary of Huron
River. A new use Order of Determination issued by the
Water Resources Commission on February 26, 1959 establishes
restrictions on acids, settleable solids, chromium, oils and
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greases, and oxygen consuming substances and on the dis-
posal of sanitary sewage. Treatment and control methods
necessary for compliance with the Order requirements were
provided coincident with the start of operations. Sanitary
sewage is segregated and connected to the Ypsilanti Town-
ship system. Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
GREAT LAKES STEEL CORPORATION operates three manu-
facturing plants discharging wastes to the Detroit River.
The Blast Furnace Division is located on Zug Island
in the City of River Rouge. It comprises blast furnaces and
a by-product coke oven. The principal waste constituents
originating in the operations are iron, limestone and coke
particles in suspension, phenols, cyanides, ammonia and
sanitary sewage. Measures for control of these constituents
were taken initially at the request of the Michigan Stream
Control Commission; subsequently on November 28, 1951 re-
strictions on waste discharges were formally established
by a new use Order of Determination issued by the Michigan
Water Resources Commission. Treatment and control methods
now in effect consist of settling for removal of solids and
solvent extraction for removal of phenols with evaporation
of the residual effluents. Sanitary sewage is segregated
and is discharged to Detroit River after being settled and
chlorinated in facilities provided on the plant premises.
Waste control has been rated as adequate, but a decrease in
GPO 820819_B_9
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304
the removal of solids from the blast furnace wastes has
been observed recently. Request has been made of the manage-1
ment for corrective action.
The Ecorse Rolling Mills are located at Tecumseh
Road in the City of Ecorse. Wastes originate from the rol-
ling of steel into sheets, bars and structural shapes. The
principal constituents in the waste are iron solids in sus-
pension, lubricating oils and greases, sulphuric acid
liquors and sanitary sewage. Measures were taken initially
to control these constituents at the request of the Michigan
Stream Control Commission. Wastes created by subsequent ex-
pansion of rolling mill capacity were placed under restrictions
of a new use Order of Determination issued by the Water
Resources Commission, November 28, 1951. Treatment and con-
trol methods now in effect consist of settling and skimming
in scale pits and in oil-water separators for removal of
solids and oils and controlled release of acid liquors
using mill cooling waters for neutralization. Sanitary
sewage Is segregated, part being connected to the Wayne
County system and the remainder being settled and chlori-
nated in facilities on plant premises before discharge to
Detroit River. Control of sewage is rated as adequate.
Acid waste discharges are under continuing surveillance
by Water Resources Commission to determine need for control
beyond that presently provided. Control of oil vjastes has
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not been fully established.
The Hot Strip Mill is located in the City of River
Rouge. Waste discharges are required to meet restrictions
on acidity-alkalinity, oils, suspended solids, color, tur-
bidity and sewage by new use Order of Determination issued by
the Water Resources Commission on June 25, 1959. Treatment
and control methods for settling and skimming of process
wastes placed in effect coincident with start of mill oper-
ations in 1961. Sanitary sewage is segregated and connected
to the Wayne County system. Waste control has been satis-
factory during early operations.
HIGBIE MANUFACTURING COMPANY is located in the
Village of Rochester and uses Paint Creek, a tributary to
the Clinton River, for disposal of uncontaminated cooling
waters. No industrial process wastes are produced. Sani-
tary sewage is connected to the Rochester municipal system.
Control of waste is rated as adequate.
HOME CANNING COMPANY is located in the Village of
Blissfield. Wastes resulting from the canning of tomatoes
and squash are discharged seasonally into the Raisin River
via the Pollard Drain. Measures taken to reduce solids and
oxygen consuming characteristics of process wastes have been
largely ineffective. Treatment and disposal system consists
of screening, a lagoon and spray Irrigation system utilized
either singly or in combination. Sanitary sewage is con-
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306
neeted to the Blissfield municipal system. Waste control
is rated incomplete.
HOOVER BALL AND BEARING operates two manufacturing
plants which discharge waste to watercourses in the Raisin
River Basin:
The Ann Arbor Plant is located in Pittsfield Town-
ship, Washtenaw County. Wastes are produced from the assembly
of bearings and are discharged to a county drain tributary
to the Raisin River. Restrictions on the waste discharges
were established by a new use Order of Determination issued
by the Water Resources Commission on February 28, 1957.
A secondary type sewage treatment plant with chlorination
was placed in operation coincident with the start of manu-
facturing operations. Soluble oils are hauled to a dis-
posal site for ponding and disposal by percolation. Con-
trol of wastes is rated as adequate.
Universal Die Casting Division is located in
Saline. Wastes originate from electroplating operations
and are discharged to the Saline River, a tributary to the
Raisin River. In 1952 the Water Resources Commission in-
voked the statutory procedure to abate pollution created by
the wastes. A Final Order of Determination issued on Feb-
ruary 25, 1953 restricted the cyanide, copper, chromium
content and the acidity-alkalinity range of discharges.
Wastes created by subsequent expansion of plating oper-
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atIons were placed under restriction by an increased use
Order of Determination issued by the Water Resources Com-
mission on March 25, 1959. Treatment and control methods
now in effect consist of the destruction of cyanide by
chlorlnatlon and the precipitation and settling of the metal
components. Sanitary sewage is segregated and connected to
the Saline municipal system. Control of wastes is ra*ed as
adequate.
KURD LOCK AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY is located in
the City of Adrian. Wastes originate from electroplating
operations and are discharged to the South Branch of
Raisin River. In 1953 the Water Resources Commission in-
voiced the statutory procedure against the company to abate
pollution created by the wastes. A Final Order of Deter-
mination issued on January 27, 195^ restricts the chro-
mium, copper and cyanide content and the acidity-alkalinity
range of discharges. Waste treatment and control measures
necessary to meet these restrictions are now available em-
ploying chemical oxidation of cyanide, chemical reduction
and precipitation of chromium and neutralization by inter-
mixing acid and alkaline wastes. Sanitary sewage is con-
nected to the Adrian municipal system. Adequacy of per-
formance in maintaining constituents at levels specified
has not been fully demonstrated.
KING-SEELEY Corporation conducts electroplating
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operations at a plant in Solo Township, Washtenaw County.
Wastes originating from the process are discharged to Huron
River. Discharges are required to meet restrictions on
acidity-alkalinity range, metallic ions and cyanides by an
increased use Order of Determination issued by the Water
Resources Commission on September 29, 1955. Treatment and
control methods necessary to meet the Order requirements
were in effect coincident with the increase in waste dis-
charges. Facilities necessary to comply with the Order re-
quirements on sanitary sewage disposal have been provided
employing secondary type treatment with effluent disin-
fection. Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
KOPPERS COMPANY, INC.
The Tar Products Division is located in the City
of Wyandotte. Use of Detroit River for waste disposal
is limited to cooling waters which are unchanged by the
process except for a rise in temperature. Process wastes and
sanitary sewage are connected to the Wyandotte municipal
system. Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
LONGWORTH PLATING. COMPANY is located in the City
of Chelsea. Wastes originate from electroplating oper-
ations and are discharged to a city-owned storm sewer trib-
utary to Letts Creek and the Huron River. Principal waste
constituents consist of cyanide and metallic ions. Control
was provided at the request of the Water Resources Commissiort
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and employs chemical oxidation and sedimentation methods.
Sanitary sewage is discharged to the Chelsea municipal system.
Control facilities have been found unreliable.
MCLOtTTH STEEL CORPORATION operates two manufactur-
ing plants discharging wastes to Detroit River:
The Gibraltar Plant is located in the Village of
Gibraltar. Wastes are produced from the steel rolling and
annealing operations and flow to Detroit River via the Frank
and Poet County Drain. The principal waste constituents
originating from the operations are solids in suspension,
oils and sanitary sewage. Restrictions on these constituents
have been established by a new use Order of Determination
issued April 27, 1955 and a supplemental Order of Deter-
mination issued February 21, 1956 by the Water Resources
Commission. Treatment and control methods required for com-
pliance with these Orders are in effect. They consist of
settling for removal of solids and gravity separation of
oils with the aid of chemicals. Sanitary sevjage is segre-
gated and connected to the Wayne County system. Control of
wastes is rated as adequate.
The Trenton Plant is located in the City of Trenton.
Wastes are produced from the operation of blast furnaces and
rolling mills. The principal waste constituents originating
from the operations are iron, coke and limestone solids in
suspension, lubricating oils and greases, sulphuric acid
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310
liquors and sanitary sewage. Restrictions on these constit-
uents have been established by an increased use Order of
Determination issued on February 28, 1958 and a supplemental
Order of Determination issued August 26, I960 by the Water
Resources Commission. Treatment facilities for process
wastes have been enlarged, revised and improved on several
occasions to seek compliance. Major improvements were last
completed in 1961. Control methods now employed consist of
settling for removal of suspended substances and skimming
for removal of floating oils. Acid liquor in conjunction
with lime are used as a coagulant to aid in removal of sol-
ids with neutralization and iron recovery being accomplished
in the process. Operation of the treatment system produces
control ranging from excellent to inadequate. Changes and
Improvements In operating controls and techniques are con-
tinuing to be made to improve the quality of the effluents.
Sanitary sewage is segregated and connected to the Wayne
County system.
MERGRAF OIL PRODUCTS, INC. is located in the City
of Northville. Wastes originating from the processing of
waste industrial oils into useable products are discharged
to Rouge River. The principal waste constituent produced
from this operation is free oil. Control methods employed
are equalization, emulsion breaking and separating by grav-
ity. Effluents are occasionally aerated to control odors.
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311
Adequacy of control has not been fully demonstrated.
MICHIGAN SEAMLESS TUBE COMPANY is located In the
City of South Lyon. Wastes resulting from the manufacture of
steel tubing consists mainly of uncontaminated cooling
waters which are discharged directly into the Yerkes Drain,
a tributary of Huron River. Small volumes of acid liquors
are disposed of in a lagoon on company property. Sanitary
sewage is connected to the South Lyon municipal system.
Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
MILLS PRODUCTS, INC. is located in Canton Township,
Wayne County. Wastes originate from electroplating oper-
ations and are discharged to the lower Rouge River. Company
is operating under effluent restrictions stipulated to
between the predecessor company and Water Resources Com-
mission. Treatment and control methods are provided to re-
strict the content of copper, nickel and chromium. Control
of wastes is rated as adequate.
MOBIL OIL COMPANY is located in the Village of
Woodhaven, Wayne County. Wastes originate from the oper-
ation of an oil refinery and discharge to the Trenton
Channel of Detroit River. Waste control measures were under-
taken initially at the request of the Michigan Stream
Control Commission and improved later to comply with the
requests of the Water Resources Commission. Treatment and
control methods now in effect consist of retention, sepa-
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312
ration and skimming of the surface water runoff from the
premises for removal of oils, separation and skimming of
process wastes by gravity and pressure flotation type oil-
water separators in series, and aeration for reduction of
phenol bearing waste flows. Chloride bearing waste dischargers
created by the foz-mation of an underground cavity for stor-
age of petroleum products are restricted by a new use Order
of Determination issued by the Water Resources Commission,
November 30, I960. Sanitary sewage is disposed of by sub-
surface percolation methods on company premises with no
direct discharge to the river. Control of oil wastes is
rated as adequate. Adequacy of control of phenolic sub-
stances has not been fully demonstrated.
MONROE AUTO EQUIPMENT COMPANY is located In the
City of Monroe. The principal waste constituents produced
are chromium salts, soluble and free oils and cooling waters.,
Chromium wastes are discharged to the municipal sewer system.
Soluble oils are hauled away to a disposal site. Free oil
losses are controlled by recovery methods within the plant,
although traces of oil are present on the cooling water
discharges to Raisin River. Sanitary sewage is segregated
and connected to the Monroe municipal s/stern. Adequate con-
trol of oil losses has not been fully demonstrated.
MONROE PAPER PRODUCTS COMPANY is located in the
City of Monroe. Wastes originate from the manufacture of
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313
paperboard and are discharged to the Raisin River. Wastes
contain paper solids in suspension and oxygen demanding
substances. Facilities for removing the paper solids from
the wastes were provided in 1939. Treatment methods con-
sist of chemical coagulation and sedimentation. Varying
quantities of the treated effluent are re-used in the manu-
facturing process. Sanitary sewage is segregated and
connected to the Monroe municipal system. Control of the
suspended solids is rated as adequate. Adequacy of control
of oxygen consuming substances has not been fully demon-
strated.
MONSANTO CHEMICAL COMPANY is located in the City
of Trenton. Wastes originate from the production of sod-
ium phosphate and flow to the Trenton Channel of Detroit
River. Settling by means of an earthen dyked basin is em-
ployed for removal of raw material and finished product
solids from the discharges. Sanitary sewage has been dis-
posed of to the Wayne County system since prior to 1950.
Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
NATIONAL MACHINE PRODUCTS COMPANY is located in the,
City of Utioa. Wastes originate from metal machining oper-
ations and are discharged to Clinton River. Discharges are
required to meet restrictions established by a new use
Order of Determination Issued by the Water Resources Com-
mission on October 25, 1956 limiting the acidity-alkalinity
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314
range, oil and solids content of the process wastes and Im-
posing conditions on sanitary sewage disposal* Treatment
and control measures necessary to meet the requirements of
the Order are In effect. Sanitary sewage is to the Utica
municipal system. Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
NATIONAL TWIST DRILL COMPANY is located in Avon
Township, Oakland County. Wastes produced from the manu-
facture of twist drills, reamers, milling cutters and special
carbide tools are discharged into an unnamed watercourse
tributary to Stony Creek. Measures were taken at the re-
quest of the Water Resources Commission in 1950 to reduce
oil content of waste discharges and to eliminate dumping of
spent cyanide heat-treating salts. Treatment system con-
sists of a tile underdralned lagoon equipped with an oil
skimming device. Soluble oils are "broken" with caustic.
Heat-treat wastes are hauled by a commercial contractor
for treatment. Waste control is considered adequate.
PARKE-DAVIS AND COMPANY is located in the City
of Detroit. Wastes originate from the manufacture of
pharmaceutical products. The principal waste constituents
are suspended solids, acids, caustics and dyes. At the
request of the Michigan Stream Control Commission all
process waste and sanitary sewage discharges were connected
to the Detroit municipal system in 19^7. Present discharges
to the Detroit River consist of cooling waters which are un-
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315
affected by the process except for a rise in temperature.
Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
PENINSULAR PAPER COMPANY is located in the City
of Ypsilantl. Wastes are produced from the manufacture of
paper, using purchased pulp as raw material and are dis-
charged to Huron River. Principal waste constituents orig-
inating in the operations are suspended paper fiber and dyes*
Fiber losses are controlled by recirculation and recovery
methods applied to the paper machine white waters with no
formalized treatment being employed. Adequacy of waste
control has not been fully demonstrated.
PENNSALT CHEMICALS CORPORATION operates two separ-
ate manufacturing plants discharging wastes to the Detroit
River:
The East Side Plant is located in Wyandotte. The
principal waste constituents produced are inert calcium and
magnesium salts in suspension and ammonia and sodium salts
in solution. Measures for control of these constituents are
limited to production practices applied within the plant.
Following request of the Michigan Stream Control Commission
in 1947 all sanitary sewage discharges and certain indus-
trial process wastes were routed to the Wyandotte municipal
system for treatment. Control is considered adequate.
The West Side Plant Is located in Riverview and
discharges wastes to Monguagon Creek, a tributary to the
Trenton Channel of the Detroit River. Wastes originate
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316
from the manufacture of a variety of organic chemical prod-
ucts. The principal constituents in the wastes produced
are phenol, oil, caustic and solids. Measures to control
these constituents were taken initially at the request of
the Michigan Stream Control Commission and later improvements
were made at the request of the Water Resources Commission.
Treatment and control methods now in effect are gravity
separation, settling and skimming for removal of oils and
solids; equalization for neutralization of caustics; and
restriction of phenol losses through process controls. Sani-
tary sewage is segregated and connected to the Wayne County
system. Adequacy of process waste controls has not been
fully demonstrated.
PETROLEUM SPECIALTIES CORPORATION is located in
Brownstowh Township, Wayne County. Wastes containing oils
and greases are producedfrom petroleum refining operations.
An earthen lagoon with a skimming device is provided to
remove oils and grease prior to discharge to Silver Creek,
a tributary of the Huron River. Adequacy of control has
not been fully demonstrated.
POWER REACTOR DEVELOPMENT COMPANY Is located In
Frenchtown Township, Monroe County. Wastes will be pro-
duced upon start of operation of a fast breeder nuclear re-
actor sometime In late 1962 at the Enrico Fermi Atomic Power
Plant. Discharges will flow to Lake Erie via Swan Creek.
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317
Restrictions and conditions have been established on chro-
ntLum, oil, solids and radionuclide content of the discharges
and on sanitary sewage by a new use Order of Determination
issued June 22, 1961 by the Water Resources Commission.
Treatment and control facilities necessary to meet these
restrictions have been completed and are in readiness to
operate. Sanitary sewage is collected in a separate system
which is connected to secondary type facilities with efflu-
ent chlorination operated by Detroit Edison Company's ad-
joining steam electric generating plant.
REVERE COPPER AND BRASS, INC. is located in the
City of Detroit. Wastes are produced from copper and brass
rolling operations and are discharged to Detroit River.
At the request of the Michigan Stream Control Commission
in 1946, measures were instituted to neutralize acids, to
restrict oils and to eliminate raw sewage discharges. Con-
trol of oil wastes is accomplished by a series of gravity
type oil-water separators Installed within the plant. Seg-
regation of sanitary sewage and connection to the Detroit
system was provided in 1948. Control of wastes is rated
as adequate.
REYNOLDS CHEMICAL PRODUCTS COMPANY is located
in Northfield Township, Washtenaw County. Wastes are pro-
duced from manufacture of plastic products and flow to
Horseshoe Lake Cutlet Drain, a tributary of Huron River.
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318
A new use Order of Determination issued by the Water Re-
sources Commission July 24, 1958 restricts the discharges
to cooling waters which have not come into contact with
substances used in the process, establishes a limit on the
temperature of these waters and places requirements on dis-
posal of sanitary sewage. Control of sewage discharges is
accomplished by subsurface percolation methods on company
premises with no direct discharge to the drain. Control of
wastes is rated as adequate.
ROBIN PRODUCTS COMPANY is located in the City of
Warren. Wastes are produced from mechanical plating oper-
ations and are discharged to the Fogg Drain, a tributary
to the Clinton River. Discharges are required to meet re-
strictions on acidity-alkalinity range, chromium, copper,
zinc, oil and solids by a new use Order of Determination
issued by the Water Resources Commission on June 22, 1961.
Treatment and control methods necessary to meet the Order
requirements were provided coincident with start of plating
operations. Sanitary sewage is disposed of by subsurface
percolation on company premises with no direct discharge to
the drain. Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
ROCHESTER PAPER COMPANY is located in the Village
of Rochester. Wastes produced from the manufacture of
absorbant type papers are discharged into the Clinton River.
Measures were taken prior to 1950 to reduce fiber losses thrqugh
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319
an "in plant" program of water conservation and re-use.
Sanitary sewage is connected to the Rochester municipal
system. Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
ROCKWELL-STANDARD CORPORATION
Chelsea Spring Division is located in Chelsea and
dischargesuncontamdnated cooling water to Letts Creek, trib-
utary to Huron River. No other industrial wastes are pro-
duced. Sanitary sewage is discharged to the Chelsea muni-
cipal system. Waste control Is rated as adequate.
SCOTT PAPER COMPANY is located in the City of De-
troit. Wastes originate from Integrated sulphite pulp and
paper manufacturing operations and are discharged to the
Old Channel of Rouge River. Principal waste constituents
are pulp and paper solids in suspension, acid sulphite
liquors in solution and oxygen consuming substances. Con-
trol methods employed are limited to reduction of paper
fiber losses to the extent they can be recovered and re-
used. The Water Resources Commission examined the waste
problems at a conference with the Company in April, 1956.
Action was tabled pending further developments that would
support the need for more extensive control.
SHAWINIGAN RESINS CORPORATION is located in the
City of Trenton. Wastes are produced from the manufacture
of vinyl acetate type resins and are discharged to Detroit
River. The principal constituents are sulphuric and acetic
GPO 820819—B-IO
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320
acid and traces of organic solvents. Restrictions on these
substances have been established by a new use Order of De-
termination issued January 26, 1956 by the Water Resources
Commission. Control facilities necessary to comply with the
Order requirements were installed coincident with start of
operations and consist of distillation units for recovery of
solvents and neutralization of acids. Sanitary sewage is
connected to the Wayne County system. Control of wastes
is rated as adequate.
SIMPLEX PAPER COMPANY is located in Palmyra Town-
ship, Lenawee County. Wastes are produced from the pro-
duction of building paper and are discharged to the Raisin
River. The principal waste constituents are paper solids,
clay and coloring materials in suspension and oxygen de-
manding substances. In 1949 the Water Resources Commission
invoiced the statutory procedure to abate pollution created
by these wastes. A Final Order of Determination issued on
November 22, 1949 restricts the suspended solids content
of the discharges. Treatment and control methods necessary
to meet these restrictions are now in effect employing chemical
treatment and an air flotation type of recovery system. Con*
trol of wastes is rated as adequate.
SPARTAN PRODUCTS, INC. is located in the City of
Madison Heights. No Industrial wastes are produced from
company's operations which consist of casting plastic foam.
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321
A new use Order of Determination adopted by the Water Re-
sources Commission in December, 1959 establishes restriction*
on sanitary sewage discharged to Red Run Drain, a tributary
of Clinton River. To meet the ordered restriction, second-
ary treatment and chlorination of the sewage were provided
coincident with the start of manufacturing operations. Con-
trol of wastes is rated as adequate.
TECUMSEH PRODUCTS COMPANY is located in the City of
Tecumseh and is engaged in manufacturing refrigeration com-
pressors and condensing units. Industrial wastes consist
solely of cooling waters which are discharged into the
North Branch of the Raisin River. Sanitary sewage is con-
nected to the Tecumseh municipal system. Control of wastes
is rated as adequate.
TERNES STEEL COMPANY is located in the City of
Roseville. Wastes are produced from cleaning and painting
of steel parts. The principal waste constituents are phos-
phoric acid cleaners and paint solids. Discharges are re-
quired to meet restrictions on acidity-alkalinity range, oil
solids, toxic material and oxygen consuming substances by a new
use Order of Determination issued by the Water Resources
Commission on August 27, 1959. Process wastes and sanitary
sewage are discharged to a township sanitary sewer system
for treatment. Uncontaminated cooling waters are discharged
to Sweeney Drain, a tributary to the Clinton River. Waste
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322
control is rated as adequate.
THOMPSON RAMO WOOLDRIDGE, INC.
Thompson Products Michigan Division is located in
Sterling Township, Macomb County. Wastes are produced by
machining and fabricating operations and are discharged
to Beaver Creek, a tributary to the Clinton River. A new
use Order of Determination Issued by the Water Resources
Commission on December 7, 1955 establishes restrictions on
acidity-alkalinity, oil and grease, toxic chemicals and
sanitary sewage. A secondary type plant for treatment of
sewage was provided coincident with the start of manu-
facturing. Operation of treatment plant proved unsatis-
factory because of oil losses to system. Water Resources
Commission requested installation of oil recovery equip-
ment which was provided in 1957. Additional industrial
treatment facilities were provided in late 1961 to comply
with the Order of Determination. Adequacy of waste con-
trols not fully demonstrated.
TRILEX CORPORATION is located inCanton Township,
Wayne County. Wastes originate from electroplating of auto-
motive hardware and are discharged to a county drain trib-
utary to Rouge plver. Principal waste constituents pro-
duced from the operations are metallic ions and cyanides.
Treatment and control methods were initiated in 1956 at the
request of the Michigan Water Resources Commission. Treat-
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323
merit and control measures consist of chemical oxidation of
cyanides and chemical precipitation and settling of metallic
ions. Sanitary sewage has been disposed of by subsurface
percolation on company premises with no direct outlet to
river. Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
UNION BAG-CAMP PAPER CORPORATION
River Raisin Paper Company Division is located in
the City of Monroe. Wastes originate from the manufacture
of boxboard and are discharged to the Raisin River. The
principal waste constituents are paper solids in suspension
and oxygen consuming substances. Measures for removing the
paper solids from the wastes were taken initially following
request by Michigan Stream Control Commission in 19^8 and
later additions were made at the request of the Water Re-
sources Commission. Treatment and control methods now in
effect are chemical coagulation followed by gravity set-
tling for solids removal. Varying quantities of treated
effluent are re-used in the manufacturing operations.
Sanitary sewage is segregated and connected to the Monroe
municipal system. Control of the suspended solids is rated
as adequate. Oxygen consuming substances exceed assimilative
capacity of the river and seasonal oxygen depletion occurs
in the lower river.
U. S. GYPSUM COMPANY is located in the City of
River Rouge. Wastes are produced from the manufacture of
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324
gypsum board and flow to Rouge River. Operations produce
no process wastes. Sanitary sewage is segregated and con-
nected to the municipal system. Control of wastes is rated
as adequate.
U. S. RUBBER COMPANY is located in the City of
Detroit. Wastes are produced from rubber tire manufacturing
operations and are discharged to Detroit River. The prin-
cipal waste constituents originating from these operations
are inert solids in suspension and lubricating oils and
greases. Measures for control of these constituents and for
elimination of raw sewage discharges were initiated follow-
ing a request by the Michigan Stream Control Commission in
1946. Control of solids and oils has been accomplished
through reduction of wastes at the source. Sanitary sewage
segregated and connected to the Detroit system since 194?.
Control of wastes is rated as adequate.
WOLVERINE FABRICATING & MANUFACTURING COMPANY is
located in the Village of Dundee. Wastes resulting from
the manufacture of paper are discharged into the Raisin
River. A new use Order adopted by the Water Resources Com-
mission in September, 1954 establishes restrictions on pH,
suspended solids, chemical compounds and sanitary sewage.
Facilities necessary for compliance provided coincident with
the start of manufacturing operations. Control of wastes
was rated as adequate in 1961. Manufacturing operations
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325
have recently been suspended.
WYAND01TE CHEMICALS CORPORATION operates two plants
in Wyandotte which discharge wastes to the Detroit River.
North Plant produces wastes from the operation of a
by-product coke oven plant and the manufacture of soda ash
and allied inorganic chemicals and synthetic detergents.
The principal wastes constituents are inert calcium carbon-
ate solids in suspension, phenol, ammonia and chlorides in
solution and oils. Oil and ammonia are controlled by re-
covery methods employing gravity type oil-water separators
in the plant. Solids and phenol are discharged to waste
beds on Fighting Island. Effluents from the bed discharge
to the Detroit River. At the request of the Michigan Stream
control Commission the sanitary sewage was segregated and
connected to the Wayne County system in 19^9. Control of
wastes is rated as adequate.
South Plant produces wastes from the manufacture of
soda ash and allied inorganic chemicals and glycol. The
principal waste constituents are inert calcium carbonate
solids in suspension, ammonia and chlorides in solution and
oils. Following request of Michigan Stream Control Com-
mission measures were taken in 19^9 to reduce oil losses and
to eliminate sanitary sewage discharges. Solids discharges
are treated in waste beds on Fighting Island. Effluents
from the beds discharge to the Detroit River. Control of oil
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326
and ammonia Xosses is maintained by operating procedures
within the plant. Sanitary sewage is segregated and con-
nected to the Wayne County system. Control of wastes is
rated as adequate.
CHAPTER IV. ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WORK TO BE DONE.
The success of the Commission and Health Department
staff effort combined with that of the Commission member
agencies in curbing pollution over the years prior to 1955
was attested to by Mark Hollis, Assistant Surgeon General
of the Public Health Service. This was on the occasion of
a meeting of the Federal Water Pollution Control Advisory
Board in Midland, August 25-26, 1955. More recently,
Governor John B. Swainson said in his letter of December
5, 1961 to H. E. and W. Secretary Ribicoff "The Michigan
Water Resources Commission, our water pollution control
agency, has compiled an exemplary record of pollution
abatement throughout the state."
f
The success which accompanied the administrative
efforts and such delays as have been encountered is the
product of many factors. Only a few can be mentioned here.
Coordination and correlation of effort between Commission
and member agency heads and their respective staffs have
been of first importance where statutes such as those in
Michigan exist. Hours of fact finding, counseling, per-
-------
32?
suasion and attempts at education through public meetings
and other means have brought results in many instances.
The exercise of procedures authorized by statute has been
next in order. The Health Commissioner may and does with-
hold construction permits for new public sewer systems or
extensions to existing systems where adequate provision
has not been made for treatment. Conferences to show cause
why pollution should not be abated may and are held before
the Commission. New or increased pollution has been pre-
vented by Orders of Determination and existing pollution
has been abated by Final Orders of Determination, both
issued by the Commission pursuant to its statutory author-
ity. Orders and Agreements of the State Health Commis-
sioner have been equally effective in accomplishing these
ends. When compliance is not forthcoming by the adminis-
trative tools at hand, the Commission and Health Depart-
ment seek enforcement in the Courts through referral of the
defaulted Order, or Agreement, to the Attorney General.
The principal factor in delay is the financing
problem which always exists to some extent in municipal-
ities but is a severe problem in many urbanized, unincor-
porated areas.
Many municipalities have defaulted In recent years,
apparently -co invite the settling of a Court Order upon them.
This relieves local officials of responsibility and makes
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328
subsequent financing of the necessary facilities automatic
under the provisions of Act 320, P.A. 1927. Port Huron was
the lead or key case in 1941. See:
Stream Control Commission vs. Port Huron 305 Mich. 153..
Stream Control Commission vs. Port Huron 323 Mich. 541.
Mayor of Port Huron vs. City Treasurer 328 Mich. 99.
Other local enabling Acts in addition to Home Rule
authorizations assisting municipalities to finance needed
facilities on a separate or group basis are the following:
1. Revenue Bond Law Act 94, P.A. 1933, as amended,
2. County Water & Sewer Law—Act 342, P. A. 1939, as amended.
3. County Public Works Act 185, P. A. 1957* as amended.
Within the past six years the presence or prospect
of Federal construction grant assistance has offset some
municipal reluctance to act constructively.
Industrial managements, as a group, have been far
more responsive than municipalities to Commission requests
and .Orders for pollution control measures.
Industries have been equally active over the past
15 year period in bringing, their discharges under approved
control. With very few exceptions, sanitary sewage is now
collected and treated in municipal systems or by approved
methods at industry owned and operated facilities. Facil-
ities and methods for treatment or control of the polluting
constituents in the process wastes are provided at virtually
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329
all industries. The degree of control or treatment varies
from that resulting from reducing raw material and product
losses to the sewer through recovery and re-use methods
to primary and secondary treatment by chemical and biolog-
ical methods employing conventional sewage treatment prin-
ciples. At those industries where waste control is rated
adequate by the Commission staff, treatment or control is
provided to a degree necessary to prevent conditions of un-
lawful pollution as defined in the Water Resources Commission
Act.
Enforcement Actions
The high percentage of total communities and in-
dustries where formal corrective actions have been taken
by the Water Resources Commission and Health Commissioner is
indicative of the agressive program of these agencies to
control pollution throughout the area. The nature of these
actions, when taken, and the status of compliance therewith
is shown in Tables XV, XVI, XVII and XVIII.
Two terms used in these Tables require clarifi-
cation. "Stipulation" as used here refers to a fdrraal action
taken by the governing body of a municipality or industrial
management expressing intent to comply with pollution control
requirements of the Water Resources Commission. It usually
incorporates a time schedule for abatement and the degree
of control to be provided. The adoption of the Stipulation
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330
and its acceptance by the Water Resources Commission is in
lieu of the issuance of an Order by the Commission contain-
ing essentially the same requirements as set forth in the
Stipulation. The term "Agreement" refers to an enforceable
Agreement entered into between the State Health Commissioner
and the governing body of a municipality by which the muni-
cipality binds itself to construct specified sewerage works
including treatment pursuant to a required time schedule.
This Agreement, and the assurances it provides for control
of pollution, qualifies the municipality for permits from
the Health Commissioner for certain requested sewer con-
struction.
The effectiveness of these procedures may be eval-
uated in terms of the extent of compliance by construction
of the required facilities. As shown in Table XV, all ex-
cept three of the communities either have complied with the
requirements or have scheduled the construction to commence
in 1962. It is expected that all of these projects will be
completed by late 1963 and many of them sooner. The in-
dustries where further needs are to be met are shown in
Table XVII.
(Tables XV, XVI, XVII and XVIII are as follows:)
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FORMAL CORRECTIVE ACTIONS AGAINST MUNICIPALITIES
by
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION
TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF POLLUTION
Order, Stipulation or
Agreement
Issuing
Communi ty
Ad r i a n
A) len Park
Bel lev! 1 le
Berkley
Beverly Hi 1 Is
Bi rmi ngham
Bi rmi ngham
Blissfield
BI cornfield Hills
Bloom fie Id Twp.
Center Line
Chelsea
Claws on
Dearborn
Dearborn Twp.
Detroit
Detroi t
Detroit
Dundee
Ecorse
Action
Order
Agreement
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Agreement
Order
Stip'n.
Order
Order
Order
Agreement
Order
Agreement
Agency
W.
M.
W.
M.
M.
W.
M.
W.
W.
W.
W.
M.
M.
W.
M.
W.
W.
M.
W.
M.
R.
D.
R.
D.
D.
R.
D.
R.
R.
R.
R.
D.
D.
R.
D.
R.
R.
D.
R.
D.
C.
H.
C.
H.
H.
C.
H.
C.
C.
C.
C.
H.
H.
C.
H.
C.
C.
H.
C.
H.
Year
1936
1958
1956
1957
1957
1952
1957
1951
1952
1952
1958
1959
1957
1956
1961
1950
1950
1959
1951
1958
Faci
1
Requ
Add!
Add!
Addi
Add!
Addi
New
Addi
New
New
New
New
Addi
Addi
New
Addi
New
New
Addi
New
Addi
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
i t ies
i red
ions
ions
i ons
ions
ions
ions
ions
i ons
ions
i ons
ions
Year Action
Af f i rmed
by
Court Decree
19^9
1957
1955
1955
1955
I960
1956
Status
of
Comp] i a nee
March 27,
Compl ied
Scheduled
Scheduled
Scheduled
Scheduled
Compl ied
Scheduled
Compl ied
Comp] ied
Compl ied
Commenced
Compl ied
Scheduled
Scheduled
Commenced
Compl ied
Under cons
Commenced
Compl ied
Scheduled
1962
1962
1962
1962
1962
1962
1962
1962
1961
truct ion
1961
1962
00
I—
m
x
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ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AGAINST MUNICIPALITIES (continued)
Commun i ty
Farm!ngton
Ferndale
Ferndale
Flat Rock
Garden City
Gi braltar
Grosse Ile Twp.
Grosse Pte. Park
Grosse Pte. Woods
Harper Woods
Hazel Park
Hazel Park
Hunti ngton Woods
Lathrup ViIlage
Lincoln Park
Li voni a
Li voni a
Madison Heights
Manchester
Me ! vi nda le
Mi Ian
MiIford
Nanki n Towns hi p
Northvi1le
Oak Park
Pleasant Ridge
Plymouth
Plymouth Twp.
Pontiac
Pont i ac
Order, Stipulation
Agreement
Action
Order
Order
Order
Agreement
Order
Agreement
Peti t ion
Stip'n.
Agreement
Agreement
Order
Order
Order
Order
Agreement
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
1 ssuing
Agency
W.R.C.
W.R.C.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
W.R.C.
W.R.C.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
W.R.C.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
W.R.C.
M.D.H.
W.R.C.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
W.R.C.
W.R.C.
W.R.C.
W.R.C.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
W.R.C.
W.R.C.
or
Year
1950
1951
1957
1958
1961
1958
1957
I960
1958
1958
1958
1957
1957
195^
1958
1950
1961
1957
1951
1951
1951
1951
1961
1961
1957
1957
1961
1961
1951
1959
FaciIi ties
Requi red
New
Add!tions*
Add!tions
Addi t ions
Add i t ions
Add i t i ons
New
Addi tions
Addi t ions
Add i t i ons
Add i t ions
Addi tions
Addi ti ons
New
Add i t i ons
New
Addi tions
Addi tions
New
New
New
Addi tions
Add i tions
Add i t ions
Add i t i ons
Addi tions
Addi ti ons
Addi tions
Add i t ions
New
Year Action
Af fi rmed
by
Court Decree
1953
Status
of
Comp1iance
March 27, 1962
1962
1956
1952
ComplIed
Compli ed
Scheduled
Scheduled
Commenced
1962
1962
1961
Scheduled 1962
Scheduled
Under construction
Commenced 196!
Commenced 1961
Scheduled
Scheduled 1962
Scheduled 1962
Scheduled 1962
Scheduled 1962
I960
Complied
Commenced
Scheduled
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Commenced
Commenced
Scheduled
Scheduled
Commenced
Commenced
Complied
Commenced
1961
1962
1961
1961
1962
1962
196]
1961
-------
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AGAINST MUNICIPALITIES (continued)
Communi ty
Red ford Township
River Rouge
Ri verview
Rochester
Rockwood
Romeo
Romulus Township
Royal Oak
Royal Oak Twp.
Sal ine
South Lyon
S.Macomb San. .Dist.
S.E. Oakland Co.
Sew. Dis. System
Southf ield
Taylor Township
Tecumseh
Trenton
Troy
Washtenaw County
Wayne
Wyandotte
Yps i lanti
Order
Action
Order
Agreement
Agreement
Agreement
Agreement
Agreement
Agreement
Order
Order
Order
Agreement
Stip'n.
Order
Order
Agreement
Order
Agreement
Order
Peti tion
Order
Agreement
Agreement
, Stipulation
Agreement
I ssuing
Agency
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
W.R.C.
M.D.H.
W.R.C.
W.R.C.
W.R.C.
M.D.H.
W.R.C.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
W.R.C.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
M.D.H.
or
Year
1961
1958
I960
I960
1958
1959
1958
1957
1957
1951
1958
I960
1951
1952
1958
19^9
1958
1957
1957
1961
1958
1961
Faci li ties
Required
Add! tions
Additions
Add i tions
Add! tions
Add! tions
Add! tions
Add! tions
Add! tions
Additions
New
Add! tions
Add! tions
Add! t ions*
New
Add! tions
New
Add! tions
Add! tions
New
Add! tions
Add! tions
Add! tions
Year Action
Affirmed
by
Court Decree
1961
1962
1956
Status
of
Compliance
March 27, 1962
Commenced
Scheduled
Scheduled
ComplKid
Scheduled
Scheduled
Scheduled
Scheduled
Scheduled
Complied
1961
1962
1962
1962
1962
1962
1962
1962
Complied
Financing Stage
Complied
Comp1i ed
Scheduled 1962
Complied
Scheduled
Scheduled
Inacti ve
Commenced
Scheduled
Commenced
1962
1962
1961
1962
1962
Applies to content of phenols discharged to Red Run
-------
RECAPITULATION
ORDERS, STIPULATIONS OR AGREEMENTS TO CONTROL MUNICIPAL SEWAGE POLLUTION
issued by
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION
Orders, Stipulations
or Agreements
Total No. Communities
Court Decrees
Affirming State Actions
Total No. Communities
Complied
Status of Compliance
by No. of Communities
Under Construction
Construction Scheduled - 1962
>
CD
Detroi t River
C 1 i nton
Huron
Rai sin
Rouge
Lake Erie
17
20
9
7
19
0
15
17
9
7
18
0
1
5
1
3
5
0
1
5
1
3
5
0
1
5
3
7
6
0
5
2
1
0
9
0
9
12
k
0
k
0
-------
Company
Anderson Chemical Company
Argus Camera
Belleville Plating Company
Briggs Mfg. Company
Buckeye Products Corp.
Chyrsler Corp.
Defense Operations Div.
Michigan Missile Div.
Consolidated Paper, Co.
Cross Company
Dana Corporation
Detroit Edison Company
Dundee Cement Company
E. I. duPont de Nemours
and Co.
ORDERS AND STIPULATIONS
Entered By
WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION
for
INDUSTRIAL WASTE CONTROL
Year Action
Status of
Action
Order
Order
Order
Order
Final Order
Order
Order
Stipulation
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Year
Entered
I960
1955
1958
1956
195^
1958
1952
1955
1956
1950
1956
1958
1957
Faci I i ties
Requi red
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
Add! tions
New
Add! tions
New
New
New
Affirmed by Compliance
Court Decree March 27, 1962
Additions requi
Compl ied
Compl ied
red
Not demonstrated
1957 Complied
Additions requi
Compl ied
Compl ied
Compl ied
Compl ied
Compl ied
Compl ied
Compl ied
red
01
x
<
-------
ORDERS AND STIPULATIONS (continued)
Company
Ford Motor Company
Rouge Plant
Li ncoln Di v.
Chassis Parts Plant
Eng. Proving Ground
Monroe Plant
Great Lakes Steel Corp.
Blast Furnace Div.
Ecorse Rol1i ng Mills
Hot Strip Mi 11
General Motors Corp.
Fisher Body Div.
Hoover Ball & Bearing Co.
Ann Arbor Plant
Universal Dye Casting Div.
Universal Dye Casting Div.
Hurd Lock & Mfg. Company
King Seeley Corp.
McLouth Steel Corp
Gibraltar Plant
Trenton Plant
Mills Products, Inc.
Mobi1 Oil Company
National Machine Products
Co.
Action
Year Action
Year Facilities Affirmed by
Entered Required Court Decree
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Order
Final Order
Order
Final Order
Order
Order
Order
St i pul at i on
Order
Order
1952
1956
1955
1956
1956
1951
1951
1959
1959
1957
1953
1959
1953
1955
1956
I960
1958
I960
1956
Add i t ions
New
New
New
Add! tions
Add i t ions
Add! tions
New
New
New
New
Add i t i ons
New
Add i t i ons
New
Add! tions
Add i t i ons
Add! tions
New
Status of
Compli ance
March 27, 1962
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Not demonstrated
Compli ed
Complied
Compli ed
-------
ORDERS AND STIPULATIONS (continued)
Company
Power Reactor Development
Co.
Reynolds Chemical Prod. Co.
Robin Prod. Co.
Shawinigan Resins Corp.
Simplex Paper Company
Spartan Products Inc.
Ternes Steel Company
Action
Order
Order
Order
Order
Final Order
Order
Order
Year
Entered
1961
1958
1961
1956
19^9
1959
1959
Faci 1 i
Requi
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
Year Action
Affi rmed by
Court Decree
Thompson Ramo
Wooldridge, Inc.
Thompson Prod., Mich. Div. Order
Wolverine Fabricating &
Mfg. Company
1955
Order
New
New
Status of
Compliance
March 27, 1962
Complled
Comp1i ed
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Complied
Not demonstrated
Comp1i ed
-------
RECAPITULATION
ORDERS AND STIPULATIONS
entered by
WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION
for
INDUSTRIAL WASTE CONTROL
R i ve r
Bas in
Lake St. Clair-
Detroit River
Cl inton River
Huron River
Raisin River
Rouge River
Lake Erie
Court Decrees
Action Affirming W.R.C.
Final Order Order Stipulation Action
6
6
Status of Compliance m
by No. of Companies *
Complied Not Demonstrated Addns. Req'd. ~
8
8
6
10
2
2
1
2
-------
331
MR. OEMING : I think: that concludes the presen-
tation of these two state agencies, Mr. Chairman, and I
appreciate the opportunity to make this presentation.
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Oemlng. That is a
very excellent and comprehensive report. May we ask for
questions if we have some. Are there any questions here?
MR. POSTON: I have a question. I noticed that
Mr. Oeming has a procedure for comparing the degree of con-
trol in the industrial waste outlets, or industrial plants.
MR. OEMING: Yes, sir.
MR. POSTON: Whereby he gives them a grade. I
wondered if this same were true for the municipal sewage
treatment works, and what is being done relative to the oper-
ation of the plants. We know that the large and expensive
facilities can be built and have complicated mechanisms and
devices there. What is done to assure ourselves that we
get good operation in these large and expensive plants we
have?
MR. OEMING: May I answer first on the industrial
side, and then I think I will refer the second part of the
question on municipal wastes to Mr. Pierce.
As you have pointed out, Mr. Poston, the Commission
does maintain this grading procedure. We grade all the way
through from A through G or P, I think it is, for varying
degrees of control. How do we get at this? The State is
-------
332
divided into districts in which, in each district there
is assigned an engineer. In the Detroit area there is as-
signed an engineer and two assistants. They make routine
contacts with industry. Observe the operation of the facil-
ities where there is a formal facility and, in addition,
which nas not been pointed out, but which is a very impor-
tant aspect of this control, we maintain a boat patrol on
the Detroit River. This boat patrol operates during normal
good weather conditions when you can get out on a boat,
at intervals of three days a week; and, when you cannot get
out because of ice conditions, or other problems, we use
helicopters or airplanes to make these observations. If
we find that something is not up to snuff, the rating for
that industry for that year will be dropped so that next
year if they had had a bad record and had an oil loss, or
a poor record of maintaining the sewage or waste treatment
operation, their rating will drop.
Unless I have missed the point there, that covers
the industry part of this. Mr. Pierce can answer for the
municipal.
MR. PIERCE: For the municipal operations, Act
98. of the Public Acts of 1913 gave to the state health
commissioner the responsibility and direction to supervise
all sewage treatment works; to enter upon the plants and
to inspect them and to determine their accuracy; to see to
-------
333
It that at all times they are adequate, that they are con-
structed In an adequate manner, and that they are operated
properly. This is accomplished specifically by two methods:
Number one, the submission of regular operating
reports by the plant staff for the State Health Commissioner,
These are submitted monthly and reviewed by the members
of the staff. It is accomplished in another way by eval-
uation on the Job, on the spot, by engineers of the De-
partment who, on an average in recent years have visited
and observed and consulted with, and evaluated the sewage
treatment plants on an average of once each three months —
and average of four times per year. So that there is an
almost constant avenue of communication open between the
community and the Department, both through the written
material and through the face to face observations and in-
terviews.
In addition to this, I should like to say here
. that we are extremely proud of the extent to which we have
been able, in Michigan, to develop an adequate, well
trained and competent staff of operators at sewage treat-
ment works. We are one of two states of the fifty states
who have a mandatory certification of operators as to
competency, a requirement of the statute that is being en-
forced very thoroughly. We have 100 percent in compliance
in Michigan with this requirement that every plant shall have
-------
334
a superintendent in charge, whose competency has been at-
tested to by examinations, and so on, provided by the State
Health Commissioner, so that we not only have the opportunity
to go In and evaluate these plants and evaluate the oper-
ating records, but also have a second line of defense which
Is extremely Important, that Is, a competent operator In
every plant.
MR. BOSTON: Would It be possible for the record
to have some statement or report that would show the degree
of competency that you find In the operation of plants sim-
ilar to what Mr, Oemlng had, or a rating, so that we know
that the plants were producing or were not producing suit-
able and complete results?
MR. PIERCE: Yes. I should like to make this
statement, to emphasize what h® been stated earlier today
and what Is In the written report. Except for those in-
stances where the sewage treatment works are now being ex-
panded or extended, or where they are scheduled for expansion
or extension as indicated in the report during the next
couple of years, and with the further exception of three or
four total installations in this entire southeastern area
of the state, the facilities themselves are adequate in re-
lation to the requisites of the Michigan statutes. The
operation of these facilities, I would say, is as adequate
as you can expect operation to be, sir, on the basis of a
-------
335
well trained staff and recognizing that human weaknesses
and frailties, and the frailties of mechanical equipment
exist; but, looking at this in a broad sense I should say
that the operation is at a very high level, and of a very
high order today.
MR. POSTON: Thank you.
MR. DEL A. SMITH (The Izaao Walton League of
America) : Mr. Chairman, are you permitting any questions
from the audience at all?
THE CHAIRMAN: Not just now, but you will be per-
mitted to make a statement as called on by the state and
you can cover your points then.
Have you any further questions?
MR. POSTON I No.
THE CHAIRMAN: Dr. Heustls.
DR. HEUSTIS: Those persons who have indicated to
Mr. Adams or myself that they would like to make a state-
ment, we have a list of such names. I would suggest that
those in the room who are not sure their names are on this
list, get In touch with Mr. Adams during the lunch hour to
be sure their names are on the list*
Our procedure this afternoon we anticipate will
be similar to the procedure this morning. If anyone has a
written statement they would like to leave, they may most
certainly leave it, and if they would rather be elsewhere
-------
336
this afternoon, their absence will in no way prejudice their
statement. It will be properly entered in the record and
will be fully considered along with the other material.
Some of the industrial managements contacted me
about that specific point. As long as we have the statement
it will be entered in the record and will be considered.
Again this afternoon we are going to do our best,
with your help, if we can to make the written statements
a part of the written record and to discourage as much as
we can, within your wishes, the making of oral statements
of any length. We will not put the oral statements on the
record when we have a written statement unless specifically
requested to do so by you.
We aim to come back at a quarter past one and try
to get this thing wrapped up.
THE CHAIRMAN: Then we will stand in recess for an
hour and a quarter to a quarter past one.
(Whereupon at 12:00 o'clock noon the Conference
recessed until 1:13 p.m.)
-------
337
AFTERNOON SESSION
THE CHAIRMAN: May we reconvene? Dr. Heustis.
DR. HEUSTIS: The Attorney General's office for
the State of Michigan will be represented by Mr. Nicholas
V. Olds. We are very hopeful at this point. Mr. Olds has
a prepared statement. Mr. Olds' statement is offered and
printed for the record and will be a part of it, and unless
Mr. Olds specifically requests, his verbal statement will
not be for the written record. We are very hopeful, Mr.
Olds. We realize that you have been ill and that you will
not overdo yourself by spending too long a time at the pod-
ium.
STATEMENT OF NICHOLAS V. OLDS, ASSISTANT
ATTORNEY GENERAL, STATE OF MICHIGAN
MR. OLDS: Coming from a Doctor —
Mr. Chairman and ladies and gentlemen:
The purpose of this paper is to supplement the
paper presented by Milton P. Adams, executive secretary
of the Michigan Water Resources Commission entitled
"Administrative Policies and Procedure and State Program —
Statutory Authority." It will discuss: (1) The Supreme
Court decisions interpreting the Water Resources Act and
its predecessor, the Stream Control Commission Act, as
well as the bonding statute, Act 320 P A 1927 as amended;
(2) The legal effect of and the impact which the Boundary
-------
338
Waters Treaty of 1909 has on the State's responsibility
with respect to controlling pollution of boundary watersc
(l) Legal History of_ Abatement of. Pollution of_
State Waters by Judicial Decisions,
Prior to the adoption of the Stream Control Com-
mission Act in 1929* the Supreme Court of our State had
occasion to pass upon the common law authority of the State
of Michigan to abate a nuisance created by the pollution
of waters by a municipality. In the case of Attorney
General ex rel Township of Wyoming v« City of Grand Rapids,
175 Mich. 503, decided in May 1913, the court held that the
attorney general acting under his broad common law powers
had the authority to file suits on behalf of the State of
Michigan to compel the City of Grand Rapids to abate the
public nuisance that it was making in the waters of the
Grand River by discharging raw sewage therein. In its
decree the Supreme Court ordered that the city construct
such works as were necessary to abate the pollution within
one year.
The march of events, including the outbreak of
World War I, delayed construction of these works until the
1920»s.
In 1929 the legislature passed the Stream Control
Commission Act, namely, Act 245 PA 1929. The constitutionality
and authority of this Commission to issue orders requiring
-------
339
the abatement of pollution of the waters of the State was
reviewed in City of Niles v. Stream Control Commission,
296 Mich. 650, decided March 11, 19*11. In that case the
City of Nlles appealed from an order of the Stream Control
Commission directing the city to begin construction of a
sewage treatment plant for the purpose of preventing the
discharge of raw sewage into the St. Joseph River. The
Supreme Court sustained the authority of the Commission,
validated its order and compelled the City of Niles to
comply.
In the course of that decision the court made some
notable observations, among which is the following:
"In order to stop pollution of the river,
it was necessary for the commission to take
action against the city of Niles, Inasmuch as
it was the first city in the State on the
course of the river below the Indiana cities
and thus open the way for suit to compel the
Indiana cities to stop pollution of the waters
of the river. It is an instance where the
State must clean up its own back yard before
being in a position to ask or seek to compel
its neighbor to clean up. This was not an
arbitrary exercise of power by the commission
but a practical movement toward accomplishment
-------
340
of a most desirable end." (Quoted on
P. 157, 305 Mich Rep.)
However, the most notable series of cases Involved
the enforcement of the order which was issued by the Stream
Control Commission against the City of Port Huron. On
February 11, 1936, the Commission issued an order against
the City of Port Huron requiring it "to proceed to the con-
struction of a sewage treatment plant and the necessary col-
lecting and Intercepting sewers, pumping stations, force
mains and other appurtenances in connection therewith, all
when and as approved by the Michigan Department of Health
to permit treatment for the sewage of the city before its
discharge to State waters." The city failed to comply with
this order and the Commission filed a bill of complaint on
December 9, 1939 to enforce it. After an extended trial
the Circuit Court denied the relief sought by the Commission
and the matter was appealed to the Supreme Court. In the
course of its opinion (Stream Control Commission v. Port
Huron, 305 Mich. 153), reversing the decision of the lower
court and validating the order of the Commission, the court
referred to the argument made by the city that construction
of the sewage plant would not materially reduce pollution
in the river and that its present method of sewage disposal
did not create a public nuisance to the people residing
along the river as well as those in the cities of Marysvilie,
-------
341
St. Glair, Marine City and Algonac situated within 30
miles below Port Huron. In disposing of this contention,
the court stated (p. 157):
"The record contains sufficient testimony
to substantiate the State's contention that
the present raw sewage disposal method is a
constant menace to the health and well-being
of the down-river communities as well as to
tourists. This evidence clearly Justifies
the Commission's order. Under the authority
of the City of Nlles case, supra, where sim-
ilar arguments were advanced, it is no defense
to a statutory charge of river-water pollution
that others have or are contributing to that
condition."
A contention made by the city consisted of in-
voking the doctrines of "balancing of equities" and "com-
parative injury." These doctrines are always invoiced when
a number of municipalities or industries contribute to the
pollution of a body of water, each one claiming that it
should not be required to abate its contribution to the pol-
lution until the others are required to do likewise. In
disposing of this contention the Supreme Court said
(p. 157-158):
"Even if we should concur with the
-------
342
trial Judge In his conclusion that a
'balancing of equities' favors the
city, this is not a proper case for
the application of that doctrine. The
doctrine of 'comparative injury1 should
be confined to those situations where
the plaintiff can be substantially com-
pensated. This principle is distin-
guished in City of Harrlsonville v.
W. S. Dickey Clay Manfg. Co., 289 U.S.
334, 337 (53 Sup. Ct. 602, 77 L. Ed.
1208)."
**«*
"The doctrine of 'comparative injury'
should not be invoiced to justify the con-
tinuance of an act that tends to impair
public health."
Another contention made by the City of Port Huron
was its financial inability to comply with the order. In
disposing of this issue against the city, the court stated
(p. 159):
"The act creating the commission was
under the police power vested in the State,
and the order in question was not arbitrary
or unreasonable but became necessary by
reason of the previous refusal of the
city of Port Huron to stop pollution of the
-------
343
St. Glair and Black rivers. The evidence
justified the order of the commission, and
the decree entered below must be vacated.
"We are not unmindful of the situation
caused by war conditions and the fact that
the city of Port Huron will have difficulty
in complying with the commission's order due
to necessary materials now required for
war purposes. This, however, does not,
and should not, prevent the city from imme-
diately taking those steps necessary to in-
sure the carrying out of the mandate of the
commission, but a reasonable time should be
allowed for completion of the project. We
apprehend that the State and city can agree
upon the time that Is necessary, and if they
cannot, this Is a matter which can be deter-
mined by the trial judge upon proper proofs."
The City of Port Huron, however, failed to comply
with the order of the Supreme Court and consequently the
attorney general filed a motion for final process to enforce
the decree. The court rendered its opinion in People ex rel
Stream Control Commission v. City of Port Huron, 323 Mich.
541. In a per curlam opinion reviewing the events that had
occurred including reference to war conditions that had made
-------
344
it Impossible for the city to procure necessary materials
for construction and that time was required for this pur-
pose, and pointing out that the city had authorized the
issuance of bonds totalling $1,600,000 for construction of
the sewage disposal plant, the court stated:
"This phase of the situation presents a
matter for practical consideration. The
problem is ore that cannot be solved other
than by the construction of proper facil-
ities necessary for the treatment of the
raw sewage . . . The condition existing
is one, as indicated in the prior opinion
of this court, that should be remedied as
soon as possible. If the course the city
commission claims it is pursuing is followed
with reasonable diligence, it seems clear
that the desired result can be accomplished
in the not far distant future. ....
It seems expedient now that a definite date
should be fixed prior tovhich the sewage
disposal plant, the intercepting sewers and
other necessary appurtenances shall be com-
pleted so that the existing situation may
be ended.
"The injunotlve relief sought by the motion
GPO B208I9—B-12
-------
345
of the attorney general will be granted
effective as of October 1, 1950."
Even this, however, did not end the controversy
because the City of Port Huron experienced difficulty in
selling the bonds to raise the money for construction of
the works. Apparently the bonding houses wanted a decision
from the State Supreme Court validating these proposed bonds,,
Consequently, upon the city treasurer's refusal to counter-
sign the bonds, mandamus proceedings were filed by the mayor
of Port Huron agalnt him. The attorney general intervened
as plaintiff and the matter was decided by the Supreme
Court in Port Huron Mayor v. Treasurer, 328 Mich. 99. In
its opinion the court reviewed the prior proceedings, the
various resolutions and ordinances adopted by the city for
the issuance of the bonds, and the court pinpointed the
critical issue as follows (p. 106):
"The most important question raised
by the pleadings is whether the issuance
of the general obligation bonds of $1,300,000
must be approved by a 3/5 majority of the
qualified electors of the city of Port
Huron after due notice has been given to
them in the same manner and to the extent
that is required for issuance of other
general obligation bonds issued under the
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346
charter of the oity of Fort Huron and by
the home-rule act."
The bonds had not been submitted to the electors
for approval and thus the court was faced with the responsi-
bility of deciding whether its previous orders could be
complied with without reference to any referendum for the
issuance of the bonds to raise the money needed for compli-
ance with the orders of the Supreme Court« Act 320 PA 1927
authorized the legislative bodies of municipalities to
issue and sell bonds necessary for the construction of
sewage disposal plants "whenever a court of, competent
Jurisdiction in this State shall have ordered the installation
of_ a sewage or garbage disposal system in any of, the govern-
mental agencies or munloipalities herein mentioned and the
plans therefore shall have been prepared and approved by_
the state commissioner of_ health. . . ."
Aaothcr afciftttt known as the Municipal Finance Act,
namely Act 273 PA 1923, contained the same provision with
reference to the construction of "necessary storm and sani-
tary sewers."
After reviewing the various authorities, the court
held that whenever a municipality finds It necessary to raise
money by the issuance of bonds for the purpose of complying
with a court order involving the public health of the State,
no referendum of approval by the people is necessary. Its
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3^7
opinion on this point stated:
"The action of the plaintiffs was in
strict accord with our preemptory order for
the installation of a sewage treatment sys-
tem in Port Huron. The proposed bond issue
was not to raise money for ordinary municipal
purposes or Improvements, but to carry out
the order of this Court, and prevent defend-
ant from further polluting public streams
and endangering the health and comfort not
only of its own inhabitants but also of all
others in any way affected by the pollution
of the waters by the filth from the Port
Huron sewers. This no longer created
solely a problem of_ Port Huron but one
of_ the State and this may have been the
reason for enactment of_ Act No_.. £20, supra,
sections of_ which we_ have quoted. The
order was for the protection of the people
of the State of_ Michigan. It. transcended
local purposes.
"Claims of the defendant that notice
and a vote of the electors of Port Huron
were necessary are fully answered by
sections 7 and 8 of PA 1927, No. 320, supra.
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348
The city of Port Huron was bound to carry
out the order of this Court, which confirmed
the previous order of the stream control
commission. There was neither necessity,
occasion, nor any reason to publish the
resolution authorizing the issuance of the
bonds, nor, as previously stated, did it_
require the vote of_ 3/5 of_ the electors."
(Emphasis supplied.)
Another point raised was that the levying of the
tax for the payment of such bonds would exeed the tax limi-
tations provided by the city charter. This is a contention
which is usually made by municipalities whenever they are
faced with complying with an order of the Water Resources
Commission. In its opinion the court rejected this con-
tention by holding that there is ample authority in Act 320
PA 1927 to levy taxes for the purposes mentioned in that
statute; and that even though the tax limitations were ex-
ceeded, such defense was not valid when the city is re-
quired to comply with a court order.
The Supreme Court thereupon issued its writ of
mandamus ordering the city treasurer to countersign the
bonds and In due time the sewage disposal system of the
City of Port Huron was built and has been operating ever
since.
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This series of oases paved the way for the enforce-
ment of the orders of the Water Resources Commission,
successor to the Stream Control Commission, and also enabled
our municipalities to finance the construction of the works
needed to comply with said orders. Consequently during
the past fifteen years numerous court orders have been
secured against municipalities in order to enable them to
take advantage of the Issuance of court ordered bonds.
Thus no municipality can plead that it is financially un-
able to comply with the orders of the Commission because
financial inability has never been a defense against the
abatement of a nuisance either by a private citizen or by
a municipal entity.
(2) Effect of the Boundary Waters Treaty of
1909 on. the Responsibility o£ the State and its Munici-
palities and Citizens t£ Control Pollution of_ Boundary
Waters.
The State of Michigan has extensive boundary waters
in common with our Canadian neighbor. The Detroit River,
Lake St. Glair, St. Glair River and St. Marys River are the
most important boundary waters that have been the subject
of pollution control between our two countries. The last
sentence of Article IV of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909
existing between the United States and Canada provides:
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350
"It Is further agreed that the waters herein
defined as boundary waters and waters flowing
across the boundary shall not be polluted
on either side to the injury of health or
property on the other."
The first task undertaken by the International
Joint Commission shortly after it was organized under this
treaty was investigation of the pollution of boundary waters.
The Commission filed a report initiated in 1912 and com-
pleted in 1918. This indicated that many sections of
boundary waters were seriously polluted and were endanger-
ing the health and welfare of people and property on both
sides of the boundary. To resolve this problem, the Com-
mission recommended that the two governments consider
granting it extra-territorial authority to abate and place
this pollution under control. This suggestion was never
followed; and the onset of World War I put it into the
background.
Nothing of consequence was done in putting pol-
lution of boundary waters under control until 19^ when the
governments of the United States and Canada on April I,
1946 made a'reference to the International Joint Commission
as follows:
"I have the honor to advise you that the
governments of the United States and Canada
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351
have been informed that the waters of
the St. Glair River, Lake St. Clair and
the Detroit River are being polluted by
sewage and industrial wastes emptied
into those waters. Having in mind the
provisions of Article IV of the Boundary
Waters Treaty signed January 11, 1909,
that boundary waters and waters flowing
across the boundary shall not be polluted
on either side to the Injury of health or
property on the other side, the two
Governments have agreed upon a joint
Reference on the matter to the Inter-
national Joint Commission, pursuant to
the provisions of Article IX of said
Treaty. The Commission is requested to
inquire into and report to the two
Governments upon the following questions:
(1) Are the waters referred to in the
preceding paragraph, or any of them
actually being polluted on either
side of the boundary to the injury
of health or property on the other
side of the boundary?
(2) If the foregoing question is answered
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352
In the affirmative, to what extent,
by what causes, and in what localities
is such pollution taking place?
(3) If the Commission should find that
pollution of the character just re-
ferred to is taking place, what
measures for remedying the situation
would, in its Judgment, be most
practicable from theeconomic, sani-
tary and other points of view?
(4) If the Commission should find that the
construction or maintenance of remed-
ial or preventive works is necessary
to render the waters sanitary and
suitable for domestic and other uses,
it should indicate the nature, location
and extent of such works, and the
probable cost thereof, and by whom and
in what proportion such cost should be
borne."
On October 2, 1946 the reference was extended to
include the waters of the St. Marys River from Lake Super-
ior to Lake Huron. This reference had its genesis in the
complaint registered by the City of Detroit that its source
of water supply at the head of Belle Isle was being con-
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353
taminated by phenolic wastes discharged into the St. Glair
River at Sarnla, Canada, by various refining companies.
But it will be observed that the reference was broad enough
to include not only industrial wastes but also domestic
sewage wastes emanating from either side of the boundary.
The International Joint Commission organized various
boards to make the investigation of these waters, composed
of representatives of the State of Michigan, the U.S. Public
Health Service, the Canadian government, and the Province of
Ontario. This board was known as the Technical Advisory
Board to the Commission.
In 1950 the International Joint Commission completed
its investigation and report which was transmitted to the
governments of the United States and Canada. These govern-
ments indicated approval of the report in 1951. This report
was very comprehensive and it contains recommendations with
irespect to "objectives for boundary waters quality control."
For detail as to what these objectives are, specific reference
should be made to this report, but in general they include
the following:
"General Objectives
All wastes, including sanitary sewage,
storm water and industrial effluents, shall
be in such condition when discharged into any
stream that they will not create conditions
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354
In the boundary waters which will adversely
affect the use of those waters for the
following purposes: source of domestic
water supply or industrial water supply,
navigation, fish and wildlife, bathing,
recreation, agriculture and other riparian
activities.
In general, adverse conditions are caused
by:
(a) Excessive bacterial, physical or chem-
ical contamination.
(b) Unnatural deposits in the stream, inter-
fering with navigation, fish and wild-
life, bathing, recreation, or destruction
of aesthetic values.
(o) Toxic substances and materials im-
parting objectionable tastes and odors
to waters used for domestic or Industrial
purposes.
(d) Floating materials, Including oils,
grease, garbage, sewage solids, or
other refuse.
"Specific Objectives
In more specific terms, adequate controls
of pollution will necessitate the following
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355
objectives for:
(a) Sanitary Sewage, Storm Water and Wastes
from Water Craft
Sufficient treatment for adequate re-
moval or reduction of solids, bacteria
and chemical constituents which may inter-
fere unreasonably with the use of these
waters for purposes aforementioned.
Adequate protection for these waters,
except in certain specific instances
influenced by local conditions, should
be provided if the ooliform M.P.N.
median value does not exceed 2,400 per
10O ml. at any point in the waters fol-
lowing initial dilution.
(b) Industrial Wastes
(1) Chemical Wastes — -Phenolic Type
Industrial waste effluents from phenolic
hydro-carbon and other chemical plants
will cause objectionable tastes or odors
in drinking or industrial water supplies
and may taint the flesh of fish.
Adequate protection should be provided
for these waters if the concentration
of phenol or phenol equivalents does
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356
not exceed an average of 2 p.p.b. and
a maximum of 5 p.p.b. at any point In
these waters following Initial dilution.
This quality In the receiving waters will
probably be attained if plant effluents
are limited to 20 p.p.b. of phenol or
phenol equivalents.
Some of the Industries producing phenolic
wastes are: coke, synthetic resin, oil
refining, petroleum cracking, tar, road
oil, oreosotlng, wood distillation, and
dye manufacturing plants."
************
In effect, what the two governments did by
accepting this report is that they obligated themselves as
well as their municipal entitles and private citizens and
enterprises to achieve the water qualities indicated in
the objectives by taking such measures as would be nec-
essary for that purpose. The report Indicated that there
was ample legal authority resting in the various levels of
government In both countries to control pollutional dis-
charges so that these objectives could be attained.
The Detroit River from the head of Belle Isle
down to Lake Erie is the stretch of water constituting
the subject matter of this conference. If the treaty Is
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357
to be observed by both nations, then It means that an ob-
ligation rests upon the State of Michigan not to pollute
the waters of the Detroit River to such an extent that it
would cause injury to Canadian interests across the bound-
ary* However, one of the findings of the Technical Advi-
sory Board was that any pollutional substance discharged on
one side of the bounday invariably has trans-boundary ef-
fects. Under the Constitution of the United States, treatie?
are made the supreme law of the land, as is specified in
Sec. (2) Article VI:
"This Constitution, and the Laws of the United
States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof;
and all Treaties made,or which shall be made,
under the Authority of the United States, shall
be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges
in every State shall be bound thereby, any
Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State
to the Contrary notwithstanding."
Consequently, the requirements of this treaty as
well as any treaty entered into by the United States govern-
ment are binding not only on the government of the United
States of America but on the State of Michigan and all of
Its municipal entities and citizens.
We have appeared on numerous occasions before the
International Joint Commission over the past ten years com-
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358
plaining about the fact that the municipalities of Ontario
such as Sault Ste, Marie, Sarnia, Windsor, etc. were not
complying with the treaty as implemented by the Commission's
1951 report.
It behooves us at this time to consider seriously
whether the conditions in the Detroit River fail to comply
with the obligations of the treaty; and if so, what we as
a State and as a group of municipalities of that State
should do to secure compliance. We all know that at the
present time Wayne County is constructing a new water sys-
tem in the Detroit River and that its water intake is lo-
cated across the boundary in Canadian waters. This means that
best efforts should be made on our side of the boundary to
protect this water system from degrading the water which
It shall receive; and of course there will be an equal
responsibility on the part of Canada to do likewise.
Even though the legal machinery which I have de-
scribed seems to be adequate to put Michigan in the fore-
front of all the States in its water pollution control pro-
gram, this does not mean that the coercive powers of the
State need be used on every occasion. There is a great
area of cooperative action that can be taken by a munici-
pality or by an industry or by a group of municipalities
and industries. An example of the fruits that can come
from cooperative action is the recent agreements that have
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359
been signed by various municipalities with the Wayne
County Public Works Department for the construction of
interceptors and other facilities that have been needed
for a long time to prevent pollution of the waters of the
Rouge River and other waters including the Detroit River.
What I am trying to say is that municipalities and Industrie*
should recognize their responsibilities toward the health
of their own citizens and others and meet these responsi-
bilities as much as possible without resort to the enforce-
ment powers of the Water Resources Commission or of the
State Health Department.
Water pollution control is a never-ending battle ancj
as our population continues to grow, resulting in an in-
crease in industrial and commercial development, the waters
of our State will be subjected to greater demands for waste
assimilation purposes. However, it will do none of us any
good if we "foul our own nests" so that we will be deprived
of the maximum use of the waters that flow by our door step.
The legal machinery provided by the State of Michigan is
adequate to place under proper control any species of waste
discharges whether domestic or industrial. The definition
of unlawful pollution contained in Sec. 6 of the Water Re-
sources Act is one of the best in the country.
(Sec. 6 of Water Resources Act: It shall be un-
lawful for any person to discharge or permit to be dischargecj
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into any of the lakes, rivers, streams or other waters of
this state any substance which is injurious to the public
health or to the conducting of any industrial enterprise
or other lawful occupation; or whereby any fish or migra-
tory bird life or any wild animal or aquatic life may be
destroyed or the growth or propagation thereof be prevented
or injuriously affected or the value of lawfully taken fish
or game be destroyed or impaired as the consequence of said
pollution. Any person who shall discharge or permit to
be discharged any waste or pollution into any of the waters
of this state, in contravention of the above provision of
this section, shall be deemed to violate the provisions of
this Act. (Am. 1949 Act 117))
In every instance where we have had to appeal to
the Supreme Court of our State for the enforcement of pol-
lution control orders, our action has been upheld. The
legal tools are here to be used and all that is needed is
the faith and courage to use them.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Olds. Are there
any comments or questions? I would like to point out two
things, Mr. Olds. As we said at the beginning, that was
on yesterday, what we are doing here is confining ourselves
to American waters and American pollution, because that
is all we have jurisdiction over here. Regardless of the
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very interesting question of whether a treaty or law of
the land governs, I think this is made moot in this situ-
ation because Section 12 of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act states, "that this Act shall not be construed
as affecting or impairing the provisions of any treaty of
the United States."
I think that is pretty clear right in our Act.
MR. OLDS: That is right. In fact, neither any
Federal act nor any State act could abrogate a treaty. It
is over everything.
THE CHAIRMAN: Yes.
DR. HEUSTIS: Mr. Chairman, may I call the next
witness?
THE CHAIRMAN: Yes.
DR. HEUSTIS: Mr. Arthur Elmer, the first of two
persons representing the Department of Conservation. Mr.
Elmer, do you have a statement?
STATEMENT OF ARTHUR C. ELMER, CHIEF,
DIVISION OF PARKS AND RECREATION,
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION, STATE OF
MICHIGAN
MR. ELMER: Mr. Chairman, I do.
DR. HEUSTIS: Will you present one copy to the
reporter, please. Again, Mr. Elmer, this statement will
be entered in the record. It would be very much appreciated-
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362
by us if you would not read it but you are at liberty to
make whatever presentation you think is appropriate. Your
remarks will not be on the written record unless you so
request.
MR. ELMER: It is so short that unless I read it
you won't even recognize I have been up here.
Mr. Chairman, conferees, and ladies and gentlemen.
My name is Arthur C. Elmer, Chief, Division of Parks and
Recreation, which is one of the seven divisions of the
Conservation Department. Gerald Eddy is my boss. As such,
the Sterling State Park is one of my problem children and
it is one of the problems we have come up here to discuss.
Sterling State Park, described on our literature
as: 624 acres at the north limits of the City of Monroe,
about 7,800 feet of frontage on Lake Erie, with a safe
shallow bathing beach, but largely undeveloped. Actually,
it is much more than that, it is the only public beach on
Lake Erie in the State of Michigan, located strategically
between Detroit and Toledo, adjacent to excellent highways
and roads. It attracts in excess of one-half million per-
sons annually to its shaded picnic areas and excellent sand
beach.
Initially it cost $285,000 and except for a long
barrier sand beach, was largely marsh and open water. Hy-
draulic dredging has now provided some 500 acres of useable
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363
land and two lagoons totaling some 100 acres, in addition
to greatly improving the beach area. This dredging oper-
ation, which covered a period of several years, was under-
taken at a oost of more than $1,000,000.
It is on this land and water thus created that we
expect to build an outdoor recreation area capable of serv-
ing some one and one-half million people annually. Funds
now available would permit initial development for an over-
all program which will probably cost $5,000,000.
Wayne County and the four counties surrounding it
have a population In excess of 4,000,000 persons, about 50
per cent of the total population of the state. With swim-
ming waters at a premium and very few outdoor water recre-
ation spots within a reasonable distance from this mass of
people, it is most important that the waters of Lake Erie
be maintained in the best possible condition for public use
and the planned developments for this park are designed
with this in mind.
The master plan, as approved by the Conservation
Commission, provides for parking spaces for more than 6,500
cars, 26,000 people at any time, 260,000 people in any one
day. It provides for a picnic area of 89 acres, beaches
of 24 acres and game and lawn areas of 127 acres. One-
fourth of the total area is water lagoons, designed to
provide fishing and boating In the waters and picnic sites
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364
along much of their shorelines. The plan provides for
a major access road from 1-75, the limited access highway
from Detroit to Toledo. All of these plans will have to
be greatly modified if suitable pollution-free conditions
in the water of Lake Erie, which lie adjacent to the park,
cannot be maintained.
This has already been demonstrated by the falling
off of attendance after August 15, 1961, when the Michigan
Department of Health directed that the beaches be posted
and the water declared unsafe for swimming. Attendance fig-
ures since 1950 show a yearly increase, and this increase
continued even though, in 1961, the Legislature passed a
law requiring that each car entering a State park would
require a yearly permit costing $2, or a daily permit costing
50 cents.
Sterling Attendance
1952 101,103
1953 400,537
1954 790,112
1955 852,613
1956 692,450
1957 662,484
1958 782,923
1959 1,239,216
I960 911,246
1961 651,726
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365
In I960, the August attendance was 218,034. In
1961 it slipped to 91,544. More dramatic is the loss in
attendance after the order was issued in the middle of
August, 1961. Prom August 14 to 31 in I960, the attendance
was 131,875, and from August 13 to 31 in 1961, the attendance
was 14,376. Not all this loss can be attributed to the
posting of the beach against swimming, but surely the
major part of the loss can and must be based on it.
Failure to keep the waters of Lake Erie, adjacent
to the Sterling State Park, in a safe condition for swimming,
r
boating, and other water uses, will necessitate a major
revision in the planned development of the park and an
added cost for development, probably in excess of $1,000,000.
Preliminary studies for swimming pools at Sterling-
Monroe State Park indicate the need for three large pools
to accommodate the planned population of this popular
beach area. Due to the large size of the pools and the
unstable soil conditions in the area, the cost of the pools
is estimated at $340,000 each, or $1,020,000 for the three
pools. This estimate does not include the increased cost of
the bathhouses, although the special design of this facility
will undoubtedly cause an increase in cost over the original
beach-type bathhouse.
Besides the prohibitive increase in cost of. devel-
opment of the area due to the major revisions in the planned
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366
development, we are also faced with the elimination of
certain other water aotivitles. Boating, skin diving,
water skiing, and other water activities would have to
be eliminated. The actual total loss in recreation values
is impossible to ascertain, but even the tangible losses
will have an increasing effect on the people of this region.
The master plan will be revised. Neither Michigan
nor the nation can afford the loss of these great lake
waters for recreation and I am extremely hopeful that as
a result of this hearing with this tremendous amount of
data, that we can shortly find ways and means to remove
the "unsafe for swimming" signs from the Sterling State
Park beaches.
The master plan attached to this report shows the
original plan of development.
(The plan of Sterling State Park, Monroe, Michigan,
Department of Conservation, is as follows:)
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•v;.-- • in
1
STERLING STATE PARK
MONROE, MICHIGAN
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
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367
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you, are there any comments
or questions? Do you think that swimming pools will be
as attractive as beach swimming to the patrons?
MR. ELMER: I am sure they would not be,
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Dr. Heustls.
DR. HEUSTIS: Mr. Herb Miller of the Department
of Conservation. Do you have a statement prepared?
STATEMENT OP H. J. MILLER, DEPARTMENT OP
CONSERVATION, STATE OP MICHIGAN
MR. MILLER: Yes.
DR. HEUSTIS: Will you give the same to the court
reporter.
Mr. Miller's statement is entered into the record
and we certainly would appreciate your brevity.
Do you want these pictures put into the record?
MR. MILLER: No, it is not necessary.
THE CHAIRMAN: If you want these pictures to be
made part of the record we will reproduce them and make
them part of the transcript.
MR. MILLER: It is perfectly okay.
DR. HEUSTIS: The pictures then will be entered intp
and made a part of the record.
(The photographs referred to are as follows:)
-------
Waterfowl killed by oil pollution on
the lower Detroit River, March, '60
-------
PQINTE MOUILLEE
STATE GAME AREA
HEioouwrais
DEPARTMENT »£M5£RVATION
Ducks killed by phosphorus
poisoning Feb. 1948. Monsanto
Chemical Company outlet - Trenton
Channel, Detroit
-------
Heavy ta.r-like oil on duck picked
up on Detroit River, Feb., 1948.
-------
Oil-soaked canvasback compared to
natural coloration.
Detroit River oil flow, March 10, 1960
-------
Close-up of oil pollution on lower
Detroit River, March 1960.
-------
Oil-soaked carcasses picked up on
Detroit River, Feb. 1948. Presented
as evidence at the Michigan United
Conservation Club meeting in Detroit.
Note, the carcasses of whistling swan
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368
MR. MILLER: I represent the Michigan Department
of Conservation. My statement will be limited to wildlife
matters. As a result of pollution, heavy losses of wild
waterfowl have occurred on the Detroit River and Lake
Erie in may of the past twenty years. The following
account of pollution in relation to wildlife is presented
in response to a request for such a statement.
For a better understanding of the problems asso-
ciated with wildlife it may be helpful to review briefly the
conditions of the Detroit River area in the early days of
the white man.
Recorded observations since the beginning of white
man's use of this area provide glowing accounts of the abund-
ance of game and fish that were found here. Father Henne-
pin's description of the Straits of Detroit in his first pas-
sage in 1679 referred to the abundance of game and the pro-
ductivity of the area. Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac, Commar-
dant during the founding of Detroit, wrote a description to
his superiors on October 8, 1701, of the Detroit River which
includes the following:
"The fish there are fed and laved in sparkling and
pellucid waters, and are none the less delicious for the
bountiful supply (of them). There are such large numbers
of swans that the rushes among which they are massed might
be taken for lilies. The gabbling goose, the duck, the teal
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369
and the bustard" (cranes and wading birds) "are so common
there that, in order to satisfy you of It, I will only make
use of the expression of one of the savages, of whom I asked
before I got there whether there was much game there; 'there
is so much' he told me, 'that it only moves aside (long
enough) te allow the boat to pass.1" (Lajeunessee, Ernest
J. -I960. The Windsor Border Region, (Collection of Docu-
ments) The Champlain Society for the Government of Ontario.
University of Toronto Press.)
Throughout Michigan's history, hunting, fishing,
and boating have been important recreational activities.
The hunting and fishing clubs that flourished in this part
of the state during the past century are evidence of the
potential of the area to attract and support wildlife.
People traveled great distances to participate In sporting
events and to spend their leisure time here.
The Detroit River and Lake Erie in the past have
been, and still are, frequented by great numbers of water-
fowl, particularly during the spring and fall migration.
In addition, many waterfowl and furbearers are produced here,
General Description
The lower half of the 30-mile Detroit River is more
intensively used by waterfowl than the upper because the
channels divide and between the channels there are shoals
with dense stands of aquatic plants and an abundance of
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370
animal foods. Lying below much of Detroit's industrial
development, this downstream portion is also more vulnerable
to pollution. The upper portion offers good habitat on the
west side of Belle Isle locally known as Scott's Middle-
ground s.
Lake Erie is an extensive feeding and resting area,
frequented by great numbers of ducks and coots, and some
geese and swans. The waterfowl habitat here may be class-
ified at 50,000 acres used extensively by waterfowl and
appro*imately 80,000 acres used to a lesser extent. There
are also important bordering marshes along the 55-mile
shore line; these are used principally by dabbling duck
species. The best of these marshes are: Pointe Mouillee
State Game Area, Monroe Marshes at the mouth of the Raisin
River, LaPlaisance Bay, and the Maumee Bay-Erie State Game
Area.
In 1941, a general waterfowl survey was initiated
which showed that the Detroit River-Lake Erie area presented
special problems. As a result, considerable time was spent
there.
A number of special investigations have been carried
out in this area since then because serious losses of water-
fowl have occurred which were directly or indirectly asso-
ciated with pollution and thermal changes of these waters.
Losses have occurred at various times of the year but most
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371
frequently during periods of severe weather.
Prior to the mid-1930's the wintering waterfowl
problem did not exist because the shallow, food-rioh lower
half of the river froze from bank to bank and the narrow,
deep, but ice-free upper half supported little food to
encourage the ducks to remain during the winter. Then,
industrial plants, attracted by what appeared to be an un-
limited supply of water, developed rapidly along the lower
west bank of the river.
A marked change occurred as industrial effluent
warmed the waters to the extent that parts of the lower
river were always ice-free. Migrant waterfowl lingered,
and for a number of years about 50,000 remained eaoh winter.
An unfortunate result of the industrial concentration has
been the increasing pollution of the river. (Hunt, George
S. and Ewing, Howard E. -1953. Industrial Pollution and
Michigan Waterfowl. Trans. N. A. Wildlife Conference
18:366-368.)
Early records of the sport of horse-and-cutter
races on portions of the river that now remain free of ice
give evidence of the change that has occurred. As late as the
prohibition era records reveal "bootlegging" across the
ice of the Detroit River.
Waterfowl Use
Great numbers of waterfowl continue to use this
-------
372
area eventhough It has beoome heavily Industrialized,
serves as one of the great shipping arteries of world com-
merce, has the greatest concentration of pleasure craft on
the Great Lakes, and has extensive residential developments.
The birds contribute to the recreation of the people
of this metropolitan area and certainly contribute in no
small way to their enjoyment. The aesthetic values of these
migrant birds appearing In great numbers and in a variety of
species are difficult to appraise, but they are nonetheless
real, and a part of our heritage.
The estimated waterfowl use of the Detroit River
and the western end of Lake Erie (Toledo Harbor to Bar
Point, Ontario) as determined by numerous aerial censuses
carried out since 194? is:
Winter - Average 48,000. Pop-
ulations ranged from
116,000 (mid-January
1959) to as low as
6,000 (mid-January
1962).
Spring - Average 55,000. Pop-
ulations ranged from
140,000 (early April
1954) to as low as
28,700 (April 12,
1950).
-------
373
Fall (pre-hunting season) - Average 23,000. Pop-
ulations ranged from
38,300 (late September
1948) to as low as
14,000 (late September
1957).
Pall (mid-hunting season) - Average 123,000. Pop-
ulations ranged from
325,100 (late October
1954) to as low as
23,900 (late October
I960).
Fall (post-hunting season) - Average 117,000. Pop-
ulations ranged from
188,100 (early Decem-
ber 1953) to as low as
15,200 (early Decem-
ber 1955).
(Miller, U. J., et al. Game Division, Michigan Department
of Conservation4 Report on file.)
These estimates show only populations on a specific
day that a census was made and in no way reflect the total
number of migrants that may pass through here. To provide
a yearly use estimate approximately twenty-nine million
waterfowl-use days may be assigned to the Detroit River and
-------
374
Lake Erie. (Fish and Wildlife Service Report - 1956.
Inventory of Permanent Water Habitat Significant to Water-
fowl in Michigan.)
National Importance
The national and international importance of water-
fowl habitat in the Detroit River area is emphasized in
testimony recorded on the establishment of the Wyandotte Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge during hearings before the Subcommittee
on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation of the Committee on
Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives,
8?th Congress, first session on Law Enforcement Activities.
That testimony also includes numerous references to the pol-
lution problem that are pertinent for this present hearing.
A copy is being submitted for review to avoid repetition.
(Congressional Hearings - Misc. Fish and Wildlife Leg., -
1961. Hearings before the Subcommittee on Fisheries and
Wildlife Conservation of the Committee on Merchant Marine
and Fisheries, House of Rep., 87th Congress, first session
on Law Enforcement Activities. H. R. 1182 - to create the
Wyandotte National Wildlife Refuge.)
Briefly, this testimony points out that local,
state, and federal agencies have been lax in the enforce-
ment of existing pollution abatement acts.
The establishment of the Wyandotte National Wild-
life Refuge last year by an act of Congress emphasizes
-------
375
the -interest that federal wildlife people have In saving the
Detroit River habitat for wildlife. The national importance
of these waters in protecting our waterfowl resources is also
demonstrated by the movements of ducks frequenting these
waters. Waterfowl banded at the mouth of the river in
connection with recent studies by the Department of Con-
servation have been recovered in twenty-nine different states
and six provinces of Canada, (Posplchal, Leo - 1956, Water-
fowl Surveys and Investigations on Great Lakes Marshes.
Final Report Project No, 45-R - Federal Aid In Wildlife
Restoration Act.)
This habitat Is of special importance because it
is one of the main resting and feeding areas for canvasbacks
migrating from their nesting grounds in Manitoba to the
east coast with many remaining here for the winter. It is
a vital link in the chain of selected areas used as hered-
itary stopping points. The canvasback is a species in such
short supply as to warrant its being placed on the protected
list during the last two hunting seasons.
Surveys to Identify the Problem
A number of surveys and studies have been carried
on In regard to mortality of waterfowl In this part of the
state. From the evidence obtained there can be no doubt
as to the seriousness of the losses due directly of in-
directly to pollution of various kinds. These studies
-------
376
started in 1941, were discontinued during the war years,
and resumed again after the war. Studies of the types of
Industrial waste that affect waterfowl are of particular
significance to this group.
In order toobtain information, trapping and banding
involving some 30,OOO ducks was carried out during the winter
months from 19^9 through 1952. Examinations were made of
all these birds to determine weights, species, sex, and
age. Periodic aerial censuses of the area have enabled
us to secure data concerning migration periods, numbers of
waterfowl present In given area, species composition, ice
conditions, and extent of mortality.
A map of aquatic food plants was prepared for the
lower third of the river and a portion of Lake Erie. The
food beds were rated to indicate their value for ducks.
Many hundreds of dead waterfowl, picked up in the study
area, were autopsled to determine the causes of death.
Bacteriological examinations, chemical analyses for toxic
substances, and other techniques supplemented the normal
type of post-mortem examination. The affects of certain
industrial wastes on waterfowl were evaluated by experi-
ment s.
In summary, data was gathered from examinations
of live-trapped ducks, autopsies of dead birds, and results
of experiments.
-------
377
Records of local weather conditions were kept
throughout each winter trapping season. (Hunt and Ewlng,
1953* reviewed these findings.) (Hunt, George S. and Ewing,
Howard E. - 1953. Industrial Pollution and Michigan Water-
fowl. Trans. N. A. Wildlife Conference 18:366-368.)
Mortalities and other Damaging Effects
From these studies and others that followed we
learned there are two basic types of mortality, both en-
countered most frequently in winter. Most spectacular is
the mass die-off, occurring for short periods of time and
attracting a great deal of public attention. Less obvious
are the deaths talcing place at a low daily rate but which
probably represent a fairly high seasonal total. The mass
die-offs usually involve birds of normal weights while
birds in the latter group usually are subnormal. Identi-
fying "cause" or "effect" of the various factors that may
be involved is difficult and frequently requires a rather
thorough check.
In some cases more than one type of pollution was
identified as the cause of death but, in general, oil flows
were involved.
The more spectacular losses since 19^8 follow:
1. February 1948 - minimum estimated loss 10,000;
1,200 birds recovered for ex-
amination. (Miller, H. J. -
Waterfowl Survey on Saginaw
Bay, Lake St. Clair, Detroit
River, and Lake Erie. Final
-------
378
Report Project No. 13-R -
Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act. Also, Game
Division Report No. 642.
2. October 30, 1948 - estimated loss 1,000; 52
dead ducks recovered.
(Miller, H. J. - 1948
Game Division, Michigan
Department of Conservation,
Report No. 1007
3. March 1949
4. March 1950
5. Feb.-March 1951
6. Oct.-Nov. 1952
- 76 dead ducks recovered.*
- 871 dead ducks recovered.*
- 250 dead ducks recovered.*
- 200 dead ducks recovered.*
7. March to May 1952 - estimated loss 800; 180
dead ducks recovered.
8. 1953
9. 1954
10. February 1955
11. February 1956
12. March I960
- 226 dead ducks recovered;
119 lost to oil during live-
trapping operations.
- 171 dead ducks recovered; 67
lost to oil during llve-
trapping operations.
- estimated loss 2,600; 956
dead ducks recovered.
- 191 dead ducks recovered.*
- estimated loss 12,000; 1,056
dead ducks recovered.
(Foote, James E. - 1960
Game Division Memorandum
No. 254, Pointe Mouillee
State Game Area)
*reliable estimates of total losses lacking
For clarification the pollutants are discussed
separately under the following headings.
-------
379
Oil
Regardless of associated complications, oil flows
constitute a serious factor, whether the effect is direct
or indirect. Considerable literature exists attesting to
the incapacitating and fatal effects of oil on water birds
and on animals. A brief review of these effects will suf-
fice, (l) Oil mats feathers or fur permitting exposure of
cold water to reach the slcin; (2) starvation may result due
to reduced mobility, either swimming or flying; (3) actual
drowning may occur; and (4) sickness may result due to in-
gestion of oil.
^
In addition to petroleum oils are the greases, fats
and various oily compounds from domestic sewage.
Diving ducks, such as canvasback, redhead, and
scaup, abundant here, are particularly vulnerable to oil
as these species feed almost exclusively in aquatic areas,
and if they cannot go onto the water, will starve or die of
exposure during inclement weather.
A study of pollution of the Detroit River, made
during 1946-1948 by the International Joint Commission, dis-
closed that an average of 16,280 gallons of oil entered the
river daily. (International Joint Commission - 1931*
Report of the International Joint Commission, U. S. and
Canada, on pollution of boundary waters. Wash, and Ottawa.)
While the volume of oil on the river has been re-
-------
380
duoed greatly since that date, oil continues to be a problem,,
The amount of oil required to impair a duck varies greatly
with weather conditions, but studies of oil removed from
ducks killed by oil flows show that small amounts can be
fatal. Waterfowl exposed to oil have been examined after
death and it was found that only one gram of petroleum oil
could be extracted from the feathers. (Hunt, George s. -
1961. Waterfowl Losses on the Detroit River, Due to Oil
Pollution. Publication No. 7, Great Lakes Research Division^
Institute of Science and Technology, University of Michigan)
During periods of mild weather many ducks exposed
to oil survive, as evidenced by the examination of ducks
bagged by hunters at Polnte Mouillee State Gaaie Area. Ex-
amination of 1,629 ducks of all species from October 30
through November 13, 1952, showed 21 per cent had oil on
their feathers.
The frequency of occurrence of oil slicks at the
mouth of the river during winter and spring periods from
1950 through 1955 was recorded. Oil slicks were noted
about one-third of the time. The record follows.
-------
Winter Periods
Number of days
Per cent of days
Period of observation
12-18-50
12-17-51
12-15-52
12-28-53
1-3-55
6-25-5^
6-15-55
thru 5-1-51
" 4-30-52
11 4-27-53
" 4-30-54
11 3-3-55
thru 8-9-54
11 8-25-55
Number of days oil noted
115
108
91
82
52
Summer Periods
21
6
19
20
36
45
28
12
3
oil noted
17
19
40
55
54
57
50
(Hunt, George S. - 1961. Waterfowl Losses on the Detroit River, Due to Oil Pollution.
Publication No. 7, Great Lakes Research Division, Institute
of Science and Technology, University of Michigan.
CD
-------
382
During the 20-month period from August, I960, to
March, 1962, Water Resources Commission personnel made 197
trips on the river to record observations. On these 197
trips the quantities of effluent seen warranted 69 not ifi-
oatlons to industry and 43 to municipalities that pollutants
were being discharged into the river. Oil occurred in the
major portion of the recorded cases. In other words, in
20 months 112 notifications were issued.
Botulism
The first serious losses due to botulism east of the
Mississippi River were observed beginning September 10,
1941, in the marshes at the mouth of the Raisin River in
Monroe County. Losses were confined to the vicinity of the
Raisin River with its heavy load of paper mill wastes.
Later in the fall the outbreak spread to the marshes of
Maumee Bay near the Ohio state line. Losses were estimated
at 10,000 waterfowl. Pollution due to decomposing organic
matter dumped into the Raisin River was the principal factor
in developing the necessary environment for the growth of
the micro-organism (Clostrldium botullnum type C).
There was a re-occurrence of botulism in 1942 in
late August but the losses were small by comparison. Some
domestic fowl were involved. Control was obtained by estab-
lishment of a standard for the Raisin River, set as 5 ppm. of
dissolved oxygen to control the anaerobic organism responsible
-------
383
for the poisoning. This was accomplished by the Water
Resources Commission restricting the discharge of waste
or plant effluents entering the river and prohibiting the
deposition of settieable waste or sewage solids. (Miller,
H. J. -1943. Waterfowl Survey on Saglnaw Bay, Lake St.
Clalr, Detroit River, and Lake Erie. Final Report Project
No. 13-R - Federal Aid In Wildlife Restoration Act. Also,
Game Division Report No. 642.)
Luckily, we have not experienced botulism losses
since the early 1940's.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus poisoning occurred during the heavy oil
losses of 19^8. It was specifically identified as it
affected, largely, ducks of the type commonly referred to
as dabblers, such as black ducks and mallards, which were
attracted to a site having a deposit of free phosphorus be-
cause grain was placed in the river in an effort to save
the "diving"ducks that were immobilized by oil. These
birds were concentrated in the ice-free areas and the ad-
jacent river banks below the Trenton plant of the Detroit
Edison Company. Combined efforts of the Water Resources
Commission, the Conservation Department, and the offender
quickly eliminated the source of trouble. (Oeming, L. F. -
I960. Reports on file, Water Resources Commission.)
Fatty Acids, Solvents, and Detergents
-------
384
The losses In I960 were attributed to the wastes
from domestic sewage bypassed into the Rouge and Ecorse
rivers, combined with oil losses from Industries. This
was an abnormal loss during construction work carried out
by Wayne County. More detail is available in reports in the
Water Resources Commission^ file. (Oemlng, L. F. - I960.
Reports on file, Water Resources Commission.)
There is not enough known as to the effects sol-
vents and detergents may have in the losses discussed here,
but the potential for damage exists and must be recognized.
We know that small amounts of detergents can waterlog a duck,.
t
Small amounts of detergents also are Injurious to food
plants. As little as 2.5 ppm. of sodium alkyl aryl sulfron-
ate, the active ingredient in detergent, prevents growth
of Potamogetons, a favored type of food plant. In this
connection, it is Important to remember that many industrial
effluents may have a disastrous effect on the water plants
and minute animals that support wildlife population. The
Indirect effects of pollution on wildlife may thus be very
serious even when no direct losses occur.
Iron-oxide and Turbidity
Discolored and turbid water inhibits or eliminates
the growth of submerged aquatics that serve directly as
food for wildlife and also support various forms of Invert
tebrates which provide animal foods.
-------
385
The red waters of the Trenton Channel and the
milky waters of numerous other sources need attention.
A comparison of the number of wild celery
(Vallisneria americana) tubers in the lower reaches of the
Detroit River shows a 96 per cent decrease in food plants
since the establishment of steel plants on the Trenton
Channel.
Samples taken in 195^* before the plants were in
operation, are compared to samples taken on the same portions
of the river in 1958, after the mills were in operation.
The finding follows:
Tubers per sq. yd.
Transect Number of samples 1951* 1958
A
B
C
D
£
F
(Miller, H. J. - 1958. Waterfowl Foods, Trenton Channel,
Lower Detroit River. Game Division Report No. 2186.)
Water Resources Commission's orders recently
forced installation of corrective measures and the iron-
oxide problem may be partially solved, but only time will
tell. It is our understanding that over 100 tons per day,
3
6
3
6
3
2
23
279
312
75
0
54
161
881
10
10
5
0
8
_§.
38
GPO 820819—B-15
-------
386
previously dumped In the river, are now being recovered.
Thus, the problem has been partly corrected and a great deal
of raw material has been saved.
Problems Defined
The Detroit River has claimed a heavy toll of win-
tering ducks over the past two decades. The canvasbaok and
scaup constitute the greatest portion of the annual loss
while redheads, black ducks, and mallards are involved to a
much lesser extent. The reduction of oanvasback and redhead
population is especially significant in view of the current
low numbers of these species. The factors responsible for
losses of these waterfowl and the destructive effects of
pollution on waterfowl habitat are complex. With the growth
of new industry and the increase in population these prob-
lems will become more complicated in the future. If we are
to retain our wildlife resources in this area for future
generations we must make waste control more effective.
Discharge of effluents has occurred over a wide range of
attendant circumstances, from wanton disregard of law to
pure accident.
To cope with the situation we firmly believe that
the monitoring system set up in August, I960, by the Water
Resources Commission is the proper approach. The monitoring
procedure, adequately employed, provides for early detection
and also provides for identifying the source of pollution
-------
38?
when losses ocour. Backed by adequate enforcement the
present system of vigilant patrol and frequent checks of
individual discharge outlets could cope with the enforce-
ment phase.
Also necessary for future controls is additional
research. A major problem is the absence of qualitative
studies as to (l) toxioity levels of birds and mammals,
(2) toxicity levels of aquatic plants and invertebrates,
and (3) normal histology of such species of wildlife as
waterfowl.
We need to be able to identify the effects of pol-
lution, Industrial and domestic, on aquatic plants and
invertebrates. We also need to study the effects of thermal
changes in these waters.
In retrospect, we started with good quality water
and habitat productive of wildlife which, in turn, provide
for recreational opportunities in the form of hunting and
fishing, and 'hatching."
In looking to the future we have two clear-cut and
opposite choices: (l) permit the Detroit River to degener-
ate to a situation like that which exists on the Rouge—
known to many as a "fermenting, oil-covered, open cesspool";
(2) employ technical skills to meet the pollution problems
and adequately enforce abatement regulations to provide
for the multiple uses of these waters.
-------
388
The Detroit River-Lake Erie waters now serve as
a vast area of natural wildlife habitat and as a vast
area for public recreation. The quality of this water is
extremely important, both for people and for the various
forms of fish and wildlife which are dependent upon it.
Action is needed to resolve conflicts for the uses of these
waters. Certainly, these wildlife values and recreational
values should be recognized as a major public benefit which
must be preserved for the future.
Mr. Chairman, I also have a little supplemental
statement with regard to the fish.
THE CHAIRMAN: Do you want to answer questions on
these first?
DR. HEUSTIS: May he present the supplemental state-
ment first and then have the questions on the whoteworks
at once?
THE CHAIRMAN: Certainly.
MR. MILLER: The supplemental statement has been
filed with you, Mr. Reporter.
Fishing quality in Michigan Waters of the Detroit
River and Lake Erie.
A supplemental report pertaining to fishing quality
in Michigan waters of the Detroit River and Lake Erie is
presented as a part of the Michigan Conservation Department's
statement. It is being presented for the Fish Division of
-------
389
the Department, to reduce the number of representatives
and to save time.
Data on kinds of fish taken by anglers and on
quality of fishing in Michigan waters of the Detroit River
and Lake Erie for the years 1928-1960 are on file in the
Institute for Fisheries Research of the Michigan Department
of Conservation, and are summarized in two attached tables.
These angling records are obtained by Conservation Officers
and constitute what is known as the General Creel Census.
The data are believed to be adequate to detect long-time
trends in angling quality and long-time changes in species
composition of the catch, but are not adequate for more de-
tailed analysis.
The principal species of fish recorded by the gen-
eral creel census on the Detroit River are: yellow perch,
rook bass, white bass, walleye, sheepshead, smallraouth bass
and northern pike. As to long-time trends, the records
show a decline in the catch of walleyes during recent years-
for 1939-19^6 the officers obtained records on 7^1 anglers
who had 677 walleyes; for 1953-1960 the records are for
2,621 anglers who had 510 walleyes. For the other principal
sport species In the Detroit River, the records do not show
any large change in anglers' catch over the past 20 years;
there are relatively few records for the first 10 years of
the census (1928-1938).
-------
390
Over the past 30 years, creel census records do
not show any great change In catch per hour (angling qual-
ity) by sport fishermen on the Detroit River. During 1928-
1960 officers contacted 3,637 anglers who had fished 11,479
hours and had caught 12,290 fish—a catch per hour of 1.07
fish. Catch per hour during the last ten years of the period
was somewhat higher than during earlier years; but the greater
number of fish caught during the past 10 years was coinci-
dent with a decline In catch of the walleye (a large and
preferred species).
A netting survey of the fish fauna around Sugar
and Stony islands in the Detroit River was made by the
Institute for Fisheries Research during September of 1952
(results summarized in Institute for Fisheries Research
Report No. 1350.) In 1952 the river in the vicinity of
these islands had a rich fauna of native species including
food and game species, forage species, anl predatory species.
Records from the general creel census for the Detroit River
do not show any striking changes in anglers' catch since
1952.
For Michigan waters of Lake Erie the general creel
census records show that the yellow perch makes up a major
portion (about 70#) of the anglers1 catch. Other important
species include: rook bass, bullheads, white bass, walleye
and northern pike. Since 1954 the recorded catch has been
mostly perch, suggesting a decline in other important species.
-------
391
There has not been a marked drop in oat oh per hour in Lake
Erie, but apparently there has been some decline in quality
of species composition.
Fishing quality in the Detroit River and Lake Erie
compares favorably with angling quality in inland non-trout
waters of Michigan, and favorablywith angling quality in
other connecting waters of the Great Lakes. In spite of
a decline in the walleye population, the sport fishery of
the Detroit River and Lake Erie is a valuable recreational
resource and should be preserved by protection from pol-
lution.
I have some tables attached to my statement con-
taining the general creel census records for the Michigan
waters of Lake Erie and the Michigan waters of the Detroit
River for the years 1928 to I960, which I would like to
have made a part of the record.
(The Tables referred to are as follows;)
-------
number
Tear of
anglers
1928 ...*
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
Total
...*
———^—
Total
hours
279
18
Fish
305
14
Catch Small- Large- Blue_
per mouth mouth .^
hour bass bass
1.09 10
0.78 ...
kin- ^OCK Grapples Perch
. bass
seed
4 42
2
No records
31
30
98
44
114
129
530
182
117
22
335
40
1.03
0*17
0.63 ... 35
0. 22 3 ... • • •
...
... ...
34
...
244
• • * • • •
113
... 96
5
Walleye
— -
...
1
2
" * • •
...
No records
No records
No records
No records
75
204
72
113
53
118
60
46
13
32
340
670
257
362
298
559
269
836
34
82
95
234
159
195
115
386
402
in
87
34
0.28 ...
0. 35 1 . . « • • •
0.62 7 1
0.54 3 ... 7
0. 39 ... • • • ...
0.69 ...
1.49 21
0.47
2.56
0.41
25
42
2 40
3 57
13
78
4
... ...
... ...
... ...
... 2
12 38
59
1 8
17
* t • • • t
AA
... 28
28
110
44
48
83
227
M * £±
148
•
...
...
No records
No records
27
79
991
12.54
No records
45
231
580
233
271
189
540
1.750
936
763
200
1.238
855
1.415
464
1 , 06 3 ... ...
2.29 1 1
0.49 37 ... ...
1.51
0. 61 5 ... ...
No records
658
603
3.637
1.294
1.569
11.479
1.417
3,059
12.290
1.10 82 ... •••
1. 95 53 ... ...
1.07 216 37 17
...
35
251
2 272
161
183
91
8 684
19 2, 014
AA«
... 991
35
63
9 131
319
1 131
1 805
12 1. 847
36 4,986
...
50
35
124
47
87
84
83
1,291
* Number of anglers not recorded in 1928 and 1929
-------
General creel census records for Michigan waters of the Detroit River, 1928-1980 (continued)
North- _ „ rhonnt>. Fresh-
YCar pike *c*«8 ««* CarP SUCkCrB SmCU Wd^
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
Total
O ••• ••* * * •
. • . » » • » . • •••
No records
... ... ... ...
, _ , ... ...
• . • 18 ... 2
1 ... 6 13
No records
No records
No records
No records
* * • ••• • . » •••
1 3 1 *•• • • •
* •»• •*• •••
*•• ••• ••* •••
• •* ••• • • • •*
17 ••• •** •••
2 ••• ••• •*•
•*• » • • •*• *•*
32 ••• • • • • * •
o ••• ••• •••
No records
No records
... ... ... ...
No records
8 ... ... ...
15 ... 2 ...
15 2 1 ...
7 * • • • • • •••
• * • ••* - • « •••
No records
11 ... ^ ...
O ... ... U
140 28 13 22
1
• • • • • *
2
6
1
• » • * • *
• • • • » •
12
4
• * • • • •
• • • • * •
» • • • • »
... ...
• • t • • •
• * * • « •
• * • • • •
* • • • • •
• ••» • • •
• • * • • •
2
1 1
... ...
30
87
20 118
» • • .
12
1
6
145
5
8
3
• • •
7
1
• * *
• • •
• • *
• • •
• • *
...
• • •
25
78
5
12
252
87
647
Bur- White Chub g Red- Mu8kenunge
bot bass norse
••* ••• ••• ••• •••
• • • * • • •«•• •. ••• **«
• •• • • t *•• ••• •*«
• * * •*• ••• ••• •••
4 ••• ••• *•• *••
* • * o 1 ••* •••
* • • 27 * • • * *
• , • 1 •«• * •••
.'.. ... ... ... »••
46 ... 18 1
2 ... 13 2
• • • 4D • . • * » • .
... 204 ... 23
91 ^
__, •»• . * w .*•
* • • ••« •*. ••• •*•
...
• • * •«• ... ... *.»
. , . 69 *•* ... •••
845
180 ... 2
874 ...
• * . ^Tl » » . * ...
• • * 0« *•• ... t » •
« • • lOw ... ... •••
4 2,593 1 74 4
...
• • .
• . *
...
...
...
* • •
...
...
• • *
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
. * •
. * •
1
-------
Year
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
Number ^^
OS
, hours
anglers
i
* 2, 301
... * 2, 605
595
638
419
288
74
72
6
89
2,086
1.947
1,123
945
184
284
16
244
Catch
Fish per
hour
2,168 0.94
2,753 1.06
1,529 0.73
2,552 1.31
1,368 1.22
1,338 1.42
446 2.42
830 2.92
19 1.19
131 0.54
Rock Yellow Wall- Northern
bass perch eye pike
312
287
421
181
43
66
12
10
• • •
. . .
1,499
2,186
761
1,179
790
380
185
238
5
95
3
134
42
111
24
444
• 4 •
444
4
44*
24
5
3
75
2
4*4
• 4 4
1
44*
4*4
Bull- Channel
heads catfish
162
70
237
931
418
623
224
330
444
12
4
7
. . .
16
15
444
• • 4
444
444
White Fresh"
Carp bass *^
6
8
1
31
29
192
5
213
• 4 4
24
13
36
444
7
444
4*4
444
444
444
444
41
• • 4
15
2
4 4 *
3
13
15
9
444
No records
200
112
136
812
544
754
661
441
669
91
358
37
68
1.06S
No
1*9
326
437
55
No
924
378
475
2,928
2,250
2,939
2,135
1,581
1,861
290
848
98
185
5,034
records
292
701
1,053
103
records
364 949
57
274
639 0.69
152 0.40
572 1.20
4,691 1,60
3,938 1.75
4,843 1.65
2,700 1.26
1,904 1.20
2,719 1.46
512 1.77
908 1.07
160 1.63
924 4.99
3.484 1.69
1,622 5.55
991 1.41
885 0.84
82 0.80
3,415 3.60
1,329 4.85
48
18
34
147
116
258
17
191
444
10
19
444
444
1,809
4 • •
444
• • 4
444
444
2
253
115
435
4,161
3,325
2,792
2,470
973
2,288
485
832
158
924
4,762
1,622
942
885
77
3.362
1.287
12
4
33
32
145
103
4
31
4*4
5
4*4
444
444
636
• 4 4
11
• 4 •
• • 4
• * 4
4*4
2
12
1
8
5
241
134
81
431
3
52
1
• * *
88
• * *
• 4 4
* 4 *
2
4 • •
4 • •
56
3
7
28
72
298
25
1
. . .
444
444
4 4 *
444
44*
. . •
. ..
444
10
444
7
16
45
40
444
444
• * 4
444
• 4 4
* * 4
4 • *
• • *
• 4 •
17
444
• 4 •
9
40
2
444
15
1
40
444
4*4
4 * •
1
4*4
444
* 4 4
44*
...
• 4 •
• 4 •
444
2
4*4
* 4 4
2
444
30
244
146
669
23
620
4 • •
4*4
444
4 * *
4*4
544
4 • •
• * *
4 4 4
1
444
• • *
22
4 4 4
44*
47
43
238
6
* * *
• 4 •
* 4 4
• • •
• • •
* * •
443
• • •
21
• • •
44
4 4 4
Total 9,488 37.033 54,604 1.47 4,001 39,464 1.334
* Number of anglers not recorded in 1928 and 1929.
1,171 3,497
226
570 2,335 962
-------
General creel census records for Michigan waters of Lake Erie, 1928-1960 (continued)
Small- Large-
Year mouth mouth
bass bass
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
Total
11 2
2
15 1
1
5 1
12
« • « • . •
... ...
... ...
... ...
No records
1 32
... ...
2
1
2
• • * • • *
* • * * • •
• • • •
• » • • • •
* • • * • *
• • • e • .
• * * • • •
122 3
No records
... ...
... ...
... ...
... ...
No records
* » • • * •
• * • • * •
174 39
Blue- Pumpkin-
gill seed
• * •
3
...
• • .
...
13
...
...
...
...
101
• • •
• * •
1
...
7
15
• • •
• • *
• • *
• • •
e e •
e • *
1
...
• • *
. . .
...
. . .
• * «
141
87
17
24
31
40
30
7
7
1
. . .
9
...
...
...
...
194
5
• • »
...
9
...
* • •
• • *
36
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. ..i
...
477
Grapples Dogfish Shad Sucker Redhorse
... 1 ... 23 ... •
... ... 3 2 ...
... ... ... * *
. . . ... •*. « •<*
... ... ... ... ...
... ... . . . 4 ...
... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... v ...
... ... ... ••• •••
... ... ... ... ...
87 • ••• ••• ...
... ... ... ... ...
10
1 ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... .. .
X • * • * * • **• •**
1 •»• ••* ••• •••
7
... ... .«• * *..
... ... ... ... •••
d •** • . • *•• • • »
1
... ... ... ••• ...
40
... ...
. . . ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ...
• • * • • * • • • » • • • • •
• • • * • • » » » ••• •••
...
153 3 3 40 1
Goldfish Sauger
• * • • • *
• • • * • •
• • • » • •
• • • . • •
• • » • * •
• • * • • •
• * • • * •
10
• 4 • • * •
• • • • * •
• » . • » •
• • * • • •
» * • • • »
3
• * • • • •
» • * • • •
... ...
* • » • • *
• • • t * •
... ...
• • • • • *
• * * * • *
• * • • • •
• • • • * •
* • * • • •
e » • t • •
... ...
• • . • • •
* . . • • •
* * • • . •
1O 3
-------
392
THE CHAIRMAN: Are there any comments or questions'^
I have just one for the purposes of clarification, Mr.
Miller. On Page 6 of your original report in your first
paragraph you state, "During the 20-month period from
August, I960, to March, 1962, Water Resources Commission
personnel made 197 trips on the river to record observations;.
On these 197 trips the quantities of effluent seen warranted,
69 notifications to Industry and 43 to municipalities that
pollutant were being discharged into the river. Oil
occurred in the major portion of the recorded cases. In
other words, in 2O months 112 notifications were issued,"
Were you here this morning, Mr. Miller?
MR. MILLER: Yes.
THE CHAIRMAN: This morning Mr. Oeming indicated
a rating system for the industrial wastes, and Mr. Pierce
indicated one for municipal wastes, and both of them seem
to indicate that they were almost all operating in a satis-
factory manner. I don't think I understand this situation.
If they were all being operated in a satisfactory manner
how did you find 112 violations?
MR. MILLER: This is a report from the Commission
and maybe there is a difference here in identification of
notification. It was not a legal summons or a formal re-
quest by the Commission as a body, but a statement by the
field man who was making the check. Does that clarify the
-------
393
question?
THE CHAIRMAN: It explains it. I don't know that
it clarifies it. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: There is pollution occurring, and
oil Is occurring on the river.
DR. HEUSTIS: I next have a statement to enter
into the record. It is a statement by Mr. Keith Wilson
of the Waterways Commission of the State of Michigan. Mr.
Wilson's statement will be entered into the record at this
point and will be given to the secretary.
(The statement referred to is as follows:)
STATEMENT OP THE MICHIGAN STATE WATERWAYS COM-
MISSION AT THE DETROIT RIVER-LAKE ERIE CONFER-
ENCE, CALLED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,
EDUCATION AND WELFARE, TO ASSIST THE STATE IE
IDENTIFYING, AND RECOMMENDING METHODS FOR
CORRECTING POLLUTION OF THE DETROIT RIVER AND
LAKE ERIE
The Michigan State Waterways Commission is the
agency designated by the Legislature and the Governor to
represent the State of Michigan on matters pertaining to
navigation. Our primary role is to construct refuge harbors
and docking facilities for recreational watercraft, but we
do participate extensively with the Federal Government and
units of local government in the completion of commercial
-------
394
facilities. In this role, we are on occasions requested to
participate in conferences and studies relating to watercraft
pollution and have gained some knowledge of the general prob-
lems in this regard present in the State of Michigan.
As of December 31, 1961, a total of 428,947 water-
craft were registered in the State of Michigan. In addition
to this number, this agency estimates that there are approx-
imately 100,000 craft not registered or not covered by the
registration provisions, making our total recreational boating
population approximately 530,000 at the present time. There
are a large number of wateroraft brought into this State each
summer by residents of other states and countries, and esti-
mates of the number of craft Involved from this source vary frtpm
100,000 to 400,000, although it is generally agreed that the
vast majority of these craft consist principally of outboards
towed on trailers.
We do not have accurate statistics on the type of
equipment carried aboard recreational craft so that it is im-
possible to determine accurately the number equipped with
marine toilets. However, of the more than 500,000 boats lo-
cated In the State of Michigan, it is our belief that less
thaft 50,OOO of them would contain marine toilets. It is
assumed that no more than 20,000 of the craft from other
States in use on our waters would be similarly equipped.
Since all of these boats are scattered throughout the State
-------
395
along our 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline or on one of
our more than 10,000 inland lakes, we do not believe that
any single concentration of craft exists sufficient to be a
major cause of pollution.
Because watercraft are not generally In daily use
and because it is usually more convenient to use shore side
restroom facilities than those provided on boats, we feel
that there is a good deal less pollution by recreational
watercraft than bare statistics would indicate. However, It
continues to be the policy of this agency to cooperate fully
with any governmental unit concerned with pollution and /or pub-
lic health as a result of watercraft activity. We have par-
ticipated with the Michigan Department of Health and the
Water Resources Commission in a study of treatment devices
commercially available which could be used on recreational
craft to relieve whatever pollution exists from this source,
no matter how slight. Unfortunately, there are at present no
known commercially available treatment devices for recreation-
al craft which meet current health standards. When such
devices are reasonably available and adaptable to such use,
and when the need for them is established, this agency has
agreed to assist the Water Resources Commission and the
Health Department of the State of Michigan in securing the
necessary legislation to require their use on the waters of
this state.
-------
396
Our experience in complaints relating to pollution
of water by recreational craft indicates that, by and large,
the majority of complaints received involve items which have
been thrown overboard rather than discharged through a
marine toilet. It is a common practice today on the part of
commercial ship crews to dispose of garbage and wastes by the,
simple method of throwing them overboard and much of this
garbage and debris is of a nature that permits it to float
to the nearest shore where it remains an eyesore or a health
factor until removed. It is this type of activity which we
believe is reasonably capable of regulation and which should
be investigated as a part of this study.
In all of our public docks, trash receptacles are
always available and they are emptied regularly to provide
a reasonable method of disposing of such materials. Our
investigations indicate that recreational boatmen are gen-
erally reluctant to dispose of materials of this nature over-
board and that they will wait until after docking in order to
place the wastes in the receptacles provided for this pur-
pose. This isn't usually much of an inconvenience since very
few such craft are equipped to cruise for more than one or two
>'
days before having to dock for gasoline and supplies. How-
ever, freighters and other commercial craft do not make port
so often and the temptation to dispose of their wastes over-
board is great when considering the storage problem presented
by retaining them on board. The only answer that we can see
-------
397
to the problem is the establishment of enforceable and en-
forced regulations requiring suitable equipment to be carried
on board to provide for the burning or disposing of such
waste materials, and we urge the U. S. Department of Health,
Education and Welfare to give careful consideration to such
a requirement.
I wish to thank you for this opportunity to present
this statement and assure you of our complete cooperation
in your further studies and investigations of this most ser-
ious problem.
/$/ Keith Wilson
Director
DR. HEUSTIS: I would next call upon Mr. Glenn C.
Richards, of the Department of Public Works for the City of
Detroit. Do you have a prepared statement?
STATEMENT OF GLENN C. RICHARDS, COMMISSIONER,
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, ROOM 513
CITY-COUNTY BUILDING, DETROIT 26, MICHIGAN
MR. RICHARDS: Yes, I have0
DR. HEUSTIS: Do you care to supplement it or
would you like to read it?
MR. RICHARDS: No, I have copies here for the
people, and I think they can all read it as well as I can.
Engineers and health officials of Detroit and the
surrounding communities have been well aware for many years
GPO 820819-B-16
-------
398
of the importance of a good sanitary and storm water sewer
system to protect the environment and health of our commuv
nity. Comprehensive studies in the past have indicated — and
we are still convinced of the fact — that a well designed
combined system can adequately handle both storm water and
sanitary sewage more efficiently and with adequate protection-
to health.
Based on these studies, the sewer system and dis-
posal system for the City of Detroit and many of the sur-
rounding communities has been designed and constructed as the
area has Increased in population. The sewage treatment plant
and the interceptors were built to the highest standards at
the time of their construction and are well ahead of similar
facilities in other metropolitan areas. These facilities
have been progressively improved throughout the years.
The most serious nuisance to health in the City of
Detroit, in the opinion of qualified sanitary engineers and
health authorities, is the flooding of basements (both in
homes and in business places) during periods of heavy rain-
fall.
Prior to 19^7, basement flooding in the City of
Detroit was widespread over the entire area of 140 square
miles. From 19^3 to 19^5, studies were made which resulted
in a "Master Plan for Storm-Sanitary Relief Sewers." In
1947 appropriations were made to start construction of the
-------
399
Master Plan Program.
From 1947 to date, $99,000,000 has been spent, or
is encumbered by contract, on the Master Plan Program In
addition to the millions spent on improvements to treatment
facilities. There remains about $140,000,000 of construction
to complete the Master Plan and of this $50,000,000 has al-
ready been financed.
Design work on the $50,000,000 program is now pro-
ceeding as fast; as possible and it is expected that all of
the construction will be under contract within four years.
The construction of the major relief outlets of the
Master Plan will about double the capacity of the Detroit sewer
system. The design of all the outlets of the Master Plan
has incorporated the feature of "storm-water storage." The
full benefit of this function of the Detroit Relief System
will not be fully realized until the system is completed
in 1970. However, improvement in operation has accrued with
the completion of each new outlet facility.
Two papers, published by Clyde L. Palmer, City
Engineer of the City of Detroit, are attached hereto which
set forth in some detail the technical basis for the design
of storrawater outlets incorporating the feature of "storm-
water storage."
Investigation and studies on the problem of handling
stormwater in large combined systems are being continued.
-------
400
One Detroit sewer system has been so equipped that very
pertinent data will now become available as storm expe-
riences occur. Studies of this nature are a continuing as-
signment of the City Engineer's office staff.
In designing and constructing the major interceptor
system, full consideration has been given to the engineering
feasibility of providing capacity for the many communities
adjacent to the City of Detroit. Contracts have been entered
into for providing this added capacity on a revenue producing
basis so that the areas making use of the services offered
by the City of Detroit have had the advantages of the city's
planning without undue burden, which would have been impos-
sible for the newer areas to carry during this growth per-
iod. Contracts with both Wayne and Oakland Counties have
made it possible for these counties to plan their sewage
programs without the difficult problem of providing com-
plete sewage treatment facilities of their own. It is quite
probable that the entire metropolitan area will be planned
so as to make full future use of the Detroit treatment fa-
cilities at strategic locations on the Detroit River.
In conclusion, I am sure that a good look at the
record will convince the health authorities that Detroit
and the neighboring communities are well aware of their
responsibilities in providing the best means possible of
disposing of both sanitary sewage and storm water and that
-------
401
by joint action a good job of preventing pollution
in the receiving waters will be accomplished.
The City of Detroit, the adjacent counties, and our
neighboring communities, in my opinion, are in agreement
that we are in a good position to continue the good work
which has been done and are perfectly capable of making the
necessary studies to determine the necessary quality of
water for the Detroit River and the contributing streams in
this metropolitan area on the basis of high health standards
and, therefore, request that the study proposed by local
authorities go forward as planned and that the Public Health
Service continue to cooperate with local authorities in
carrying out the proposed study.
I do want you gentlemen to know that we recognize
in a metropolitan area such as this we have many metropol-
itan problems. One of them, of course, is sanitation,
and another is water. We are solving it in this metropol-
itan area by working together with our neighbors and .our
State officials. There has been a close relationship in
the 21 years that I have been Commissioner of Public Works
in the City of Detroit, I have worked on many commissions,
working on this problem, and there has been the closest
cooperation on it between the county and city and State
agencies. We are very proud of our record here and I am
sure what will be said and what has been said here will point
-------
402
up the fact that we are making great progress.
There is still some pollution we get, but we are
on the job and are spending millions of dollars and have
plans for the future, and are going to do the job for
Detroit, and do it with the state water and health and re-
source division. We have plenty of help and have attorneys
to enforce the law. There is no question in my mind we
have to do this job and we will do it. We ask that this
Committee allow us to go ahead with the research and plan-
ning division of your Department to carry on the project
which we have received a grant for, in cooperation with
the rest of the area with the six county supervisors. We
will do the job and we hope you will let us go ahead and do
it.
DR. HEUSTIS: Would it be agreeable to withhold
questions about Detroit at this time?
THE CHAIRMAN: I wonder. We may lose some of this
if we do not comment on it at this point. May I make a
brief comment on this now?
For one thing I don't think there is any doubt
that our Department thinks that in Detroit your area is doing
a reasonable job. Otherwise we would not have considered
giving you a $100,000 grant, which was awarded.
MR. RICHARDS: We appreciate it.
THE CHAIRMAN: Again, I don't think that the work
-------
403
we are doing here Is intended In any way, in spirit, or in
law, or in any manner, not to be fully compatible with the
work you are doing. As far as your work is concerned, it
always becomes a problem to the other cities. For instance,
as to Chicago I hope we will refrain, or at least the Federal
people will have to refrain from comment because there is
a lawsuit there and we are a party to the lawsuit, and we
prefer not to comment in a proceeding like this on the Chicago
situation. However, in the Potomac River there is a situ-
ation which I would like to comment upon. I think it is
very interesting that this was brought up.
There have been conferences such as this under
the same Act, held in the Potomac River. Two conferences,
in fact, were held. There is work going on in the Potomac
River. They have a tremendous storm water overflow problem
in the Potomac too. We have a schedule established there
and by 1966 all parties agree and believe that the water in
the Potomac River, and In the vicinity of the Metropolitan
Washington area, from a bacterial point of view, will be of
swimming water quality. You will be able to swim right up
to above Roosevelt Island. Of course there is a problem of
silt, but that is another question. I am talking about from
a bacterial point of view.
The unsightly nuisances will be eliminated and
the water quality will be such that our aquatic biologists
-------
404
tell us it will permit the complete return of the game fish
indigenous to that area. This I think we agree shows what
a cooperative program can do. We are confidently looking
forward to that in the Potomac River.
I live right near the banks of that river and I
am sure that the people in this area are probably looking
forward to the same kind of thing here also. Dr. Heustis.
DR. HEUSTIS: Mr. Clyde Palmer of the City of
Detroit. Do you have a prepared statement?
STATEMENT OF CLYDE L. PALMER, CITY ENGINEER,
CITY OP DETROIT, MICHIGAN
MR. PALMER: Yes, I do.
DR. HEUSTIS: We would hope you might give one to
the reporter and will take as little time as you think would
be adequate to make your presentation.
MR. PAIMER:
STORM WATER OVERFLOWS FROM COMBINED SEWER SYSTEMS
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
BY CLYDE L. PALMER
CITY ENGINEER
Introduotion
The intent of this paper is to present the case in
favor of combined sewer systems, particularly to serve the
Detroit metropolitan area.
There can be little to quarrel with in any effort
-------
405
to protect the water resources of the country from all pol-
lution. It is true, however, that a strong case can be
put forward for the reasonable use of water resources to
produce a benefit to the greatest number of people, pro-
viding, however, that such use does not entirely ignore the
needs of minority and special interests groups.
It is the purpose of this paper to show that a
properly designed combined sewer system, operated under aver-
age conditions, would constitute a reasonable use of the
receiving waters of an area, and until there is a fully
substantiated proof that occasional use for the disposal of
storm overflows is causing damage in excess of the economic
benefits, no expenditure of public funds can be justified.
It must be admitted that a separate system may
be warranted in the case of a newly developing residential
area where storm waters can still be disposed of on the
land surface or in open channels. However, it must be
pointed out that even this decision is based more on the
fact that providing for the immediate need for sanitary
service is initially the least expensive than on the merits
of a separate system as compared to a combined system.
The case in favor of combined systems will be
presented in the following comments supported by data col-
lected at Detroit, Michigan, and pertaining to Detroit's
system, and would be most applicable to highly urbanized and
-------
406
complex metropolitan areas.
Physical Data on Detroit's Sewer System
The City of Detroit, encompassing 140 square miles
is roughly triangular in shape with one side of the triangle
on the Detroit River and another side on the Rouge River, and
is situated on a rather flat plain sloping from northwest to
southeast where it is bordered for about twelve miles by
the Detroit River.
The highest elevation in the city, along its north-
erly edge, is about 100 feet above the Detroit River level
and the land along the Detroit River is from five to ten
feet above the river level.
About three-fourths of the city is drained di-
rectly to the Detroit River and the balance to the Rouge
River.
The discharge of the Detroit River varies between
180,000 and 200,000 cubic feet per second and beside a
long-range cycle of levels of about four feet, there is a
seasonal variation of about two feet between the January low
and the July high. Short periods of variation of about the
same magnitude are occasionally caused by windstorms af-
fecting Lakes St. Glair and Erie.
The storm flow capacity of the Rouge River is
about 20,000 cubic feet per second, and the dry-weather
flows are about 50 cubic feet per second. A project is now
-------
407
being planned to enlarge the capacity of the Rouge to a
capacity of about 30*000 cubic feet per second.
The computed storm run-off, as a result of a ten-
year storm on the city, is about 50*000 cubic feet per sec-
ond, through 67 storm outlets, 15 on the Rouge River and 52
on the Detroit River.
The Detroit sewer system is composed of 2,200 miles
of lateral sewers ranging in size from 12 inches to four
feet inside diameter, and about 700 miles of public sewers
ranging in size from 4 feet to 16 feet inside diameter.
The entire system is constructed on the combined plan.
The Detroit sewage disposal system is composed of
two sanitary interceptor sewers, one along the Detroit
River for about 12 miles, ranging in size from 8 feet to 16
feet inside diameter, and one along the Rouge River for
about 15 miles ranging in size from 4 feet to 12 feet 9
inches Inside diameter. The two interceptors lead to the
Sewage Treatment Plant, located in the southwesterly corner
of the city at the confluence of the Rouge and Detroit Rivers,
The Sewage Treatment Plant utilizes a primary process com-
posed of a lift station, coarse screens and grit collectors,
plain sedimentation, vacuum filtration, incineration, and
ohlorination, with digester capacity for one-eighth of the
solids volume. The plant has capacity for four million
people based on 325 gallons per capita per day of sewage flow
-------
408
resulting In a total capacity of 2,000 cubic feet per second,,
A $32 million program has been approved and is now under way
to build a plant up to the full four million capacity and to
Improve the process from primary to intermediate treatment.
Characteristics of Low-Intensity Storms
The significance of the study of low-intensity
storms and the following data is to emphasize the importance
of these low-intensity storms which, by virtue of their
number alone, accentuate the problem of controlling storm
water overflows. From studies of the U. S. Weather Bureau
records at Detroit, Michigan, the following information was
obtained concerning low-intensity storms. The information
here reported has been excerpted from a paper published by
the author in "Sewage and Industrial Wastes," Vol. 22,
No. 2, February 1950.
1. Total average rainfall at Detroit,
Michigan, during the 76 years of
record is 31.47 inches.
2. Of the total annual rainfall, 90$ is
contriouted by storms of 5/10 inch per
hour or less.
3. Of the total annual rainfall 50# is
contributed by storms of 1/10 inch
per hour or less.
4. On the average, there are 157 storms
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409
per year of a trace or more with a
duration of 14$ of total time.
5. On the average, there are 89 storms
per year of 3/100 inch, or more, with
a duration of 3$ of total time.
6. The above data is most significant in
the following discussion.
Relationship Between Interceptor Capacity,
Sanitary Plow, and Storm Run-Off
In the studies of the Detroit interceptor system,
it was determined that in terms of the reduction in the num-
ber of storm overflows, an interceptor capacity of 150$ of
the dry-weather flow was most efficient. However, in order
to be able to take more of the first flush of storms in
local areas, it was decided to establish the interceptor
capacity at 324 gallons per capita per day which is equiv-
alent to about 200$ of dry-weather flow.
As a result of observations at Detroit, it was con-
cluded that run-off to the sewer system, on the average, did
not occur with the usual storm patterns unless the precip-
itation exceeded 3/100 inch per hour.
Records of the Detroit Sewage Treatment Plant show
an average dry weather sanitary flow of about 162 gallons
per capita per day. Reducing this to an area basis indi-
cated that the sanitary flow Is equivalent to 1/100 inch
-------
410
per hour over the area.
With an interceptor capacity of 200$ of the
dry-weather flow, allowing a capacity for 1/100 inch per
hour of storm flow, it follows that there would be no over-
flow to the receiving waters unless the storm exceeded 4/100
inch per hour.
Studies of conditions at Detroit show that on the
average storms of an intensity greater than 4/100 inch per
hour occur for about 2.5$ of the total time in 84 separate
occurrences, with the total duration of 220 hours per year.
As indicated before, assuming there were no diversions to an
interceptor, storm overflows to the receiving waters would
occur for 3$ of the total time in about 89 separate occur-
rences per year.
Detroit studies indicate that no satisfactory
reduction in the number or duration of storm overflow occur-
rences can be accomplished by any reasonable increase in
interceptor capacity.
Summarizing the above statements, it appears that
the following conditions obtain.
Due to the effect of interceptor capacity and
surface absorption alone, the Detroit system should produce
overflows to the receiving waters for about 2.5$ of total
time in about 84 separate occurrences per year.
On this basis alone, noc more than 2$ of the total
-------
sanitary flow would escape to the receiving waters.
It can thus be said that the Detroit system,
without any provision for storm water control, would be
efficient in capturing and treating the sanitary flow pro-
duced in the area.
Attention is called to the fact that the above
statements relate only to the effect of interceptor capacity
and surface absorption in reducing the number of storm
overflows. Actual Detroit conditions, as a result of the
effect of. design, produce greater efficiency in the handling
of storm overflows and will be discussed in the following
portion of this report.
One interesting point of information was brought
to light in the Detroit studies of this phenomenon, this
being the fact that the animal population of the city is
about twice that of the human population.
Statistical Data
The following data for the last five years is
presented in order to demonstrate the effect of "volumetric
storage" when designed into a combined system.
The following tabulation shows that the basis
information of rainfall occurrence under which the sewer
system functioned and is taken from the U.S.W.B. records at
the Detroit City Airport and is Indicated thus: trace/more
than trace.
-------
j PM AMJ JA SO N D Totals
1955 13/12 14/9 9/11 6/9 5/8 3/10 5/T 4/10 7/5 1/14 14/12 18/6 81/113 194
1956 11/9 12/11 8/14 6/12 6/17 5/8 6/11 4/13 6/7 3/4 7/10 12/15 86/131 217
1957 15/15 7/8 5/10 11/13 2/12 3/14 1/8 6/8 4/11 5/7 6/12 10/10 75/128 203
1958 17/7 17/6 8/9 5/11 5/10 5/12 5/11 2/7 2/12 6/9 7/12 18/9 97/115 212
1959 8/15 6/13 7/14 5/16 6/13 3/6 3/10 5/12 1/12 4/14 9/12 2/15 59/152 211
398/639 1,037
Average Yearly 79/127 207
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413
A one-year storm at Detroit, Michigan, has been
determined to produce 1,20 inches of rainfall in six hours.
The following tabulation shows the number of occurrences of
rainfalls in excess of 1,0 inches for the last several years.
Year
JPMAMJJASOND Total
1955 1
1956
1957
1958
1959
5-Yr.
Total 1
2
11 1
2
1 1
21 2
003^034
2
1
1 1
2 3
Average
1
1
1 1
3 1
Yearly
4
4
6
3
7
24
4.8
The significance of comparing the average yearly
occurrences of rainfall "first tabulation" with the average
yearly occurrences of rainfalls in excess of I/O inches is that
the volumetric storage of a "one year storm" would reduce
the annual number of discharges of combined sewage into the
receiving waters to less than five.
Quality of Storm Water Run-Off
from a Metropolitan Area
The proponents of separate systems intimate that
the storm water run-off from an area would be a perfectly
safe material to be discharged directly to the receiving
waters.
GPO 82O8I9—S-I7
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414
Studies at Detroit indicate that this is not the
case, at least for a metropolitan area, and that £form water
flows from a separate system could be expected to be highly
polluted but only in a somewhat lesser degree than storm
water overflows from a combined system.
The Detroit data upon which these conclusions were
reached was obtained by taking samples of storm run-off from
the land surfaces at point of concentration at the street
catch basins, starting as soon as run-off occurred and con-
tinued during the course of the storm.
The results of the sampling varied quite widely
between sampling points and also at the same sampling point
during the period of run-off. In some cases the quality of
the material became worse as the storm progressed and in
others it became better, and in still others no pattern was
apparent.
Due to lack of time and opportunity, the Detroit
data is limited, but all of the results support contention
that storm water run-off from highly urbanized and highly
populated areas is heavily polluted and would be very little
less objectionable in the receiving waters than the run-off
from combined sewers.
The following data shows the results of sampling
storm water run-off from Detroit streets as described in
foregoing paragraph entitled "Quality of Storm Water Run-Off
-------
415
from a Metropolitan Area."
Due to the exceptionally dry summer In the Detroit
area, only a limited number of samples of surface run-off
could be obtained. However, the results were as follows:
Storm of 7-13-60
Vol. Solids
Sample
L-l
L-2
Storm of
C
L
Storm of
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
MPN
150,000
230,000
7-26-60
2,300
43,000
9-12-60
2,300
2,300
9,100
93,000
3,600
9,100
150,000
7,300
9,100
23,000
9,100
15,000
3,600
Sus. Solids
-
-
-
-
453
257
120
714
288
177
110
348
81
179
86
107
114
210
92
300
116
96
115
40
114
90
94
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416
Sample MPN Sus. Solids Vol. Solids
1^ 3,600 328 196
15 3,600 146 107
16 9,100 125 93
17 93,000 98 81
18 15,000 102 75
Storm of 9-19-60
1 9,100 98 34.
2 23,000 151 62
3 430,000 90 38
4 230,000 71 18
NOTE: All of the above samples were taken at different
locations at different times during the progress of
the storm. In the storm of 9-12-60 each sample from
1 to 18 was taken at different locations, starting
with number one at 1:15 P.m. and ending with number
18 at 2:05 P.m.
If, by some means, with unlimited manpower and funds,
a separate system could truly be kept separate, Detroit
studies indicate that the pollutional load resulting from
a separate system would be comparable to that produced from
a combined system.
Economics of Separate vs. Combined Systems
Studies made at Detroit indicated that in an un-
-------
417
sewered area the cost of a separate system would be about
twice that of a combined system if the complete separate
system was constructed at one time. Studies also showed
that in an area already served by a combined system, the
cost of changing over to a separate system would require an
additional expenditure of over twice the cost of the orig-
inal combined system.
Newly developing areas should examine all economic
factors closely before they commit themselves to what is
the lesser expense initially with a separate system, but
a far more burdensome financial load later on.
The high cost of sewers seems to support the case
for separate systems and certainly the first need of a newly
developed area is for sanitary sewers, leaving the storm
water drainage to natural water courses of the land.
If the area remains small and residential in nature
and character, perhaps the problems experienced in a highly
urbanized area with complex land uses will never develop and
a separate system might continue to be satisfactory.
Maintenance of Separate Systems
In the case of a highly urbanized and complex area
certain problems develop which eliminate any advantages that
a separate system may have.
The matter of maintaining the physical separation
of the two-sewer system is an impossible task in any major
-------
418
sewer system.
The operational problems involved in maintaining a
separate system as a separate system have not been success-
fully solved, particularly in large and extensive systems.
Either by stealth, or Ignorance, or good intention, sanitary
connections improperly find their way into storm sewers where
the separate system is in use. Large systems would require
policing on a major scale to discover sanitary connections
made surreptitiously into the storm sewers, and experience
at Detroit indicates that a completely separate storm and
sanitary sewer system can never be successfully protected
from this type of misuse.
The Effect of Volumetric Storage on the
Reduction of Storm Overflows
Combined systems can be operated to produce results
in every way as satisfactory as those produced by separate
systems at far lesser construction cost.
The volumetric storage capacity of a sewer system,
if provisions are made in the design to adapt this feature
to the function of storing storm water, can be of major im-
portance in significantly reducing the number and duration of,
storm overflows.
In the Detroit area, theoretically, there are on
the average 84 storms per year that will produce run-off
to the receiving waters. In other words, exceeding the
-------
419
capacity of the Interceptor to capture the first flush of
storm overflows.
A one-year storm produces 1.2 inches of run-off in
six hours, or an average rate of 2/10 inch per hour, and all
storms of a one-year intensity or less account for 19 inches
of the total average annual rainfall of 31.47 inches. De-
troit studies also show that on the average, less than five
storms per year occur that exceed a one-year intensity.
In substantiating these statements, the precipi-
tation records of the Detroit area show the following number
of storms significantly greater than 1.2 inches for the
years indicated: 1955 - 2, 1956 - 4, 1957 - 3, 1958 - 3,
1959 - 5.
From my own personal observations of the outlet of
a system that has less volumetric storage than required for
a one-year storm, the statistical conclusions stated above
have been verified. Conclusions reached at Detroit and
substantiated by field data are that the designing of
"volumetric storage" into a combined system can greatly
reduce the number of storm overflows per year (from 84 to 5 or
less) and possibly without any additional cost for structures:.
Conclusions
In summarizing the foregoing comments the following
appear to be the significant conclusions.
Any properly designed and constructed combined
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420
sewer, without making use of the storm water storage, will
produce results in the range of 98$ efficiency and any
expenditure of public funds to improve its operation should
not be made until necessity can be clearly shown.
The adoption of the plan of designing storm water
storage into combined systems to the extent possible or
desirable, will increase the efficiency of any combined
system correspondingly.
Generally speaking, the designing of storm water
storage into a combined system increases the cost very
little. Adding this feature to an existing system would
cost more but would still not be a major expenditure.
Separate systems will discharge to the receiving
waters with every storm exceeding 3/100 inch per hour, or
about 89 times each year, and the quality of the storm-water
discharge will be objectionable and closely comparable to
that from a combined system.
Combined systems, designed to make use of "volumet-
rio storage" for the containment of storm water, and based
on the volume of a one-year storm, would discharge to the
receiving water only from three to five times each year,
with a duration of about 4/1056 of total time, which corres-
ponds to an efficiency of about 99.6$
We believe that the only conclusion that can be
reached from the foregoing statements is that properly de-
-------
421
signed combined systems, utilizing the feature of storm
water storage, would produce results compatible with the
reasonable use of the country's water resources,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
TO THE REPORT ON
STORM WATER OVERFLOWS FROM COMBINED SEWER SYSTEMS
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
The following data will Indicate the extent to
which the Detroit System Is now making use of the effect of
storm water storage in controlling quality of storm water
overflows.
The total capacity of all storm outlets in the City
of Detroit is 48,419 cubic feet per second. Of this quantity
36,971 cubic feet per second Incorporates the feature of storm
water storage, and the balance of 11,273 cubic feet per sec-
ond only to a limited degree.
It should be noted that in the volumetric storage
contained In the outlets indicating a total of 36,971 is one
of the largest of the numerous Detroit systems, namely the
Conner Creek system, and this system has the capacity for
storing storm water significantly greater than the quantities
involved in the so-called one-year storm. This is a major
portion of the Detroit system and as new relief outlets are
constructed we will approach this degree of control over
the balance of Detroitfs system.
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422
Previous data submitted in the report, of which
this is a supplement, as to the effect of storing a one-year
storm, indicates that of the 89 run-off-producing-storms
in a year, 84 would reach the receiving waters if the feature
of storm water storage had not been incorporated, but with
the incorporation of the storm water storage feature, the
run-offs would be reduced to about four or five per year.
STORM WATER QUALITY
In a published report on the same subject dated
February 1950, which is made a part of this testimony,
some evidence was presented on the quality of storm water
overflows indicating that on the average 4,300,000 conforms
per 100 milliliters could be expected. However, it should
be pointed out that this number would probably be in the
range of 300,000 coliforms per 100 milliliters depending on
the intensity of the storm producing the run-off.
It further pointed out that with storm water stor-
age the volumes of diluting storm water included in the
overflow would approximate that which might occur during
a maximum storm.
It should be further noted that these quantities
are prior to initial dilution. After initial dilution has
taken place the coliform numbers would be further greatly
reduced, probably in the range of 50,000 coliform per 100
milliliters. These same results could be deduced from the
-------
423
records at the sewage treatment plant, which indicate the
average coliform MPN of the Detroit primary tank effluent
before chlorinatlon, is about 15,000,000 per 100 milllliters.
As a point of information, it is generally admitted
in the literature that over one billion bacteria can be
accommodated on the head of an ordinary common pin, and
the average flow in the Detroit River is approximately
50,000,000 (100 milllliters) per second.
Although additional field data is required to vali-
date these computations, the data that is now available leadS|
us to the one conclusion that the operation of Detroit's
combined system incorporating storm water storage will pro-
duce results in the receiving waters equal to or better than
the conditions which would result from the nearly 100 storm
overflows that would occur on the average each year if the
Detroit system had been constructed as a separate system.
(A statement presented by Mr. Palmer is as follows:)
-------
Reprinted from SEWAGE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTES, "Vol. 22, No. 2, February, 1950
Printed in U. S. A.
THE POLLUTIONAL EFFECTS OF STORM-WATER
OVERFLOWS FROM COMBINED SEWERS*
BY CLYDE L. PALMER
Sanitary Engineer, City Engineer's Office, Department of
Public WorTcs, Detroit, Mich.
Introduction
Within the last few years, there ha&
arisen a popular demand for the abate-
ment of stream pollution and all sani-
tarians certainly agree with this move-
ment in principle. As is often the case,
however, the tremendous surge of an
awakened public interest may carry
any cause far beyond justifiable limits.
The demand is made that all pollution
must be abated without evaluating the
cost of .the damage that would result
by depriving individuals or municipali-
ties of the reasonable use of their water
resources. Pollution caused by storm
water overflows from combined sewer
systems has been condemned and per-
haps rightly so, but before public or
private resources are dissipated in an
effort to eliminate entirely all stream
pollution, it might be well to appraise
the problem both as to the possibilities
of reaching the ideal objective and the
results that can be accomplished within
practical limits.
In the discussion of the problem of
abating stream pollution, little if any
distinction is made between the pollu-
tion caused by storm water overflowing
from a combined sewer system operat-
ing in conjunction with diversion works
and sewage treatment facilities and the
pollution caused by the direct and
continuous discharge of sanitary sew-
age to receiving waters.
The case against the direct and con-
tinuous discharge of sanitary sewage
* Presented at 24th Annual Conference,
Michigan Sewage Works Association; Tra-
verse City, Mich.; May 23-25, 1949.
has long since been proven, and as to
the necessity for abatement, all sani-
tarians agree. The nature, extent, and
methods of abatement of the pollution
caused by storm overflows from com-
bined sewers are not so well defined
and are the subject of this discussion.
Characteristics of Low-Intensity
Storms
Preliminary to the study of the
pollutional effects of storm-water over-
flows from combined sewers, it is neces-
sary to investigate the characteristics
of low-intensity storms, which are obvi-
ously the most numerous, and, conse-
quently, the most important in this
particular study. The accompanying
diagrams were prepared from the data
of the U. S. Weather Bureau and City
of Detroit records. Figure 1 indicates
that 90 per cent of the annual rainfall
in the Detroit area is contributed by
storms having an intensity of 0.50 in.
per hr. or less, and about 50 per cent
by rainfall of 0.10 in. per hr. or less.
Figure 2 indicates that, on the average,
157 storms occur per year in amount
of a trace or more, and that about 89
storms per year occur that are 0.03 in.
or more in amount. Figure 3 indicates
that, on the average, 14 per cent of the
total time at least a trace of rain is
falling, and 3 per cent of the time, it
is raining 0.03 in. per hr. or more.
In studying the results of the fore-
going storm data, it is first assumed
that the effects of rainfall will be im-
posed on a combined sewer system pro-
vided with diversion works to pass the
sanitary flow to the collecting inter-
154
-------
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WitTEitSnY'STQQ^
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number- of days per year rainfall 9%ua/ffd or 9xc9«ded amount ir>dica+rd
FIGURE 2.—Occurrence of rainfall in low intensity storms at Detroit, Mich.
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of total rrumbfr of flours rainfall u^uallfJ or ffxcewaW amount W/c
FIGURE 3.—Duration of rainfall in low intensity storms at Detroit, Mich.
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-------
Vol. 22, No. 2 STOEM OVEBFLOWS PROM COMBINED SEWERS
158
ceptor system and to the treatment
plant.
It is obvious that some of the very
light rainfalls will not even reach the
sewers. The limits of storm intensity
for which this is true had to be de-
termined in order to establish the
point at which rainfall could affect
the sewer system. Data on the amount
of rainfall necessary to cause runoff
were accumulated by field observation
and measurement using portable rain
gauges. The result of the observations
thus made indicated that, on the aver-
age, runoff did not occur unless the
precipitation exceeded 0.03 in. per hr.
Inasmuch as the analysis of con-
ditions was to be made on the basis
of quantity of flow in multiples of the
average dry-weather flow, this quantity
was determined from the records of
the sewage treatment plant at Detroit
as 162 g.p.d. per capita. This flow
then had to be expressed as inches per
hour on the area to evaluate it in terms
equivalent to rainfall. For Detroit
conditions, with 40 people per acre
producing an average of 162 g.c.d.,
the sanitary flow is equivalent to about
0.01 in. per hr.
Reasoning from the foregoing com-
putations, the following conclusions
can be reached:
1. Before storm runoff from the land
to the sewer system occurs, precipita-
tion must exceed 0.03 in. per hr.
2. Before storm-water overflows will
occur from a combined sewer sys-
tem to receiving waters, the precipita-
tion must exceed 0.03 in. per hr. plus
whatever storm capacity the intercep-
tion has over and above that required
for sanitary flow or, in the case of
Detroit, an additional 0.01 in. per hr.
for each multiple of the sanitary ca-
pacity available for storm flow; for
example, with an interception capacity
of twice the sanitary flow, storm over-
flow would not occur unless the pre-
cipitation exceeded 0.04 in. per hr.
(0.03 + 0.01). With an interception
capacity of three times the sanitary
flow, the precipitation would have to
exceed 0.05 in. per hr. (0.03 + 0.02)
before overflow would occur, and so on.
In order to get some check on the
above method of computation, a study
was made of the records of the Conner
Creek storm pumping station at De-
troit.
Figure 4 gives the pumping record
at that station and indicates that storm
flows that required pumping to the
Detroit River occurred about 2.5 per
cent of total time and at a pump-
ing rate equivalent to about 0.04 in.
per hr. on the tributary area. Storms
producing a pumping rate less than
0.04 in. per hr. could be diverted to the
interceptor system.
From the data shown in Figures 2
and 3 and the finding that no runoff
will be produced by precipitation un-
der 0.03 in. per hr. and that the aver-
age sanitary flow of 162 g.c.d. is
equivalent to 0.01 in. per hr. of rain-
fall, computations can be made relating
interceptor capacity in multiples of
average sanitary flow (162 g.c.d.) to
occurrence of overflows per year and
duration of overflows per year.
Figure 5 shows the relation between
overflow occurrence and interceptor
capacity. The following points are of
note:
1. With no storm-water diversion, 89
overflows per year might occur. In
other words, there are on the average
89 storms when the precipitation is
greater than 0.03 in.
2. With interceptor capacity 600 per
cent of the average sanitary flow, 65
overflows per year might still occur to
the receiving waters.
3. An interceptor with a capacity
600 per cent of the sanitary flow would
reduce the number of overflow occur-
rences 25 per cent.
4. Relating the reduction of overflow
occurrences to the capacity of the in-
terceptor shows that each g.c.d. unit
-------
159
SEWAGE AND INDUSTEtAL WASTES
February, 1950
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-------
Vol. 22, No. 2 STORM OVERFLOWS FROM COMBINED SEWERS
160
of interceptor capacity is most effective
when the interceptor capacity is 150
per cent of the sanitary flow or it may
be stated that the interceptor is most
effective in preventing overflow occur-
rence, gallon for gallon of capacity,
when it has a capacity of 150 per cent
of the sanitary flow.
Figure 6 shows the relation between
overflow duration and interceptor ca-
pacity. The following points are of
note .-
1. With no storm-water diversion,
the duration of storm-water overflows
would occupy 3.0 per cent of total
time. In other words, on the average,
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Interceptor a form water capacity in % of sanitary flout
FIGURE 5.—Relation of overflow occurrence and reduction to interceptor capacity as a
function of sanitary flow.
DAL
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fr.CUQPPfi]CE
CAPACI
-------
161
SEWAGE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTES
February, 1950
precipitation in excess of 0.03 in. per
hr. occurs for 3.0 per cent of total
time.
2. With interceptor capacity 600 per
cent of the average sanitary flow, the
duration of overflow would be reduced
to 1.0 per cent of total time.
3. An interceptor with a capacity
600 per cent of the sanitary flow would
reduce the duration of overflows 60
per cent.
4. Relating the reduction of over-
flow duration to interceptor capacity
shows that each g.c.d. unit of inter-
ceptor capacity is most effective when
the interceptor capacity is 150 per cent
of
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- a form
-------
Vol. 22, No. 2 STORM OVERFLOWS FROM COMBINED SEWERS
162
of the sanitary flow (that the inter-
ceptor is most effective in reducing the
duration of overflow, gallon for gallon
of capacity, when it has a capacity of
150 per cent of the sanitary flow).
The foregoing analysis of the effect
of storm-water diversion to interceptors
as a method for abatement of the pollu-
tion resulting from storm-water over-
flows from a combined sewer system
and summarized in Figures 5 and 6
leads to the following conclusions:
1. No satisfactory reduction in the
number of storm overflow occurrences
can be made by any reasonable in-
crease in interceptor capacity.
2. No satisfactory reduction in the
duration of storm overflows can be
made by any reasonable increase in
interceptor capacity.
Quality of Overflow from Combined
Sewers
The conclusions reached as to the
effectiveness of increasing interceptor
capacity in reducing storm-water over-
flow occurrences and duration of over-
flows did not consider the quality of
the overflow storm water and whether
the diversion of a greater number of
the smaller storms and an increased
portion of larger storms would accom-
plish the feat of preventing a dispro-
portionately greater amount of pollu-
tion from escaping with the storm-
water overflow. The conclusion reached
by some observers that the quality of
overflow storm water from a combined
sewer shows high pollution during the
early period of overflow, diminishing
as the overflow continues, has not been
substantiated in the studies made at
Detroit.
The collection of data for Detroit
has not been completed to the extent
that positive conclusions have been
reached, and only a limited range of
storm intensities have been investi-
gated. However, the results obtained
on a large and extensive sewerage sys-
tem appear to be affected by factors
not so significant in simple systems,
and the following conclusions have been
at least partially substantiated:
1. Erratic variations in the quality
of overflow storm water are character-
istic and result from the time element
involved in arrival at the point of over-
flow of the first flush water from the
tributary systems discharging to the
main trunk sewer. This effect appears
particularly significant in an area such
as Detroit, where the time of concen-
tration in the larger sewer systems is
as long as 200 min.
2. A condition of more or less uni-
form quality of overflow storm water
cannot be expected unless the storm
period substantially exceeds the time
of concentration of the sewer system
and in sufficient intensity to maintain
high velocities.
"3. After the storm flow has exceeded
the capacity of the diversion to the
interceptor of 2 to 2.5 times the dry
weather flow, the quality of -the over-
flow water will have about the follow-
ing characteristics: Coliform indices
(m.p.n.), 4,300,000; 5-day B.O.D.,
50 p.p.m.; suspended solids, 250 p.p.m. ;
and suspended volatile solids, 100
p.p.m. Plus variations of 100 per cent
and minus variations of 50 per cent
are to be expected.
Prom the study of the quality of
overflow storm water, the conclusion
is reached that no satisfactory reduc-
tion in the pollution carried by storm-
water overflow can be accomplished by
any reasonable increase in interceptor
capacity, due to the fact that diminu-
tion of pollution after the first flush
does not obtain and successive peaks of
pollution arrive later in the progress
of the storm overflow.
Separate Storm Sewers
The separate system of sewerage has
been advanced as a solution for the
problem of abatement of the pollu-
tional effects of storm overflows from
combined sewers. A study of the re-
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163
SEWAGE AND INDTJSTBIAL WASTES
February, 1950
salts to be expected from a separate
system brings up the questions of cost,
results in abating pollution, and oper-
ational problems inherent in separate
systems.
In an area where the topographical
relief is not pronounced, the construc-
tion cost of a separate system of pub-
lic sewers is estimated to be about
twice the cost of a combined system,
assuming new construction in an un-
sewered area. In an area sewered on
the combined system, there would be
an additional cost to individual house-
holders, over and above the cost of the
public collecting system, amounting to
at least $500 each. For example, De-
troit's combined sewer system to date
has cost $100,000,000. If it were to
be changed to a separate system, an
additional $100,000,000 of public funds
would have to be expended for sani-
tary sewers and appurtenances. In
addition, the 270,000 households now
connected to the combined system
would have to separate their sanitary
plumbing from their storm plumbing
at an estimated cost of $500 each or
a total of $135,000,000.
With expenditures of this magnitude
indicated, overwhelming justification
must be presented in support of the
benefits to be accomplished by a sepa-
rate system.
In studies made at Detroit to de-
termine the quality of storm water that
could be expected from a separate sys-
tem, samples of storm-water runoff
from the land surface were collected
at points of concentration near catch
basin inlets and analyzed. Although
the study has not been completed and
the number of samples taken and the
types of areas studied are limited, it
appears that the storm runoff from
the land surface is polluted to the ex-
tent that the storm-water flows from
a separate storm sewer could be ex-
pected to be very unsatisfactory under
the same standards by which the qual-
ity of storm overflows from combined
sewers are judged.
The first samples analyzed indicated
such high coliform indices that doubt
was cast on the type of organisms
found, and, subsequently, Tryptose
broth was used and B.O.D. determina-
tions made on the samples to give bet-
ter confirmation of the results. The
results of a sampling taken at a catch
basin in the business district of De-
troit during a rain storm on March
22, 1949, are as follows:
Sample
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Time
(A.M.)
8:55
9:05
9:15
9:30
9:45
10:00
11:25
11:32
M.P.N.
930.000
430,000
430,000
930,000
430,000
230,000
43,000
25,000
Total
Solids
(p.p.m.)
660
715
726
462
914
430
714
310
Vol.
Solids
(p.p.m.)
2M
331
340
194
414
202
370
136
5-Day
B.O.D.
(p.p.m.)
234
—
124
—
132
—
96
Although the data collected to date
may not be conclusive, the evidence in-
dicates that more exhaustive investiga-
tion must be made before huge ex-
penditures for separate sewer systems
can be recommended.
The operational problems involved
in maintaining a separate system as a
separate system have not been success-
fully solved, particularly in large and
extensive systems. Either by stealth,
or ignorance, or good intention, sani-
tary connections improperly find their
way into storm sewers where the sepa-
rate system is in use. Large systems
would require policing on a major scale
to discover sanitary connections made
surreptitiously into the storm sewers,
and experience at Detroit indicates
that a completely separate storm and
sanitary sewer system can never be
successfully protected from this type of
misuse.
From a study of the results to be ex-
pected from the use of separate storm
sewers, it is concluded that:
1. The cost of a separate system is
prohibitive and not commensurate
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Vol. 22, No. 2 STOEM OVERFLOWS FROM COMBINED SEWERS
164
with the results possible to achieve.
2. The quality of the storm water
from a separate storm sewer serving an
area such as Detroit would be very un-
satisfactory and highly polluted.
3. Separate storm sewers are prac-
tically impossible to maintain as such
without some sanitary flow being in-
cluded.
Storm-Water Treatment
The treatment of the overflow storm
water from a combined sewer system
has been advocated as a solution of the
problem of pollution from this source.
The results as to quality of the storm
water after treatment that could be ex-
pected from this solution of the prob-
lem obviously would be those that could
be determined in advance by design.
The results as to total over-all bene-
fits would be effective for about 2 per
cent of total time. In other words,
any facility provided or expenditures
made would be useful and a benefit for
the duration of the pollutional effect
only which would be for about 2 per
cent of total time, during which time
about 1 per cent of the sanitary flow
escapes to the receiving waters.
Studies made at Detroit indicate that
to prevent the 1 per cent of pollution
entering the Detroit River from the
combined sewer system would require
storm-water treatment structures esti-
mated to cost about $2,000,000 per
1,000 c.f.s. of treatment capacity, and
an annual operating and maintenance
cost of $60,000 per 1,000 c.f.s. of treat-
ment capacity.
In addition to the high cost, the
method has another undesirable fea-
ture in the multiplicity of treatment
installations that would be required.
Detroit has about 50 storm-water over-
flow outlets along the highly developed
Detroit River waterfront, with a total
capacity of about 50,000 c.f.s. The
construction of storm-water treatment
plants in these areas would be diffi-
cult, expensive, and objectionable. Al-
though no conclusions have been
reached, the following comparison can
be made relative to storm-water treat-
ment as a means of abating pollution
resulting from storm overflows from a
combined sewer system:
1. Satisfactory quality standards
can be met as a matter of proper de-
sign and operation of the storm-water
treatment facilities provided.
2. It appears to be the least expen-
sive of any of the solutions presently
available.
3. The main objectionable feature of
this method is the multiplicity of treat-
ment plants required, and this problem
remains to be solved.
Conclusions
The pollutional effects of storm water
overflowing from a properly designed
combined sewer'system with diversion
and regulation to an interceptor and
sewage treatment system result from
storm overflows that in themselves
occur only about 2 per cent of total
time, during which time about 1 per
cent of the total sanitary sewage of the
drainage area escapes into the receiv-
ing waters. It should be noted that
during the 2 per cent of total time that
overflow is occurring not all of the
sanitary flow is escaping.
The dilutional effect of the storm-
water vehicle carrying the sanitary
sewage to its escape into the receiving
waters has been shown to be insuffi-
cient to reduce the pollution to accept-
able- standards. The dilutional effect
of the receiving waters in some cases
may be sufficient to prevent serious
local nuisance: however, the effective-
ness of this process of purification is
limited to those conditions where a
long time factor intervenes between the
point of overflow and the affected area
when such uses of the receiving waters
as water supply or recreation are in-
volved. The effect of increasing the
amount of diversion to interceptors is
clearly shown by this study to be in-
significant within the range of reason-
able post and practical size structures.
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165
SEWAGE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTES
February, 1950
It appears from this study of the
problem that properly designed regu-
lation and diversion of a combined
sewer system will be about 99 per cent
effective in preventing pollution re-
sulting from the use of this type of
sewerage system. The use of a sepa-
rate sewer system may be effective in
small systems and suburban areas, but
the results of this study indicate that
for extensive systems and densely popu-
lated areas the cost of a separate sys-
tem is prohibitive and the results to be
expected from such a system are en-
tirely unsatisfactory.
It is the conclusion of this study that
where conditions are critical and
greater protection from pollution than
that accomplished by proper diversion
of sanitary flow is warranted, the most
effective method appears to be storm
water treatment at the individual out-
lets or at a common outlet for several
adjacent systems.
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424
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
THE CHAIRMAN: Dr. Heustis.
DR. HEUSTIS: Mr. Gerald Remus, of the Detroit
Water Board. Mr. Remus, your statement is a part of the
written record, and unless you so desire, the remarks
you make now will not be part of the written record, but
it is subject to whatever you wish.
STATEMENT OP GERALD J. REMUS, GENERAL MANAGER,
BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS, CITY OF DETROIT,
WATER BOARD BUILDING, 735 RANDOLPH ST.,
DETROIT 26, MICHIGAN
MR. REMUS: I have two parts that I would like to
review, part of which I would like in the written record and
part of which will be just a brief review of my report.
DR. HEUSTIS: Will you indicate to the reporter the
parts you would like in the re- -d?
MR. REMUS: Yer «r
-.ri OF rETRorr
Board of Water Commissioners
Water Board Bldg. — 735 Randolph St.
Gerald R. Remus
General Manager Detroit 26, Michigan
March 26, 1962
United States Public Health Service
and
Michigan Water Resources Commission
Gentlemen:
-------
425
Herewith presented Is a report on sewage and Indus-
trial waste treatment for the metropolitan Detroit area.
The report establishes that:
(l) Detroit built a metropolitan sewage plant,
put it in service in 1941, and by 1957 had
invested $38,414,000, all without the
necessity of any "court action".
(2) Detroit re-dedicated Itself in 1957 toward
further expanding its treatment system so
that 4,000,000 people could be served in the
metropolitan area. At that time, it adopted
an additional plant improvement program
costing $33,000,000, which is now underway.
This, coupled with the work authorized by
adjacent communities, makes a sum total of
approximately $104,000,000 of sewage system
construction now working.
(3) Detroit has a storm water and sewage collection
system costing approximately $350,000,000,
with at least another $90,000,000 planned.
The system storage capacity is such that a
considerable amount of storm flow is treated.
(4) After an areawide "one system" water supply
had been developed, it followed that we
wished to develop a "one-system" sewage and
-------
426
drainage system. To date the area sewage
system has been substantially constructed
along these same lines. A program is under
development sponsored by "business" and
"government" so that a proper engineering
system will continue to develop for the
six-county area.
(5) The Detroit River has been gradually im-
proving, and this improvement will be accel-
erated when the impact of $104,000,000 of
construction becomes a reality. The Rouge
River will show the greatest betterment in
the next three months when all raw sewage
will be removed.
Detroit's treatment standards have been ahead of
the metropolitan area, and in accepting the extra area load
for treatment, we hope to help in improvements all around.
Canada should also be encouraged to add to the general im-
provement factor. The area communities have responded di-
rectly to their ability to "finance". Business and local
government have indicated their desire to proceed in an
orderly, businesslike way.
You, therefore, must judge. Do we continue in
the program underway which will cooperatively develop a
program for six counties on drainage, on sewage treatment
-------
42?
standards, on sewage col-lection systems, on centralized
administration and financing, and which will plan for
systematic future development — OR, does the U. S. Public
Health Service Enforcement Bureau now start studies and
when they have reachedconclusions, will we find ourselves
in the position whereby our opportunity to put an overall
system into action will have disappeared? Two simultaneous
studies cannot be Justified. Therefore, the answer is
obvious — put your stamp of approval on the present pro-
gramming .
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ G. Remus
General Manager
(The report is as follows:)
DETROIT'S METROPOLITAN SEWAGE SYSTEM
By: G. Remus, General Manager
Department of Water Supply
735 Randolph Street
Detroit 26, Michigan
March 22, 1962
-------
428
DETROIT«S METROPOLITAN SEWAGE SYSTEM
Major developments 01 che Detroit sewage system have
been and are being made, and future plans are now underway.
The Sewage Treatment Plant went Into service In 1940 and
the cost, up to 1957, was $38,414,000. In 1957 Detroit
re-dedicated itself toward doing more of the area sewage
treatment job. At that time, 35 suburban communities besides
Detroit had their sewage treated at this plant, or approx-
imately 2,600,000 people. The 1957 program provided for a
$33,000,000 plant expansion. Approximately $7,700,000 of this
construction has been completed. Today 52 suburban commu.
itties and Detroit are under long-term contract for this
treatment facility. Approximately 3,100,000 people live
in the area now under contract in three counties.
All original construction and all programs committed
to at this time have met the health standards of the state
and local agencies. In 1961, the Lower Rouge communities
signed contracts which provided for sewer interceptor con-
struction, and the treatment will be provided at Detroit's
plant. This section of work cost approximately $18,000,000.
At this same time, the capacity of the Northeast Interceptor,
with connections to Detroit, is being increased.
In March of 1962, contracts were signed so that
twelve additional communities in southwest Wayne County
would start construction for sewage facilities, costing
-------
429
approximately $18,000,000. The Wayne County Sewage Treatment
Plant at Wyandotte will be Improved. Additional areas in
Wayne, Hacomb and Oakland Counties are negotiating for ser-
vice with the Detroit system.
While sewage treatment facilities have been and are
developing, a storm water handling system developed within
Detroit costing approximately $350,000,000. The size of
these facilities are such that all small storms are now
treated.
A great deal of work is completed or nearlng com-
pletion on sewage treatment. We are also underway for an
"area-wide" sewage and drainage system. The Detroit system
is an area-wide operation now serving sections of three
counties, with commitments to 52 communities, and with pro-
gramming substantially complete for the area to serve more
than 4,000,000 people by 1980. However, both drainage and
sewage structures built now must serve far beyond this period
of time. Therefore, it is essential that the entire six-
county drainage area have a "master program" extending to
at least the year 2000.
This "master program" development Is underway. A
committee of business, local, state and federal officials is
active to guide this study. Sub-committees have been appointed;
preliminary engineering studies have been made; the area has
been aerially photographed; consulting engineers have been
-------
430
selected; and approximately $260,000 of the $305,000 needed
has been pledged by business, local and federal government.
The programming project was requested by the Six-County
Committee and sponsored by the National Sanitation Council.
This study Is progressing as expeditiously as possible
without handicapping the Immediate contractual developments
of West Wayne County.
The work completed has made the Detroit River the
cleanest of any comparable one anywhere. Records will show
that fresh water fish are found throughout its entire length.
The work now under construction or completed, totaling
$104,000,000, will further Improve river conditions. Ex-
istent operating statistics do not yet reflect this Improve-
ment. Both the Detroit Water Department and the Inter-
national Joint Commission records show that the river is
gradually Improving, and most certainly this will continue.
It should be noted that metropolitan Detroit Is
developing its sewage facilities progressively without much
development on the Canadian shore. It should also be noted
that many who criticize standards of Detroit are only point-
ing their finger to other areas so that their immediate
home problem does not come under surveillance. Also,many
refer to Detroit In the metropolitan concept and therefore
the sub-standard conditions they refer to may be as far away
as Wyandotte or Estral Beach. Some minor evidence also ex-
-------
431
Ists to the effect that developers of a various nature, or
chemical salesmen, may be doing some agitation.
The operating policy of the Detroit system is:
(l) To raise the entire area to the standard of
treatment exercised in Detroit and then grad-
ually Improve the area treatment standards.
(2) To operate the Detroit Sewage Plant so that
the plant effluent will always be disinfected
better than the "upstream" river flow.
(3) That Detroit will continue to serve "sewage
treatment" to additional areas, and that ser-
vice will be provided at cost.
(4) That construction planned for the immediate
future, which will show marked improvement,
will be completed within the year.
(5) That a "master program" is under development
for the area which will specify the type of
sewerage system standards of treatment.
(6) That co-ordinated drainage facilities will be
engineered and a "one system" utility will
be planned for.
The orderly and rapid developments in the area
should not be interfered with by additional studies or
overlapping endeavors, lest confusion create a situation
whereby the normal development will be set back many years.
-------
432
Service for the suburban communities is provided
by contracts mutually agreed upon between Detroit and the
respective suburb. Agreement is reached in an orderly way
for "sewage treatment". All financing is done largely by
"revenue bonds". Most communities have extended themselves
to the limit to pay for the facilities they must construct
and also to pay for "sewage treatment". Any change of
treatment standards at this time would be extremely unwise
and would cause financial trouble. Some communities could
not pay their bills, others would have their bond issues
Jeopardized because the supporting financial data would be
In error, and threats of legal action by others would tie
up all related bond issues — thereby really interrupting
the momentum of the develoment now underway.
The sewerage problem for the area is complex.
Further sections of this report elaborate on the factors
already mentioned, and we "invite" your review of this
report and will supplement any portion on which you may
need additional information. The remaining sections of the
report are for the purpose of supporting all of the pre-
ceding statements.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ G. Remus
General Manager
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
1 Detroit's Initial Sewage Disposal System, ^37
Xg40 - 1957 Cost, Type of Treatment,
Population Served in City and 35 suburbs
Exhibit 1.1 — Area Served
Exhibit 1.2 — Sewage Treatment Plant
Layout
2 Detroit's Sewage Disposal System, 1957 ^38
to Present. Additions and Improvements,
Detroit, Suburban Expenditures, Population
Served Including 52 Suburbs
Enlargement and Improvement Program to 1980
Exhibit 2.1 — Area Served, 1962
Exhibit 2.2 — Sewage Treatment Plant
Exhibit 2.3 — Additions to System
Exhibit 2.4 — Enlargement and Improvement
Program
3 Storm Flows
One Year Storms Treated, Treatment Capacity,
Cost of Storm Water Facilities in Detroit
and Suburbs, Statement on Storm Flows
GPO 820819-B-I9
-------
434
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Contd.)
SECTION PAGE
4 Present Developments 441
A. Status of Detroit River Today
Detroit Department of Water Supply
I.J.C. Detroit River and Rouge River
Sampling Data
Validity of Surface Sampling Questioned
Fish in Detroit River and Lake Erie
Exhibit 4.1 — Bacteriological Data,
Rouge River, Eight Mile
Road to Detroit River
Exhibit 4.1A — Bacteriological Data, Lower
Detroit River to Lake Erie
Exhibit 4.2 - Department of Water Supply
River Sampling Data to
Trenton Channel
Exhibit 4.3 — Rouge River Sampling Data,
Department of Water Supply
and I.J.C.
Exhibit 4.4 — Detroit News Report, March 3,
1962 Record Catches of Perch
In W. Lake Erie
Exhibit 4.5 ~ I.J.C. Data for Detroit River
Exhibit 4.6 — Aerial Photo, Junction of
Rouge and Detroit Rivers
-------
435
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Contd.)
SECTION PAGE
4 Present Developments (Contd.) 441
B. Excerpts from Michigan Department of
Health and Michigan Water Resources
Commission Report - "Some Significant
Accomplishments and Trends in Pollution
Control in the Greater Detroit Metro-
politan Area" - January 8, 1962
C. Michigan Department of Health Approval
of Detroit Sewage Disposal System,
Enlargement and Improvement Program,
July 27, 1957
Exhibit 4.7 - Minutes of Meetings with and
Letter from Michigan Department
of Health
D. Facilities Under Construction in the
Area to Abate Pollution
Exhibit 4.8 - List and Costs of Facilities
Exhibit 4.9 - Rouge Valley Sewage Disposal System
Exhibit 4.10 - Down River Sewage Disposal System
Exhibit 4.11 - Northeast Interceptor District
E. Dequindre Interceptor to Detroit and Twelve Towns
Drains
Cost of Facilities
-------
436
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Contd.)
PAGE
5. Future Developments
A. Detroit can Legally Build Interceptors
Outside
B. Water Main Construction Precedent
C. National Sanitation Foundation -
Sanitation Council for Southeastern
Michigan, Six County Sewerage and
Drainage Study History, Water Study
Completed, Sewerage and Drainage Study,
Budget, Engineering Consultants, Scope
of Job, Including Cost Estimates
Exhibit 5.1 - Financial Support, Six -County
Sewerage and Drainage Study
Exhibit 5.2 - List of Industrial Contributors
Exhibit 5.3 - U.S. Public Health Service Grant
6 United States Public Health Service Study vs.
National Sanitation Foundation - Sanitation
Council for Southeastern Michigan Study
Reasons for Preference of Sanitation Council Study
Study Underway, More Inclusive, More Constructive,
Two Studies Not Realistic, Technical Standards
Should not be Changed, Canadian Situation
-------
437
SECTION 1
DETROIT'S INITIAL SEWAGE SYSTEM
1940 - 1957
A. The Detroit Sewage Disposal System was plaoed in
service in 1940.
B. Map of Area Served in 1957 — See Exhibit 1.1 (Attached)
C. Sewage Treatment Plant Layout in
1957 — See Exhibit 1.2 (Attached)
D. Total Cost of Plant, Interceptors, Regulators
and Sanitary Pumping Stations in 1940 — $27,379,000
E. To July, 1957* Additions and Improvements
to the Above — $11,035*000
Total: $38,414,000
F. Primary Sedimentation - Chlorination of Plant
Effluent Eighty-five percent of the set tie able
solids are removed and incinerated*
G. 2,605,000 people served - This Includes 660,000
in 35 adjacent communities
(The Exhibits to Section 1 are as follows:)
-------
Sterling T»p
?S E OAKLAND
DISTRICT
West Bloomfield
T.p
LAKE SHORE
SOUTHFIELD1- Hf
VOLE ROUGE
DISTRICT
DEARBORN
- DEVROIT 5EWAGE
7 TREATMENT PLANT
DETROIT ME-TROPOHTAN
SEWAGE TREATMENT SERVICE AREA
UP TO 1957
Exhibit 1.1
f.LK 7-/1-U
-------
^i . ftntm rton»ir I
v~~,
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
" ,- ...
-------
Exhibit 2.4
DETROIT SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
ENLARGEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
JULY 22, 1957
-------
DETROIT SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
ENLARGEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
The Sewage Treatment Plant and the sewerage interceptor system now require additions
and improvements to provide:
(a) Proper facilities to handle the continually increasing sewage and ground
garbage load.
(b) Proper facilities to control the excessive fly ash now being discharged
into the atmosphere. The City is under notice that it is violating the
law on this matter.
(c) Improved treatment methods. As the plant is called upon to handle more
and more solids, better methods of treatment are needed to remove a
greater percentage of solids from the sewage, thus lessening the amount
going to the river.
(d) Added reliability and proper capacity to the interceptor system. Work
has been deterred on this item tor some time due to lack of funds.
At the same time these steps are oeing taken, it is recommended that certain additional
areas be connected to the system, namely: Dearborn, West Wayne County, and
Southeastern Oakland County (Shown on Exhibit 1, Appendix - Proposed Service Area
Map). This area addition will broaden the revenue base and make greater use of the
plant's designed capacities.
Historical
The Detroit Sewage disposal system was placed in service in 1940, and the total cost
was $27, 379,000 including plant and interceptor. Up to 1956 additions and improve-
ments were added costing about $4,000,000. In 1956 further improvements were made
costing $6, 500,000. The present indebtedness amounts to $7, 220,000 in the form of
revenue bonds.
The sewage disposal system serves Detroit and 34 adjacent communities. Exhibit 2,
Appendix, identifies the communities that are now served. A total of 2,667,000 people
are now being served; 1,909,000 of these are in Detroit and 758,000 in the suburbs.
Garbage
The ground garbage load is heavy and increasing continuously because of the expanding
use of domestic and commercial garbage grinders.
Some suburban areas have practically 100 per cent domestic garbage ground disposal
service and the use of these units in Detroit is increasing rapidly.
The original design oi? the Sewage Treatment Plant did not provide Tor garbage disposal.
This program provides the service of domestic and commercial ground garbage disposal
for all the area. Curves shown on Exhibit 3, Appendix, illustrate the importance of the
pertinent factors involved, such as sewage flow, sewage solids and garbage, and what
effect the years will have. _ _
-------
Fly Ash
The Board of Water Commissioners are and have been under notice for some time that
the present operations of the Sewage Treatment Plant are in violation of the law because
excessive fly ash is ejected to the atmosphere as the result of our sewage solids burn-
ing operations at 9300 West Jefferson. Fly ash is spread throughout the neighborhood
resulting in many complaints. Improved combustion equipment with proper appurte-
nances must be constructed to correct this condition.
Improved Treatment
The sewage treatment load has gradually increased. The increase is now accelerated
for a variety of reasons. Principal factors are addition of ground garbage, increased
per capita use of water and more industrial wastes. This means the transportation of
more and more tons of waste through the sewerage system to the treatment plant. An
improved treatment method must be considered, under any conditions, to reduce the
tonnage of wastes discharged to the Detroit River. Chemical precipitation is the
method most compatible with a comparatively moderate capital expenditure, but it
entails a much higher operating cost.
Schedule
To properly handle the sewage-garbage load, additional settling basins, filters,
incinerators, treatment facilities, and interceptor improvements, with appropriate
housing enclosures, have to be constructed.
A schedule of construction with estimated costs,by years, follows:
1958-61
Plant Additions
Four more sedimentation tanks.
Enlarged effluent collecting channel.
Overflow channel to Rouge River.
Second filter building.
Ten more vacuum filters.
Building for incinerating kiln.
One incinerating kiln.
Fly ash collecting equipment for this kiln.
Interceptor Additions and Improvements
Second siphon at Fort and Bayside.
Evergreen section of west interceptor - Ford Road to Warren.
Regulator and diversion works at West McNichols and Rouge River.
Control gates or Conner Creek outlet.
Alteration of Conner Creek intake well as a sanitary pumping station.
Total -$20,000,000.
-2 -
-------
1961-65
Plant Additions
Second filter building.
Six more vacuum filters.
Second incinerating kiln.
Fly ash collecting equipment for this kiln.
Interceptor Additions
Additional regulation and diversion works on master plan -
relief outlet.
Total - $ 5,767,000.
1965-75
Plant Additions
Three more sedimentation tanks.
Four more vacuum filters.
Set up dismantled incinerator.
Install improved treatment process. (Estimate based on chemical
precipitation process.)
Interceptor Additions
Additional regulation and diversion works on master plan -
relief outlets.
Total - $ 7,027,000.
Grand Total - $32,794,000.
Construction costs based on E.N.R. index of 808 for Detroit.
Recommendations are:
That the above schedule be adopted and that we be authorized at this time to spend
$20,000,000, and that money be spent as required to carry out the program as
scheduled. Three million dollars have accumulated towards this program. The
remaining seventeen million dollars will be financed by the issuance of revenue
bonds, to be issued as needed.
Increased operating costs and debt service result because of the improvement to
provide better service. Many localities are already receiving considerable garbage
disposal service, which is not included in the present sewage rate. To provide for
this extra service and to adjust tor these inequalities, a rate adjustment is recom-
mended of 10 cents per 1000 cubic feet on the basis of water used.
-3-
-------
The program is designed to provide Sewage Treatment facilities for 4 million people
by 1980; approximately 2 million in Detroit and 2 million in the adjacent suburban
areas.
The average Detroit family uses approximately 3000 cubic feet of water every three
months; therefore, the proposed increase of 10 cents per 1000 cubic feet would add
30 cents to that family's quarterly water bill.
Present Rate—Total Water and Sewage—Per iOOO cu. ft.
Suburban* Suburban*
Detroit* Municipalities Individual
First 10.000 cu.ft. per month $1.05 $1.19^ $1.23
Next 90,000 cu.ft. per month .87 1.00£ 1.04
All over 100,000 cu.ft. per month .75 .87^ .91
Proposed Rate--Total Water and Sewage--Per 1000 cu. ft.
First 10.000 cu.ft. per month $1.15 $1.29£ $1.33
Next 90,000 cu.ft. per month .97 1.10-J 1.14
All over 100,000 cu.ft. per month .85 .97 5 1.01
*Plus service charge.
Exhibit 4 shows the general plan of additions as they will be made at the Sewage
Treatment Plant and how the improvements will cover the area now owned by the
Department.
G. Remus/J
7-22-57
-4-
-------
AR MING TON DISTRICT^
EVERGREEN pISTR ICJ_
S.E.OAKLAND DISTRICT
LAKE_SHOFIE_
f~~ DISTRICT"
MIDDLE -
ROUGE
DISTRICT
LOWER
ROUGE
DISTRICT
v - OAKWOO'J DISTRICT
27.500
I4C.F.S
PROPOSED SERVICE AREA
DETROIT SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
I960 POPULATION 4,084,000
1956
Re*•*«** 4 17•£••/
EXHIBIT I
-------
PRESENT SERVICE AREA
DETROIT SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
1957 POPULATION 2,605,000
EXHIBIT 2
-------
'CITY OF DETROIT DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY DIVISION OF ENGINEERING
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT- ENLARGEMENT PROGRAM
POPULATION SERVED
PAST, PRESENT AND ESTIMATED FUTURE SHEET NO. I OF 5
COMPUTED BY V.ANDERSON DRAWN BY M.S.Y DATE JUNE 7, f957
00
z
o
z
D
CL
o
CL
NORTHWEST
INTERCEPTOR
CONNECTED TO
SEWAGE PLANT
TOTAL POPULATION TO BE SERVED
IF AREAS PROPOSED BY THE DPW
ARE ADDED IN 1959
TOTAL POPULATION
SERVED BY THE
SEWAGE PLANT
•TOTAL POPULATION TO BE SERVED
IF NO MORE AREA IS ADDED AFTER
19S6 INCLUDES DETROIT AMD 34
SUBURBS
•SEWAGE PLANT
PLACED IN
OPERATION
FEBRUARY 1940
H
-DETROIT POP
1
*\
ULATION CU
\
^\
RVE~\
"^ NOT ALL OF Dt
• DE TROIT POPULA TION
SERVED BY THE
SEWAGE PLANT
POPULATION WAS SERVED
BY THE SEWAGE PLANT
UNTIL 1955
1940
1945 1950 1955
I960
YEARS
1965
1970
1975 I960
EXHIBIT 3A
-------
CITY OF DETROIT
DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
DIVISION OF ENGINEER/NO
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT - ENLARGEMENT PROGRAM
SEWAGE PUMPAGE
PAST, PRESENT AND ESTIMATED FUTURE SHEET NO 2 OF 5
COMPUTED BY V.ANDERSON DRAWN BY M.S.Y. 0/«7-£jUNE 7,1957
I
cr
LLJ
CL
eo
z
900
800
TOO
< 600
=!
i
UJ
=! 500
400
Q.
UJ
O 300
CO
g 200
<
tt
UJ
100
AVERAGE SEWAGE PUMPAGE
IF AREAS PROPOSED BY THE
DP.W.ARE ADDED IN 1959
NORTHWEST INTERCEPTOR
CONNECTED TO
SEWAGE PL A NT -
AVERAGE SEWAGE
PUMPAGE
(FROM ANNUAL
REPORTS)
-AVERAGE SEWAGE PUMPAGE
IF NO MORE AREAS ARE ADDED.
AFTER 1956 - INCLUDES
DETROIT AND 34 SUBURBS
^^qriA
'^£r*&^~"^
/ '-SEWAGE PUMPAGE FOR
MOST OF DETROIT UP
TO 1955
^-AVERAGE SEWAGE PUMPAGE
FOR DETROIT ONLY
"^ALL OF DETROIT SEWAGE
CAME TO THE SEWAGE PLANT
AFTER 1955
— 1
1940 1945 1950 1955 I960 1965 1970 1975 I960
YEARS
EXHIBIT 3B
GFO ez:e<3—s-i;
-------
CITY OF DETRO/T DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY DIVISION OF ENGINEERING
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT - ENLARGEMENT PROGRAM
SUSPENDED SOLIDS REMOVED IN SEDIMENTATION TANKS
PAST, PRESENT AND ESTIMATED FUTURE SHEEJ NO 3 OF 5
COMPUTED BY V ANDERSON DRAWN BY M.S.Y. DATE JUNE 10,1957
800
o
to
2 700
Q
z
UJ
I 600
If)
<
CD
cr
Q
or
UJ
500
400
Q
DC
LLJ
°- 300
in
w 200
100
ASSUMING SOU SUSPENDED
SOLIDS RECOVERY FROM 1957
TO 1962 SAME LINE INDICATES
SOLIDS GOING TO RIVER-
SUSP**' ED SOLIDS
RECOVERED FROM
ENLARGED AREA
B
— DETROIT SOLIDS
SUSPENDED SOL/DS
RECOVERED
(FROM ANNUAL
REPORTS)
SUSPENDED SOL/DS
TO RIVER FROM
ENLARGED AREA
GARBAGE ADDED
^-SUSPENDED SOLIDS
TO RIVER FROM
PRESENT AREA
SUSPENDED
SOL/DS RECOVERED
FROM PRESENT AREA
CHEMICAL PRECIPITA 7ION PROCESS
STARTING IN 1963 WILL INCREASE
SOL/DS RECOVERY TO 80% AND
DECREASE SOLIDS GOING TO
RIVER _
1940
1945 1950 1955
I960
YEARS
1965
1970 1975 I960
EXHIBIT 3C
-------
CITY OF DETROIT DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY DIVISION OF ENGINEERING
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT - ENLARGEMENT PROGRAM
SOLIDS INCINERATED
PAST, PRESENT AND ESTIMATED FUTURE SHEET NO 4 OF 5
COMPUTED BY V.ANDERSON DRAWN BY M.S.Y. DATE JUNE 7,1957
900
SEWAGE SOLIDS
PLUS GARBAGE
SOLIDS FROM
ENLARGED AREA
SEWAGE
SOLIDS PLUS
GARBAGE SOLIDSj
(PRESENT
AREA)
CHEMICAL
PRECIPITATION
''I PROCESS ADDED
SEWAGE AND GARBAGE SOLIDS
INCREASE TO BE EXPECTED IF
AREAS PROPOSED BY THE DPW
ARE ADDED IN 1959
SEWAGE SOL/OS
FROM ENLARGED
AREA J 'X
SEWAGE SOLIDS
(PRESENT AREA)
SEWAGE SOLIDS
PLUS GARBAGE
SOLIDS
SEWAGE SOLIDS
iNCINERA TED
(FROM ANNUAL
RE POPTS)
DETROIT ONLY
SEWAGE SOLIDS
80% RECOVERY
-DETROIT ONLY
SEWAGE SOLIDS
SOX RECOVERY .
1940 1945
1975 I960
EXHIBIT 3 D
-------
CITY OF DETROIT DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY DIVISION OF ENGINEERING
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT-ENLARGEMENT PROGRAM
TOTAL SOLIDS- ENTERING & LEAVING SEDIMENTATION TANKS
PAST, PRESENT AND ESTIMATED FUTURE SHEET NO. 5 OF 5
COMPUTED BY V.ANDERSON DRAWN BY M.S.Y. DATE JUNE 7, 1957
2600
1940
1945 1950 1955
I960 1965
YEARS
1970 1975 I960
EXHIBIT 3E
-------
\
// •
,,// ; ; J?^
• ';/'* '--'^//l
I /; •lilll
:?/•'•.'$. ' '-""r^-C" *~- ^'•jb
/•.'-•-V.'-'-";-''^ \' • :- ' '' """*""*'. *""*";i.^V>
;; ; :| •'•'••/• •'/ ::^^?:
.••!£*$**$$'' " •' i^~"
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
;; - .-'••: '. "••- ..... r '
•>.•••,.; •-••-•.'..••*,., ......
••••;;^.:"..;''>^«>
'
•
FIRST STEP
SECOND STEP
THIRD STEP
JULY 1957
DESIGNED BY
DRAWN BY
T RACED BY f^/'^j/
C H^ CKbD BY /T^f i. ./T ,
ENLARGEMENT PROGRAM
GENERAL PLAN SHOWING
ADDITIONS IN THREE STEPS
CITY OF DETROIT
DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
DIVISION OF ENGINEERING
B-IOOO
EXHIBIT A
-------
438
SECTION 2
DETROIT'S SEWAGE SYSTEM
1957 to Present
A. Map of Area Served in 1962 — (See Exhibit 2.1)
B. Sewage Treatment Plant Layout in 1962 —
(See Exhibit 2.2)
C. Cost of Additions from 1957 to Present
1. Sewage Treatment Plant — $ 4,229,069
2. Interceptors, Regulators and
Sanitary Pumping Stations, Detroit $ 31465,109
Total: $ 7,694,176
3» Interceptors and Sanitary Pumping
Stations — Suburbs — $30,518,128
(See Exhibit 2.3)
Federal funds received —
1940 to date— $10,203,750
D. Population Served :
Approximately 3>100,000 in Detroit, including 1,400,000
in 47 suburban communities. Five more will be added
within the next year. The suburban population served
increased 740,000.
E. Detroit Sewage Disposal System - Enlargement and
Improvement Program, dated July 22, 1957
This program presents a step-by-step schedule for
plant and interceptor additions to provide sewage
-------
439
SECTION 2
treatment facilities for 4,000,000 people by 1980.
It is estimated that these improvements and additions
will cost $32,794,000. However, it should be under-
stood that we are not limiting the Sewage Treatment
Plant to 2000 c.f.s., or a population of 4,000,000.
Any additions and improvements that are necessary to
serve the load we have shall be made. The program
was approved by Michigan State Health Officials.
(See Exhibit 2.4)
(The Exhibits referred to in Section 2 are as
follows:)
-------
sWARREN
a
DETROIT METROPOLITAN
TREATMENT SERVICE AREA
Exhibit 2.1
(,U
-------
X
*-<•»*' iOCAT/OM Of
< '•'•• •""• /••• "'"r"-'^-ir^->i "'•"•-••?.:?
r,:.
j^
? --,...
-^'£,*•<*"}**'«'/'.
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
[.,, j FIRST STEP
SECOND STEP
j. -''.I THIRD STEP
COMPLETED SINCE 1957
REV MARCH 1962 JULY '9b7
DEi siNED BY / gt. <", v
DRA*K(_BY _
TRACED BY" ST^TT"
L Nt f\fcp BY T1"?^ .-C". .
ENLARGEMENT PROGRAM
GENERAL PLAN SHOWING
ADDITIONS IN THREE STEPS
CITY OP DETROIT
DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
DIVISION OF ENGINEERING
B-IOOO
EXHIBIT 2.2
-------
Exhibit 2.3
DETROIT'S S3V/AG3 DISPOSAL SYSTEM ADDITIONS. 1957-1962
Dewage Treatment riant Additions
Date
One fly ash collector
Two sedimentation tanlos
Enlarged effluent conduit
Employees service building
One centrifugal filter
New chlorinators
To be constructed — 1962-63:
Rouge River outfall
One multiple- hearth incinerator
Completed
1959
1960
1961
1961
1961
1961
Total:
Cost
C 95, 989
$1, 800, 000
$ 676, 500
$ 87, 495
$ 60, 000
$ 19, 085
$2, 739, 069
$ 750, 000
$ 740, 000
$1, 490, 000
$4, 229, 069
Interceptors, Regulators and Sanitary Pumping Stations
Date
Regulator and diversion works
\V. McNichols
Repairs, H.V7. Interceptor at Southfield
Conner Sanitary Pumping Station
River Rouge Section, N.Y/. Interceptor
Rouge Siphon " "
Back water gates, Chicago and Tireinan
Completed
1S58
1860
1961
1961
1961-62
1961
Total:
Cost
$ 99, 107
0 211,320
£ 949, 046
$1,328,000
v 639, 000
$ 238, 636
$3, 465, 109
$7,694,178
-------
Exhibit 2. 3 (Contd.)
Suburbs!
Interceptors and Pumping Stations
Date Completed Cost
Grosse Points V7oods - Harper Woods 1950 $6,318,950
Milk River Flood Control Station
Pumping Station, storage and retention
ponds
Grosse Pointe Park
Additions to pumping station 1961 $ 175,000
Dearborn E. Side, Sewage Treatment Plant
connected to Detroit 1960 $ 500,000
Allen Park - connected to Detroit 1959 $ 30,000
Farmington and Evergreen - Farmington
District 1960 and 1962 $15,000,000
Sanitary interceptors, pumping stations
and trunk sewers to deliver sewage to
Detroit for treatment
Farmington 1958 $ 800,000
Sanitary interceptor to Detroit for
treatment and treatment of combined
sewer overflows (settling, chlorination
and dewatering to interceptor)
Total: $22, 823, 950 *
* These figures do not include any storm sewerage facility costs.
-------
440
SECTION 3
STORM FLOWS
A. The Detroit Sewage Treatment Plant treats storm flow
to the extent that the large size storm drains can
store "flow". The regulator construction and plant
operating practices combine to provide treatment for
a considerable amount of street run-off.
B. The designed capacity of the plant and the interceptors
is to handle 324 gallons per day per capita. The water
consumption is 154 gallons per day per capita and less
during storm period. The excess capacity over normal
flow is for storm water treatment.
C. The City of Detroit has spent $350,000,000 on trunk and
public sewers, not including laterals. The area system
probably has cost at least $500,000,000.
D. The Detroit practice of treating storm flows to the ex-
tent we do more than leads the field in that most
local areas are now only wrestling with sanitary
flow. The storm flows in Canada and adjacent United
States areas to Detroit are not treated. In addition,
all adjacent truck farm areas liberate large amounts
of insecticides and fertilizers. Therefore, improve-
ment above that practiced by Detroit on storm flow
treatment should not be advanced except that it be
adopted for the area.
-------
441
SECTION 4
PRESENT DEVELOPMENTS
A. Status of Detroit River at Present
Detroit Department of Water Supply Sampling Data -
Detroit River
For many years the Detroit Department of Water Supply
has sampled the Detroit and Rouge Rivers to learn the
sanitary quality of these waters. From May until the
middle of October, weekly samples have been taken on
ranges across the Detroit River from United States to
Canada. The locations of these are as follows:
Range 5A — From Zug Island waste bed to
Canada, 700 feet above outfall
Range 6A — Zug Island, across outfall to
Canada, 100 feet above Rouge River
Range 7A — Detroit Edison River Rouge Station
to Canada, 400 feet below Rouge
River
Range 8A — Great Lakes Steel, north end to
head of Fighting Island, then due
east to Canada
Ran^e 5o — Wyandotte to head of Grassy Island
to Fighting Island
Samples are also collected weekly throughout the year
across the Trenten Channel Toll Bridge and the Rouge River
-------
442
at Jefferson Avenue. Monthly samples are collected
along the Rouge River from Eight Mile Road to Jeffer-
son Avenue. Samples are also collected once a year
during the summer down river and along the Lake Erie
shore as far as Sterling State Park.
(Exhibit 4.1 & 4.1A)
The Detroit River samples collected during the past
three years have shown the sanitary quality of the
water as far downriver as the Trenton Channel to be
improving. In fact, the trend is definitely towards
better quality. The bacteriological pollution present
is along the American and Canadian shores.
(See Exhibit 4.2)
Rouge Riven
The Rouge River shows increasing bacteriological pol-
lution, with the largest increase during the past year.
(See Exhibit 4.3) The flows through the Rouge River
at the Jefferson Avenue Bridge approximate that through
the Detroit Sewage Treatment outfall due to the large
quantities of water taken from the old arm of the
Rouge River and released at the Rouge Plant by the
Ford Motor Car Company.
Bacteriological Quality Related to Depths:
Most bacteriological sampling of rivers is done at
or near the surface of the stream. This type of
-------
443
sampling determines the surface quality only. It is
questionable If surface sampling reflects the true
bacteriological quality of the river. Evidence exists
to show that depth sampling will show less pollution.
Fishing in Lake Erie and the Detroit River;
It is a well known fact that fish will not remain in
heavily polluted waters. Yet pickerel and perch
are caught in the entire length of the Detroit River
and also in the western end of Lake Erie. This evidence
substantiates the theory that the pollution is mainly
near the surface.
The Detroit News, on March 4, 1962, reported record
catches of perch in Lake Erie off Monroe County. Fisher-
men are advised by the Conservation Officer to walk
out from the shore at Luna Pier, Bolles Harbor, Avalon
Beach and Sterling State Park.
(See Exhibit 4.41)
I.J.C. Data on Detroit and Rouge Rivers;
The I.J.C. data over the past three years have not
always covered the same ranges across the Detroit
River. In two oases the same ranges were sampled,
namely, Dt. 14. W and Dt. 12. OW. The results agree
with those of the Department of Water Supply. There
has been a decrease in the ooliform pollution over
the past years downstream as far as Trenton Channel.
-------
444
Their data on the Rouge River agree with that obtained
by the Detroit Department of Water Supply also in that
they show an increase in ooliforra pollution during the
past three years.
(See Exhibit 4.5)
Aerial Picture of Junction of Rouge and Detroit Riverst
(See Exhibit 4.6)
This color photo shows the location of the treatment
plant outfall and flow very clearly. It is located
in the upper right hand corner about 200 feet above
the Rouge River and about 400 feet from shore.
Contamination upstream from the outfall can also be
seen as well as heavy pollution coming from the
Rouge River. There is little mixing of the outfall
flow and the Rouge flow until they blend several hundred
feet below the Rouge. The outfall flow rises to the
surface.
B. The Michigan Department of Health Engineering Division
and the Michigan Water Resources Commission on January
8, 1962, issued a report titled: "Some Significant
Accomplishments and Trends in Pollution Control In the
Greater Detroit Metropolitan Area During the Period
1957-1962."
During this period, projects to control pollution valued
at $52,620,000 have been completed, and those in progress
-------
445
or scheduled for 1962 are valued at $51,200,000, or a
total of $103,820,000,
Excerpts from this report are as follows:
"Today the communities and industries in the Greater
Detroit Metropolitan area are culminating a period of
coordinated effort in pollution control. This is dem-
onstrated by the number, type and magnitude of waste
treatment works completed or scheduled for completion
this year in all sections of this six county area.
Most of the municipal installations will have reserves
in capacity sufficient to meet the needs of anticipated
growth until 1980 or later. Some are planned for
ultimate development of the community.
"The principle of a coordinated system of interceptor
sewers serving several communities delivering sewage
to a central treatment works has gained favor in the
last decade in several new areas. The framework for
such a system was developed in the mid-thirties by
Detroit and Wayne County. During the past five years
this system has been expanded and strengthened In major
portions of the fast growing areas of Oakland County
and Maoomb County. Wayne County Is almost wholly de-
pendent upon three major and other minor systems of
this kind. These coordinated multi-community facilities
have removed most of the pollution from the lower end
GPO 8208I9-B-21
-------
446
of Lake St. Glair. By June, 1962, pollution from sewage
will be largely eliminated from all branches of the
Rouge River. By these means health hazards and condition^
of nuisance will be effectively reduced for large seg-
ments of the population.
". , . That the tempo of construction of control facil-
ities throughout the area has been accelerated tremen-
dously since 1959 is very evident. Equally obvious is
the increased protection to the Lake Erie, Lake St.
Glair, the Detroit River and the tributary streams which
the facilities now under construction or to be commenced
this year will provide when completed.
"Increasing emphasis on effective disinfection for
bacteriological control of effluents will assure im-
provements in water quality in the receiving waters
as the new projects are completed and placed in oper-
\
ation. This is an Important and significant trend
in both present and future installations.
"For the future many communities are preparing either
by themselves, or through county agencies, to assess
future needs and how best to meet them. Several out-
standing examples illustrate this trend. The City of
Detroit is continuing to broaden its long range plan
to serve the metropolitan area with waste transportation
facilities. Wayne County, through its Department of
-------
44?
Public Works, is planning how to extend its interceptor
and treatment system for the entire county beyond 1980 to
ultimate development. Oakland County, through its
Department of Public Works, is planning facilities for
the Clinton River and Huron Basins. Communities in the
Huron River basin in Washtenaw County have adopted a
water use management policy for the Lower Huron River.
Thus the stage is being set to meet the needs of a grow-
ing dynamic society years in advance. This is a healthy
and progressive approach which bids fair to continue the
shift from corrective action to prevention -- to be
ahead rather than behind in pollution control."
C. Michigan Department of Health Approval of Detroit
Sewage Disposal System Enlargement and Improvement
Program, July 22, 1957
At a meeting in Lansing, Michigan, on July 22, 1957,
between representatives of the Engineering Division of
the Michigan Department of Health and Engineers of the
Detroit Department of Water Supply, the enlargement and
improvement program for the Detroit Sewage Disposal
System was tentatively approved with the exception of
the Rouge overflow outlet channel.
In a letter of March 14, 1958, the formal approval for
the auxiliary outfall to the Rouge River was given.
This completed the approval for the whole project.
-------
448
Approvals from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties were
obtained. On May 13, 1958, the Common Council of the
City of Detroit took formal action approving and author-
izing the program, whichis in effect now.
(See Exhibit 4.7)
D. Facilities under construction or about to go in service
in the immediate area of Detroit to abate pollution are
valued at approximately $29,000,000.
(See Exhibit 4.8)
Rouge Valley Sewage Disposal System, Exhibit 4.9
Down River Sewage Disposal System, Exhibit 4.10
Northeast Interceptor District, Exhibit 4.11
E. Dequindre Interceptor — 1962-63
An auxiliary sanitary interceptor to deliver sewage from
Southeastern Oakland County Sewage Disposal District to
Detroit for treatment has been planned. In addition,
facilities for storage and retention of overflows from
the combined sewers with subsequent dewatering to the
Interceptor are to be built.
The purpose of the above is to prevent untreated sewage
to flow into Red Run Drain and the Clinton River.
Cost of interceptor alone — $4,500,000
With Combined sewer overflow controls — 7,000,000
Twelve Towns Drain
In this same area, a relief sewer project is proposed
-------
449
to carry off storm waters, thus preventing flooding and
health hazards from a mixture of sewage and storm water,
(The Exhibits to Section 4 are as follows:)
-------
TYPICAL WINTER AND SUMMER MONTHS
UPPER ROUGE BACTERIOLOGICAL DATA
February 18, 1959
Exhibit 4.1
Sample
No.
1-A
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
IT
18
19
Location
of
Sample
8-Mile at Telegraph
8-Mlle at Berg Rd.
7 -Mile Rd.
6-Mile Rd.
5-Mile Rd.
Telegraph-Bell Branch
Schoolcraft
Plymouth
Joy Road
Telegraph-Middle Branch
Warren Road
Ford Road
Telegraph-Lower Branch
Southfield Road
Rotunda Drive
Greenfield Road
Schaefer Road
Dix Road
Pore Street
Jefferson Avenue
Water
Temp.
°F.
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
33
37
40
39
41
D.O.
PPM
9.6
4.4
9.9
10.2
10.9
10.6
10.0
9.8
10.0
11.3
10.2
10.4
11.9
10.7
10.6
10.5
9.7
9.7
10.7
9.9
%
St'd
66
30
68
70
75
73
68
67
68
77
70
71
81
73
73
73
72
75
81
77
B.Q.D.
PPM
11
12
12
12
13
14
12
12
12
18
14
14
18
19
24
36
24
16
16
18
Colifonc
Index-
M.P.N.
4,400
93,000
9,300
2,300
43,000
43,000
43,000
93,000
43,000
23,000
43,000
75,000
*
93,000
93,000
230,000
430,000
230,000
93,000
230,000
* Sample Lost.
-------
UPPER ROOOE BACTERIOLOGICAL DATA
1959
Saaple Water
Hog Location of Sanple Te«p °F«
1-A
1
2
3
I*
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
U»
15
16
17
18
19
8-Mile Road
MlHe Road
7-Mile Road
6-Mile Road
5-Mile Road
Telegraph-Bell Branch
Schooler aft
Plymouth
Joy Road
Telegraph-Middle Branch
Warren Road
Ford Road
Telegraph-Lover Branch
Southf ield Road
Rotunda Ifcrire
Greenfield Road
Sehaef er Road
Due Road
Port Street
Jefferson Avenue
71*
7k
75
7k
76
75
71*
7k
76
76
76
71*
72
7k
Ik
7k
83
86
81*
83
0.0.
P.P.M,
3.5
3-6
14.3
U.9
3.3
3.6
2.5
1.8
l.l
3.3
0
.6
1.1
2.1
0.8
1.3
1.2
0.6
0
0
*
Sat'd
U.
U2
50
56
39
U2
29
21
13
39
0
9
13
25
10
16
15
8
0
0
B.O.D.
P.P.M.
1*
6
k
5
5
7
5
1*
6
1*
9
7
7
5
6
11
6
6
6
10
Colifo™
Index
K.P.H.
9,300
15,000
7,500
15,000
23,000
1*3,000
23,000
21,000
210,000
1*3,000
1*,600>000
930,000
2,1*00,000
2,1*00,000
930,000
2,1*00,000
930,000
2,1*00,000
930,000
1,500,000
-------
UPPER B400I BACTERIOLOGICAL DATA
January 28.. I960
Collfor»
Sample Water
No. Location of Sample Temp.
1A
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
8
9
10
11
12
13
Ik
15
16
17
18
19
8 -Mil* Road
8-Mile Road
7 -Mile Road
6 -Nile Road
5-Mile Road
Telegraph-Bell Branch
Schoolaraft
Plymouth
Joy Road
Telegraph-Middle Branch
Warren Road
Ford Road
Telegraph -Lower Branch
Southfleld Road
Rotunda Drive
Greenfield Road
Schaefer Road
Dix Road
Fort Street
Jeffer»on Ave.
34
34
3^
32
33
32
32
32
34
34
34
34
34
32
35
40
41
44
44
44
D.O.
F.P.M.
11.5
9-2
12.1
12.5
12.2
11.9
12.0
11.8
11.0
12.6
10.5
10.7
11.4
11.1
10.5
3.3
9-3
10.6
10.3
9-4
%
Sat'd
81
65
86
85
85
61
82
81
78
89
74
75
80
76
75
64
73
86
84
77
B.O.D.
P. P.M.
2
9
6
6
7
a
9
9
11
7
13
12
18
14
15
22
21
13
10
9
Index
M.P.H.
93,ooo
93,000
43,000
43,000
43,000
ZHO,000
240,000
240.000
240. OOO
23,OOO
240,000
460,000
240,000
240,000
230,000
2,400,000
2,400,000
93.000
150,000
93,000
-------
UPPER ROUGE BACTERIOLOGICAL DATA
July 21, I960
Sample
No.
1A
1
2
3
k
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Location of Sample
8-Mile Road at Telegraph
8 -Mile Road at Berg Road
7 -Mile Road
6 -Mile Road
5 -Kile Road
Telegraph -Bell Branch
Schoolcraft
Plymouth
Joy Road
Telegraph-Hiddle Branch
Warren Road
Ford Road
Telegraph-Lower Branch
Southfield
Rotunda Drive
Greenfield Road
Sohaefer Road
Dix Road
Fort Street
Jef fereon Avenue
Te^p.
V
66
67
68
68
68
70
67
70
69
68
68
68
69
72
75
78
80
82
82
BO
D.C.
P. P.M.
5.1
2.5
6.7
7.5
4.3
12.1
4.8
5.8
1.3
2.9
0
0
.5
0
0
0
0
.8
1.9
.7
Sat'
54
27
74
81
47
13*
52
65
14
32
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
23
1
B.O.D.
d P. P.M.
3
5
4
4
5
9
6
6
8
6 a
•> 19
> 19
9
17 >
•£. 19
19
17
7
5
4
Coliform
Index ,
M.P.N.
23,000
43,000
93,000
23,OOO
9,300
360
9,300
4,300
1,100,000
2,400,000
240,000
9,300
93,000
2,400,000
2,400,000
2,400,000
2,400,000
930.000
430,000
230.0OO
-------
UPPER ROUGE BACTERIOLOGICAL DATA
February 21, 1961
Water
Saaple Temp. D.O.
No. Location of Sample P. p. P.M.
1A
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
8 -Mile Road at Telegraph
8-Mile Road at Berg Road
7 -Mile Road
6 -Mile Road
5-Mile Road
Telegraph — Bell Branch
Schoolcraft
Plymouth
Joy Road
Telegraph — Middle Branch
Warren Road
Ford Road
Telegraph — Lower Branch
Southfield
Rotunda Drive
Greenfield Road
Schaefer Road
Dix Road
Port Street
Jefferson Avenue
37 9.8
33 5.1
32 10.1
32 10.8
32 10.3
32 7.4
33 9.6
34 9.2
33 8.7
34 11.0
34 7.6
34 7.9
34 7.4
34 10.5
34 9-8
40 9.3
44 9-3
44 9.9
44 10.8
44 9.8
%
Sat'd
72
35
69
74
70
51
67
65
60
78
54
56
52
74
69
72
76
81
88
80
Coliform
B.O.D. Index ,
P. P.M. M.P.N.
8
10
10
10
10
8
8
10
12
10
28
24
17
16
18
24
24
6
8
6
93,000
93,000
2,300
2,300
43,000
93,000
120 , 000
93,000
93,000
43,000
1 , 500 , 000
1,500,000
2,400,000
430,000
930 , ooo
1 , 500 , 000
2,400,000
230,000
150,000
9,300
-------
UPPER ROUGE BACTERIOLOGICAL DATA
Augmt 24, 1961
Staple
No.
1A.
^
2.
3
-/ -
4.
5-
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13-
14.
15-
16.
17.
18.
19-
Water
*&*•
Location of Saaple ?.
8-Mile Road at Telegraph
8 -Nile Road at Berg Road
7 -Nil* Road
6 -Mile Road
5-Mile Road
Telegrapn--B«ll Brancn
Soboolcraf t
Plymouth
Joy Road
Telegraph--Ml 2. ,400.
> 2,400,
> 2,400,
>: 2,400,
2^0
230,
4,600,
230,
930,
2,400,
-> 24 , 000
4 , 600 .
230.
430,
430,
000
ooo
000
000
000
ooo
ooc
ooo
000
000
ooo
000
ooo
ooo
000
.000
000
ooo
ooo
ooo
-------
1
2
3
6
7
B
9
10
11-A
11-B
13-A
13-E
Location
UK.TH01T RIVER BACTERIOLOGICAL - 1959
LOWER RIVER AND LAKE ERIE SHOftELXffE SAMPLING
Auguat 21, 1959
Collfon* TgMp.
Index, H.P.H
Ft, of Southfield
Ft. of Superior. Wyandotte
Boat DOCK, Elizabeth ftork, Trenton
Ft. of Coral Street, OlbrmltmT-
Gibraltar Bajr at Park
Ft. of Dee Roati, Mapl* Beach
Silver Cw«k at River Road
Huron River at River Road
Eatral Beach
Swan Creak at River Road
Point Aux r*axuc at Point
Point Aux Peaux at Dlxcm Drive
Stony rolnt Haven at Shore
Stony Point Haven, 350 ft. fro* Shore
Sterling State Park at StK>re
Obaervatlona
240,000
240,000
43.000
2.300
9.300
13,000
43.000
24.OOO
24,000
4.300
9.300
4,300
2,300
26
a*
81 Turbid
80
fl2
82
82
66
8?
86
85 " , Septic Odor
86
83
65
63 Lo« water, turfald
82 "
8O Pav Battier*. No Ba
\ •»* 1 1 ^4*
(HOTE: Clear, hot, hwild, 90° F-. Wind W. ,S¥, 6 M.P.H. , 1O:OO A.W. , 2:3O P.*. )
-------
EBTROIT RIVER BACTERIOLOGICAL DATA—1960
LOWER RIVER AMD LAKE ERIE SHORELDOC SAMPLING
AUGUST 18, I960
3anpl<
Mo.
Location
1 Ft. of Southfield
2 Ft. of Superior, Wyandotte
3 Boat Dock, Elizabeth Park, Trenton
4 Ft. of Coral St., Gibraltar
5 Ft. of Bftyrlew, Gibraltar
6 Ft. of Lee Road, Maple Beaeh
7 Silver Creek at River Road
8 Huron River at River Road
9 Eatral B«ach
10 Swan Creek, at River Road
11A Point Aux Peaux at Point
11B Point Aux Peaux at Dlxon Drlv«
13A Stony Point HaT«n at Shor«
13B Stony Point Har«n, 10O ft. from Shor«
14 St«rling Stat« Park, 300 ft. from Shor«
MOTE;-
Colifor*
Index,
M.P.K.
9,300
15,000
15,000
9,300
23,000
9,300
23,000
15,000
4,300
9,300
2,100
930
430
93
Temp.
°F. o b s e r v a t i 6 n s
76 Turbid, Oil Slick.
76 Turbid.
77 Turbid, Oil Slick.
79 Turbid, Oil Sllok.
79 Dirty.
79 Dirty.
78 Turbid, Slow Flow.
78 Turbid, Slow Flow.
77 Dirty.
78 Turbid, Slow Flow.
76 Turbid,
76 Turbid,50 Bathers.
78 Turbid.
77 Turbid, Pier Collapsed.
76 Turbid, Clean, taken by boat,
6 Bathers.
(gaovuly, hu.id, 1/2 mile visibility, 80° F., Wind E. S.E., 14 W.P.I., 9:*5 a...-2:20 p...
-------
EXHIBIT 4.2
W. JEFFERSON
AVE. BRIDGE
RANGE
5A
6A
7B
8A
U. S SHORE
TO 1 B.-FT.
1500
1600
1300
1500
TRENTON
TOLL
BRIDGE
GREAT LAKES RR. *
BRIDGED
MAP OF DETROIT
RIVER, SHOWING
REGULAR SAMPLING
RANGES.
-------
RANGE 5A
ZUG ISLAND WASTE BED TO CANADA
D.W.S. 700 FT. ABOVE OUTFALL
5OO
1000 1500 2000
FT. FROM U.S. SHORE
2500
30OO
-------
RANGE 6A ZUG ISLAND, ACROSS OUTFALL TO CANADA
D.WS. 100 FT. ABOVE ROUGE RIVER
iOO.OQO
5OO
1000 I50O 2000
FT. FROM U. S. SHORE
2500
3000
-------
RANGE 7B DET. ED CO. RIVER ROUGE STA TO CANADA
DWS 400 FT. BELOW ROUGE RIVER
500
1000 1500 2000 2500
FT FROM U.S. SHORE
3000
GPO 82O81»—B-22
-------
RANGE 8A GT. LAKES STEEL, N. END TO HD. FIGHTING ISLAND DWS.
- ^ EAST
2SOO
3000
FT. FROM U.S. SHORE
-------
«ANCE SB WYANDOTTE TO GRASSY ISLAND TO FIGHTING ISLAND
DWS
4&o
FT. FROM U. S. SHORE
-------
RANGE 12
D.WS.
TRENTON CHANNEL - TOLL BRIDGE
500 1000 I50O 2000
FT. FROM W. SHORE CMAINLAND)
-------
Exhibit 4.3
ROUGE RIVER BACTERIOLOGICAL COUNTS
WEST JEFFERSON AVENUE BRIDGE
Detroit Department of Water Supply
Samples collected once a week throughout the year
Median Values:
1959 -- 150.000MPN
1960 -- 158,000 "
1961 -- 230,000 "
International Joint Commission
1961 samples collected the first part of the year from DTI Railroad
Bridge--the remainder from West Jefferson Avenue Bridge
*1959 -- 43.000MPN
*1960 -- 58,000 "
1961 -- 330,000 "
* Collected from DTI Railroad Bridge only.
Values low due to Detroit River flow through old arm of Rouge.
-------
REPORT SPECTACULAR CATCHES Detroit News 3/4/62
Lake Erie Perch Are Biting
If you want to try fishing for j for the past couple of weeks, Spud a hole almost anywhere,
I perch in Lake Erie, off Monroe iMmick reports. ;n<> Myi amj you ougnt to ^
Count,, where ft. catches are: J^J,'^ sT^y'of'?«** «" "** I** *
reportedly *p*ctmcular. Conser-'minrow, for hnji ,re a,j you'll ;fnr* manV m
-------
EXHIBIT 4.5
RANGE DTRG 19.8-
RANGE DT 12 OW
-------
RANGE OT 25.7
U.S. ENGINEERS TO HIRAM WALKER DOCK
1961 DATA IJC
JSOO
FT. FROM U.S. SHORE
-------
RANGE OT^Oft DET. ED CO. DELRAY DOCK TO C.IL. DOCK WINDSOR
IJC DATA
FT. FROM U S SHORE
-------
RANGE I7.0E
I.J.C.
100*0.
FIGHTING ISLAND TO CANADA
500
1000
FT. FROM FIGHTING ISLAND
-------
KANGC OT 17 4 W
I J C
ECORSE LIGHT TO HD. FIGHTING ISLAND
300
1000 1500 2000
FT. FROM U. S. SHORE
sooo
-------
RANGE OT 14.6W
100.000
WYANDOTTE CITY DOCK TO FIGHTING ISLAND
BOO
1000 1500 2000
FT. FROM U.S. SHORE
2500
3000
3500
-------
MANOE OT IX.O
IJC
TRENTON CHANNEL TOLL BRIDGE
FT FROM U S SHORE
-------
1959
i960
Sewage Pumped MOD
Arlth. Stat.
January
February
March
April
May
June
Juty
Aufiut
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Auguat
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
Mean
533.3
563.0
575.3
S40.1
626.3
636.9
642.3
632.1
619.3
610.8
579.4
649.2
629.5
692.8
588.6
602.0
614.6
870.9
586.8
618.1
576.1
542.3
550.2
512.5
541.8
592.1
561.8
647.7
619.1
578.0
575.8
•01.4
603.0
504.3
523.5
507.7
546.5
549.1
Mean
••••^•••M
636
646
635
617
601
569
628
596
584
594
596
606
673
589
628
572
546
544
617
540
576
562
629
611
•68
568
599
602
500
496
496
516
547
Temperature
of Tank Effluent
52
51
51
56
63
71
76
78
75
67
55
52
50
55
62
67
74
f v
7K
1 O
fil
01
c/j
9V
11
O.1
Ot\
60
Jt7
Of
MA
73
MA
76
MC
75
Biochemical Oayien Demand-
Influent
PPm
118.0
101.6
97.3
103.2
108.1
104.8
106. •
81.9
96.9
108.0
100.6
111.0
106.5
107.0
115.3
119.8
118.1
100.7
101.6
101.1
114.4
107.9
111.5
132.9
131.6
145.4
102.9
115.1
101.9
115.5
86. 9
18. 3
93.8
123.6
125.7
*•*" •
124.0
134.4
136.1
Effluent
pprn
96.4
77.0
71.6
69.4
64.9
U.I
•3.6
•3.0
64.1
65.3
72.3
78.6
78.4
86.3
T9.6
13.1
59.1
•4.8
M.O
76.4
7T.1
•1.9
91. •
90.4
9T.O
76.8
70. •
67.7
«8.<
60.1
54.9
59.3
69.7
74.0
84.8
81.9
86.6
%
IWuction
1ft. 1
14.1
15.4
30.5
40.0
39.3
40.2
36.1
44.2
39.5
32.1
35.4
33.2
16.
25.
S3.
IS.
41.
M.
34.
33.2
18.6
14.5
31.1
31.
33.
16.
38.
33.
40.
30.
tt.
36.
43.
41.
29.
39. 7
34.3
-------
Suspended Solids
Effluent -
Arlth. Mean
338
346
285
277
343
335
391
378
392
423
309
431
332
320
340
366
347
384
394
399
481
358
375
346
332
290
274
296
293
314
361
381
402
1000 IbB.
Suit. Mean
335
340
290
273
322
321
395
371
385
416
410
429
342
325
346
369
350
376
392
406
472
350
358
312
328
276
283
297
303
315
354
344
394
Influent
ppm
236.4
204.1
234.2
259.0
271.2
237.2
235.3
206. 1
204.9
196.6
167.9
197.4
202.9
197.0
209.3
277. 1
272.5
245. 5
187.1
207.9
199.6
209.6
224. 9
214.4
198. 1
314.8
235.0
261.3
206.8
246.8
180.9
182.4
210.9
229. 7
285.4
228. 7
258.8
241.9
Effluent
ppm
134.2
126.0
124.6
119.8
113.0
109.2
111.6
98.3
108.0
98.9
95. 1
107.5
110.3
117.0
123. 1
133.8
126.6
100.2
94.0
94.8
102.8
117.2
108. 3
116.0
107.0
158.8
122.9
123.0
10J.3
101.9
98.7
93.9
97.3
101.3
136.9
128.2
140.5
133.0
*
Reduction
43.2
38.3
46.8
53.8
58.3
54.0
52.6
52.3
47.3
49.7
43.4
45.5
45.6
40.6
41.2
51.7
53.5
59.2
49.8
54.4
48.5
44.1
51.9
45.9
46.0
49.6
47.7
52.9
50.5
58.7
45.4
48.5
53.9
55.9
52.0
43.9
45.1
45.0
Effluent
Arlth. Mean - 1000 Iba
588
603
519
561
508
472
594
598
589
605
680
651
562
465
492
491
532
495
496
486
814
575
677
537
489
478
473
491
427
617
566
678
622
•Docs not include grit and screenings
-------
Special Compilation of Operating Data — Detroit Sewage Treatment Piant (Contd.)
1959
1960
1961
1962
Sedimentation Tanks
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
Number in
Service
7.0
7.9
9.1
8.7
6.4
5.2
5.5
6.0
6.1
6.2
7.7
8.8
9.3
8.3
8.6
7.9
7.1
6.8
6.4
6.0
6.1
6.9
7.5
5.7
6.8
6.6
5,8
7.1
7.2
6.6
7.3
8.2
7.8
6.1
7.1
7.2
6.9
7.1
Detention
Time - Hrs.
0.91
.95
1.10
.94
.72
.57
.59
.66
.69
.70
.93
.94
1.02
.98
1.01
.92
.81
.70
.76
.68
.73
.89
.96
.77
.87
.71
.73
.77
.85
.80
.88
.95
.90
.84
.95
1.00
.88
.93
Chlorine
Demand
ppm
3.94
3.33
2.76
2.79
3.14
4.48
5.11
4.60
4.15
3.74
3.76
3.59
3.60
3.69
4.03
4.39
4.70
4.14
5.69
5.98
6.11
5.39
4.79
3.65
3.29
3.54
3.14
3.02
3.25
5.19
5.84
6.31
5.98
6.79
5.54
4.85
3.50
3.65
Chlorine
Applied
ppm
3.02
2.67
2.40
2.43
2.46
3.44
4.16
3.74
3.60
3.45
3.58
3.26
3.38
3.13
2.90
3.40
3.65
3.41
4.68
5.23
5.15
4.77
3.81
3.31
3.12
3.19
2.87
2.85
3.13
4.34
4.74
5.09
4.90
5.23
4.47
4.46
3.39
3,50
Chlorine
Residual
ppm
0.38
.60
.77
.56
.33
.26
.39
.36
.44
.39
.40
.44
.66
.67
.61
.71
.50
.33
.11
. 03
.38
.42
.17
.14
.30
.15
.14
.14
.07
.00?
.01
.12
.44
.34
.27
.11
.38
.33
-------
Page 2
Coliform Indices. MPN, x 1000
Tank
Effluent
3,830
1,589
1,970
2,880
4,564
7,820
11,200
15, 600
16,890
25, 600
7.819
3,615
2,470
2,790
2,710
3,680
7,200
11, 120
16,300
20,100
16,700
12,940
9,950
7,407
5,930
4.860
4,560
4,180
6.390
11,800
18,600
23, 900
19, 300
15, 700
10, 040
6,630
4,330
4,920
Geom. Mean
443
238.6
122
71.0
46.8
1,164
240
782
1.462
578
963.6
583.0
200
274
249
250
581
586.4
762
720
281
289
1,373
1,938
1,450
1,470
971
805
1,625
2,190
2,270
774.4
153
592
107
67.7
37.3
30.9
Final Effluent
Stat. Mean Adjusted Geom. Mean Adjusted Me41*n
1, 100
270
840
1,790
700
1,030
661
199
271
255
260
560
600
790
740
240
286
1,490 59.2 74
2,490 166 196
1,530 74.6 gg
1,480 69.1 85
950 36 44.8
848 45 30
1,125 51.4 77
2,260 150 169
2,250 242 280
1.000 96.9 109
150
543 123 133
120
70.7
37.3
36.8
GPO 820BIO-B-23
-------
Exhibit 4.6
-------
Exhibit 4.7
EXCERPTS FROM
MINUTES OF MEETING IN LANSING, MICHIGAN
JULY 22, 1957 - 10:30 AM to 12 NOON
PLACE - Michigan Dept. of Health Bldg. - Office of W. Shephard
PRESENT:
W. R. Shephard - Director, Division of Engrg., Mich. Dept. of Health
D. M. Pierce - Division of Engineering,
G. Remus - General Manager & Chief Engineer, Detroit Water Supply
V. Anderson - Engineer,
Not Present - C. Palmer of the D.P.W. - away on vacation
SUBJECT OF MEETING;
Detroit Sewage Treatment Plant - Enlargement Program. Particularly,
the overflow channel to the Rouge River. One copy of the Enlargement
Program was left with Mr. Pierce (Copy #3)
PURPOSE CF MEETING:
The purpose of the meeting was to get, at this time, tentative approval
of the Enlargement Program so it could be presented to the Mayor or
Council.
DISCUSSION:
No objection was raised to the program as a whole, but Mr. Pierce
wants more information about the overflow channel to the Rouge, such
as how much flow and how often would the channel carry water to the
Rouge, before he commits himself. This information will be sent to him.
Mr. Shephard then said that no one could object to our general enlarge-
ment program, especially since we were trying to improve the River
conditions.
CONCLUSIONS;
Mr. Shephard will write a letter in a few days outlining his view on the
program.
Mr. Pierce wants to study the Rouge overflow outlet channel a little
more before committing himself.
-------
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT DF HEALTH
LANSING 4, MICHIGAN
March 14, 1958
Mr. Ocra&d. Samuv
C atker* I tfAoasar
Department of rfater supply
735 Randolph Street
Detv-oiB 26, K
Dear Mr. Seous;
Betrolt S«vag« Treatment Plane
gtofde) - AoxiUory Roo^a Guclot
This latter is vcittea in response uo your* or Hacch 11.
The information supplied la your latter, aad particularly CD the second
page tbtrccf f conflnra end farther «l*»oracat upon «aoh o* Cac coodtticn* otic
liaod in our letter of February. 28 AS a b&*i* for approval of the proposed
•axillary ootfall to the Rouge SUscr. YOU «4j rhacafoio uonaid&r cM* «« a
formal approve! ot tbe principlee outlined with raapect to this proposal.
We eball look forward with interact to receiving the plao* on4 «§ecifia*ti«j»
tor this work.
In your tetter, you provide soae infovtwtioa on the expeateo
tias of the effluent tron Che Detroit; ae««gs treataent plant aftec
treatment facilities ere installed. Ve do -act have sufficient infor«*tio*
before ue to know whether these ranges of quality would provide sufficient
pollution control ac the tiew installed or whethe* these ranges nay reason*
ably be expected to be produced by Che processes yon have ia mtjwl. As
la our cooferenee on July 22 and subsequently in our diaaossion*, we «e«il0 o«
satisfied at this tism to defer decision ea the speoi£ic wMaer of attaining
adequate poUucion control by additional treecaent facilities until you are
ready to sake apeci£i« plans for design of those facilities* There should he
no difficulty in arriving at a decision with respect to degree of
required and the best aemier of attaining that objective at that tisw.
Very truly yours,
s\ ^ __ ('7.
tld li. Pieroe, Chief
Section of Cewerags end Sewage Tteatacnt
Division of Engineering
ec: Mr. Clyde P*4»er
-------
Exhibit 4.8
FACILITIES UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR ABOUT TO GO IN SERVICE
1962 - Northeast Interceptor District, Wayne County System
Increase capacity of existing interceptor,
three Macomb and three Wayne County
communities - $ 700,000.00
1961-62 - Centerline Interceptor 1,300,000.00
1962 - Dearborn West Side Sewage Treatment Plant
connected to Detroit 296,000.00
1962-63 - Rouge Valley Interceptors 18,000.00
1962-63 - Downriver Interceptors 18,300.00
$38,596,000.00
-------
'ft.
-------
DIVISION OF COST
ROUGE VALLEY SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
ESTIMATED POPULATION AND MAXIMUM RATE OF SEWAGE FLOW
Municipality
Type
City
Twp.
Twp.
Twp.
City.
City
City
Twp.
Twp.
Twp.
Village
City
Twp.
City
Two
Name
Livonia
Nankin (1)
Redford
Dearborn (N)
Garden City
Plymouth
Northville
Northville (1)
Plymouth (1)
Canton
Inkster
Wayne
Van Buren (N)
Detroit (for D. H. O. C. )(2)
Romulus (NW)
TOTALS:
* Part of Ultimate
(1) Except Institutions
Ult. Pop.
to
Interceptor
192, 350
154,000
80,000
55,000
50,000
12,000
9, 000
4, 000 *
24, 000 *
30, 000 *
50,000
39,000
8,000 *
4, OdO
9,000
720, 350
Total
c. f. s.
77.94
62.90
39.00
22.00
24.40
4.80
3.60
1.60
9.60
12.00
21.70
16.20
3.20
1.60
3.60
304. 14 .
(2) Equivalent Population
(V\ Tntal nf Proiect Sections 1. 2 & 3
Adiusted to $16,815
, 000
Project Sections
Division of Net
Cost
$ 4, 334,489. 16
4, 265,401.89
1, 281,569.61
993,754.82
1, 247, 300.81
96,942.27
178,871.86
46, 303.61
428,530.26
831,624. 57
1,476,958.80
1, 102,566.62
217, 759.84
67,904.96
245,020.92
$16, 815,000.00
1, 2 & 3
Cost
%
25. 777
25.367
7.622
5.910
7. 418
0.576
1.064
0.275
2. 548
4.946
8. 784
6.557
1.295
0.404
1.457
100. 000
MUNICIPALITIES
SUMMARY
PROJECT SECTIONS 1,
EXHIBIT "B"
Sheet 1 of 4
-------
DIVISION OF COST
ROUGE VALLEY SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
ESTIMATED POPULATION AND MAXIMUM RATE OF SEWAGE FLOW
Municipality
Type
City
/
Twp.
Twp.
f
Twp.
City
City
City
Twp.
Twp.
Twp.
Village
City
Twp.
City
Twp.
Name
Livonia
Nankin
Redford
Dearborn (N)
Garden City
Plymouth
North ville
North ville
Plymouth
Canton
Inkster
Wayne
Van Buren (N)
Detroit (for D. H. O. C. )
Romulus (NW)
TOTALS:
Ult. Pop.
to
Interceptor
192,350
(1) 154,000
80, 000
55,000
50,000
12,000
9,000
(1) 4,000*
(1) 24,000 *
30,000 *
50. 000
39. 000
8, 000 *
(2) 4, 000
9.000
720, 350
Total
c.f. s.
77.94
62.90
39.00
22.00
24.40
4.80
3.60
1.60
9.60
12.00
21.70
16.20
3.20
1.60
3.60
304.14
Exist.
Conn, to
Detroit
25.47
4.78
26.10
10.65
9.63
4.13
1.50
1.16
4.72
0.61
-
-
-
0.84
-
89.59
Division of New Facilities
C.f. 8.
52.47
58.12
12.90
11.35
14.77
0.67
2.10
0.44
4.88
11.39
21.70
16.20
3.20
0.76
3.60
214.55
Cost
$1,663,080.02
1,842, 196.65
408,899.13
359,764-16
468,167.27
21,214.06
66,558.19
13,924.00
154,694.95
361,003.47
687,816.60
513,438.50
101,404.65
24,088.87
114,089.35
$6,800,339.87
* Part of Ultimate
(1) Except Institutions
(2) Equivalent Population
MUNICIPALITIES
PROJECT SECTION 1
EXHIBIT "B"
Sheet 2 of 4
-------
DIVISION OF COST
ROUGE VALLEY SEWAGE DISPOSAL
SYSTEM
ESTIMATED POPULATION AND MAXIMUM RATE OF SEWAGE FLOW
Municipality
Type
Twp.
Village
City
Twp.
Twp.
Twp
Name
Nankin (S) (1)
Inkster
Wayne
Canton (S)
Van Buren (N)
Romulus (NW)
TOTALS:
Ult. Pop.
to
Interceptor
75.000
50,000
39,000
15,000 *
8,000 *
9,000
196,000
c.f. s./lOOO
0.4
28.80
13.2
13.20
6.0
3.20
3.60
68.00
0.5
1.50
8.50
3.00
-
-
13.00
Division of New Facilities
c.f. s.
30.30
21.70
16.20
6.00
3.20
3.60
81.00
Cost
$1,101,976.53
789, 204. 31
589.174.48
218,215.14
116,364.35
130,941.87
$2,945.876.68
* Part pf Ultimate
(1) Except Institutions (Eloise)
EXHIBIT "B"
Sheet 3 of 4
MUNICIPALITIES
PROJECT SECTION 2
-------
DIVISION OF COST
ROUGE
VALLEY SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
ESTIMATED POPULATION AND MAXIMUM
Municipality
Type
City
Twp.
Twp.
Twp.
City
City
City
Twp.
Twp.
Twp.
City
Name
Livonia
Nankin (N)
Redford
Dearborn (N)
Garden City
Plymouth
Northville
North ville
Plymouth
Canton (N)
Detroit
(for D. H. 0. C. )
TOTALS:
Ult. Pop.
to
Interceptor
192,
79,
80,
55,
50,
12.
9,
(D 4,
(1) 24,
15,
(2) 4,
524,
350
000
000
000
000
000
000
000 *
000 *
000 *
000
350
C.f. 8.
0.4
72.94
27.60
4.00
22.00
2.40
4.80
3.60
1.60
9.60
6.00
1.60
156.14
/1 000
0.5
5.0
5. 0
35.0
-
22.00
-
-
-
-
-
-
67.00
Total
C.f. S.
77.94
32.60
39.00
22.00
24.40
4.80
3.60
1.60
9.60
6.00
1.60
223.14
RATE OF SEWAGE FLOW
Credit
Exist.
$
1,089,443.25
204, 686. 95
1, 116, 133.84
455,554.61
411, 726. 16
176,456.04
63, 986. 43
49,685.91
201,835.79
26, 172.43
35,871.09
3, 831, 552.50
M. R. I.
C.f. S.
19.41
3.65
19.88
8.11
7.33
3.14
1.14
0.89
3.60
0.47
0.64 .
68.26
Divisions of
New Facilities
C.f. S.
58.53
28.95
19.12
13.89
17.07
1.66
2.46
0.71
6.00
5.53
0.96
154.88
Cost
2,671,
1.321,
872,
634,
779,
75,
112,
32,
273,
252,
43,
7,069,
591.41
408.07
724.37
032.45
185.99
732. 28
321.19
381.56
853.33
440. 93
818.94
490.52
* Part of Ultimate
(1) Except Institutions
(2) Equivalent Population
MUNICIPALITIES
PROJECT SECTION 3
EXHIBIT "B"
Sheet 4 of 4
-------
DIVISION OF COST
ROUGE VALLEY SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
ESTIMATED Pg
Wayne Co.
Gen. Hosp.
& Infirm, at
Eloise
Nankin Twp. )
Mich. State
rlosp. in
Northville Twp
Plymouth State
rlome & Train.
School in North
ville Twp.
Other Contrib.
incl. Mayberry
San. & Wayne
Co. Train. Sch
Reserves
EXHIBIT "C"
TOTALS
Exhibit "B"
Adjust. Totals
Project Totals
PROJECT SECTION 1
Exist.
c.f. s.
M.R.I
-
0.43
0.37
4. 11
4.91
89.59
94. 50
New Facilities
, c.f. s
6.0
1. 77
0. 31
-
7.37
15.45
214.55
230.00
Cost
$ 190,197.51
$ 56,101.72
$ 9.825.72
-
$ 233,875.12
$ 490,000.07
$6, 800,053. 93
$7, 290, 054. 00
PULATION AND MAXIMUM RATE OF SEWAGE FLOW
PROJECT SECT. 2
New Facilities
c.S.s
6.00
-
-
-
0.90
6.90
81.00
87.90
Cost
$ 218,215.14
-
-
-
$ 32,855.05
$ 251,070.19
$2,945, 752.81
$3, 196, 823.00
PROJECT SECTION 3
Sxist.
c. f. s.
M. R; I,
-
0.33
0.28
3.13
-
3.74
68.26
72.00
New Facilities
.c.f. s.
-
1.87
0.40
-
7.45
9.72
154.88
164. 60
Cost
-
$ 85,355.65
$ 18,257.89
-
$ 340,316.20
$ 443,929.74
$7, 069, 193. 26
$7, 513. 123.00
SUMMARY
Cost %
$ 408,412.65
$ 141,457.37
$ 28,083.61
-
$ 607,046.37
$ 1, 185, 000. 00
$16, 815, 000.00
$18. 000, 000.00
34.465
11.937
2. 370
-
51.228
100.000
100.000
100.000
CONTRIBUTIONS, INSTITUTIONS,
AND RESERVE
PROJECT SECTIONS 1, 2, and 3
EXHIBIT "C"
Sheet 1 of 1
-------
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&UIZEAJ
(Sec. /j-3<
SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
:<:
1 '
•
-------
DOWN RIVER
SEWAGE DISPOSAL
DIVISION OF
SYSTEM. COUNTY OF WAYNE, MICHIGAN
COST AND ALLOCATION
OF CAPACITY
3/1/62
PART ONE - SUMMARY
Division 2
Interceptor
Area
Van Bur en Twp. (S)
Belleville
Romulus Twp.
Taylor Twp.
Dearborn Twp.(S)
Southgate
Allen Park (S & SW)
Lincoln Park
Ecorse
River Rouge
Wyandotte
Brownstown (N)
Pop,
13,000*
7,000
106,000*
170,000
25,000
40,000**
40,000
55,000
21,000
22,000
36,000*
535,000
c.f.s.
5.2
2,8
42.4
68.0
10.0
16.0**
19.2
27.5
10.5
11.0
14.4
227.0
Division 1
Disposal Plant
Pop.
13,000*
7,000
55,000*
117,500*
25,000
55,000
40,000
55,000
21,000
22,000
47,000
2,500
460,000
c.f.s.
5.2
2.8
22.0
47.0
10.0
23.5
19.2
27.5
10.5
11.0
23.5
1.0
203.2
Division One
Project Section 1
Cost
$ 140,656.82
75,742.51
595,111.90
1,271,352.94
270,485.42
635,676.47
519,369.39
743,903.62
284,006.94
297,528.47
635,676.47
27,043.05
$5,496,554.00
%
2.559
1.378
10.827
23.130
4.921
11.565
9.449
13.534
5.167
5.413
11.565
0.492
100.000
Division Two
Project Sec. 2, 3 & 4
Cost
$ 263,256.94
141,710.48
2,146,507.38
3,442,490.80
506,274.54
809,996.76**
372,015.57
432,917.87
165,294.78
173,162.98
119,817.90
%
3.071
1.653
25.037
40.153
5.905
9.448**
4.339
5.049
1.928
2.020
1.397
$8,573,446.00 100.000
Part One
Combined
2.871
1.545
19.486
33,503
5.521
10.275
6.335
8.364
3.193
3.345
4.518
1.044
100.000
* Part of Ultimate
** Southgate (W)
PROJECT SECTION 5
Division of Cost
Capacity Allocation
PROJECT SECTION 6
Division of Cost
Capacity Allocation
PART TWO - SUMMARY
- Estimated Cost of Interceptors
- Romulus Township - 49. 122%
- Taylor Township - 50.878%
- Romulus Township - 41.4 c.f.s.
- Taylor Township - 16.3 c.f.s.
- Estimated Cost of Interceptors
$1,442,000.00
~$"698,517.50
723,482.50
$ 778,000.00
- Taylor Township
- City of Southgate
- Taylor Township
- City of Southgate
- 72.727%
- 27.273%
- 13.0 c.f.s.
- 4.88 c.f. s.
$
565,816.00
212,184.00
PART THREE - SUMMARY
Estimated Cost of Interceptors = $2,000,000 - Division of Cost Romulus Township = 100%
EXHIBIT "B1
6PO 82O8I9—B-24
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/oooo- g.
rf
-
NORTHEAST SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM EXHIBIT A-2
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PROPOSED SYSTEM; The existing system is to be further improved by the
installation of a peak flow booster station, at the Wayne-
Macoinb County line, to provide for a hydraulic gradient flow of 102 c. f. s. from
Macomb County. Combined with the booster station installation, a submerged
electric flow meter and control and backwater gate unit is to be constructed, to
assure control of flows to those agreed upon. This will allow the Macomb County
communities to correct any interceptor deficiencies.
At the existing Grosse Pointe Farms Pumping Station, the present
pumps will be replaced to provide for pumping a peak sewage flow of 127 c. f. s.
Three pumping units of equal capacity will be installed at each of the pumping
stations; two of these pumps to handle the design flow, with the third unit" in
reserve.
The proposed system will serve an estimated population and design
flow requirements to provide adequate sewage service for the Northeast Sew-
age Disposal System as follows:
I960 Built-Up
Municipality U. S. Census Population c. f. s.
Roseville * 50,195 80,000
East Detroit 45,756 46, 000
St. Clair Shores 76,657 80, OOP
Total-South Macomb Sanitary Dist. 172. 608 206, OOP
Grosse Pointe Woods 18,580 23,000
Harper Woods 19,995 21,000
Grosse Pointe Shores 2, 192 5, OOP
Total-Wayne County 40,767 49, PPP
Total-Northeast System 213, 375 255, PPP
Unallocated Flow
Total Available Capacity into Detroit System 127. 0
* Roseville's recently annexed Erin Township area is included in the above
estimates.
ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST; The estimated cost of the proposed facili-
ties is as follows:
Site or Right of Way $ 11, 000. PP
Construction (labor, materials, etc.) 306, OPP. 00
Machinery & Equipment (installed) 324, OPO. OP $641, POO. 00
Plans and Specifications 15, 750. 00
Engineering and Supervision 25, 200. 00
Contingencies (Construction) 41,751.00
Financial and Legal Expense 3, 337. 00
Flowage Rights 72, 962. 00
$800, 000. 00
Construction bids were taken on April 4, 1961, and are within the
engineers' estimate.
METHOD OF FINANCING TOTAL PROJECT:
Wayne County Northeast Sewage Disposal System Revenue Bds. $582, 000. 00
Federal Grant under Public Law 660 218, 000.00
$800, OPP. PO
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450
SECTION 5
PI3TUBE DEVELOPMENTS
A. Detroit to Construct Interceptors Outside City Limits
Recently the Corporation Counsel ruled that Detroit can
legally construct interceptors outside the city limits.
Negotiations are underway for Detroit to construct the
Dequindre interceptor to serve the Southeastern Oakland
County Sewage Disposal District. The Detroit Department
of Water Supply can obtain the necessary financing at
lower interest rates. Thus a precedent is set whereby
the area-wide sewage treatment problem can be solved
and pollution abated.
B. Water Main Construction Precedent;
Since 1956, the Detroit Department of Water Supply has
financed and constructed water transmission mains to
suburban areas in three counties. The service area
has been and is continuing to be expanded to any com-
munity in the metropolitan area that desires water. To
date, approximately 3,200,000 people in Detroit and 52
suburban communities, about 4l per cent of the population
of Michigan, are receiving water from Detroit. Contract
negotiations have been or are being concluded with sev-
eral other suburbs. The area-wide water problem has been
solved.
C. National Sanitation Foundation and Sanitation Council
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451
Michigan, Six County Sewerage and Drainage Study
History;
The Supervisors Inter-County Committee represents the
six Southeastern Michigan Counties of Maoomb, Monroe,
Oakland, St. Glair, Washtenaw and Wayne, which consti-
tute the Detroit metropolitan area.
It covers 4,000 square miles and has a population of
4,200,000.
It was realized that this rapidly expanding area faced
public health and growth problems such as water supply,
sewerage, storm drainage and flood control. It was also
realized that this was the responsibility of government
and industry alike.
On January 19 » 1956, the Supervisors Inter-County Com-
mittee requested the National Sanitation Foundation to
conduct an Inter-County Water, Sewerage and Drainage
Survey of the Detroit metropolitan area.
Water Study;
On March 28, 1957* the report on the future water supply
was submitted and accepted. It recommended that the
city of Detroit become the central water authority for
the area, and that facilities be developed to supply
a population of over 6,000,000 people, preferable with
an intake in Lake Huron. The Detroit Water Board ac-
cepted these recommendations and has started developing
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452
them. Thus the future water needs In the six county
area are being taken care of today.
Sewerage and Drainage Study;
To facilitate the Sewerage and Drainage Study, a Sani-
tation Council for Southeastern Michigan was formed. It
consists of about 50 members from government and in-
dustry and includes representatives of the Unites States
Public Health Service, Michigan Department of Health
and Michigan Water Resources Commission. A six-man
Executive Committee was selected together with a
Chairman and Secretary.
Budget;
It is estimated that this study will require two years.
A budget of $305,000 has been approved to cover this
period.
The budget has been derived from the following sources:
1) United States Public Health Service - $100,000
grant under the Public Law No. 660 - The Federal
Water Pollution Control Act
2) Industries in the Detroit Metropolitan Area - $105,000
3) Government, Cities and Counties - $100,000
Air Survey;
The Detroit Edison Company has flown an aerial survey
of the area at an estimated cost of $20,000 which is
not part of the budget.
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453
Engineering Board Selected ;
The Technical Committee of the Sanitation Council
with the approval of the Executive Committee selected
the following Board of Consultants.
Dr. Abel Wolman, Chairman, of Baltimore
Mr. Albert Roth of Hubbel, Roth and Clark,
Birmingham
Mr. Louis Ayres of Ayres, Lewis, Norris
and May, Ann Arbor
Scope of Job:
It was realized that the only way to solve the area-wide
sewerage and drainage problem was to develop a coordi-
nated plan. It was also recognized that the longer noth-
ing was done the more expensive it would become later.
The area-wide water problem was solved first, and the
metropolitan sewerage and drainage problem is to be
solved next. The needs must be defined first then steps
taken for their solution.
The study is to be pursued in four broad areas as follows
1) Determination of future needs
2) Determination of technical standards
3) Delineation of a Master Plan
4) Cost Estimates
l) Determination of Future Needs;
a) Preparation of a plan showing the existing and
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454
programmed sewerage and drainage system
b) A study of the demography of the area to deter-
mine the forecast population and urban develop-
ment.
c) Determination of the future capacity requirements
for both sewerage and drainage
2) Determination of Technical Standards:
The delineation of a master plan will require the
following basic technical factors:
a) System to be used, separate or combined
b) Need for storm water treatment
o) Treatment process to be used, primary, inter-
mediate or complete
d) Adoption of a unified or multiple system oper-
ation
3) Delineation of a Master Plan:
a) Ultimate objectives
(l) Sewerage and drainage system
(2) Sewage treatment process and facilities
b) Initial program
(1) Sewerage and drainage system
(2) Sewage treatment facilities
c) Intermediate programs
(l) Sewerage and drainage system
(2) Sewage treatment facilities
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455
4) Cost Estimates
This study Is unique In that it Is the first time a
cooperative financial agreement on the part of govern-
ment and Industry has been arrived at to help solve
metropolitan area problems. A practical, well-planned,
long-range solution will result which will enable the
continued, orderly, economic growth of the Detroit
metropolitan area.
(The Exhibits of Section 5 are as follows;)
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Exhibit 5,1
FETANCIAL SUPPORT
Six-County Sewerage and Drainage Study
Required $305,000
Pledged to Date
From Business - Approximately — $ 60,000
(Partial List Attached)
From Federal Government - United States
Public Health Service — $100,000
(Order Attached)
From Local Government - Water Department
and County — $100,000
Firm Appropriation — $260,000
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COMPANY
The Detroit fid'Jen
The Geoexal Mocoxs Corporation
Tbe Ford Wotor Gar Company
AJLLOCATION
$ 20,000.00
13.UOO.00
10,000.00
5,000.00
3,000.00
1.500.00
1,600.00
1,200.00
Michigan Sell Telephone Compaay
l&ciiigan Consolidated Ge* Company
National BaaJc of Detroit
Tbc Detroit Bank * Trust Company
The j. L. Hudson Company
Manufacturers Natloaftl Bank
The Evening Hew» Aesociatioc (Detroit I^^vs) 1,000.00
The Detroit Free Press
Tbe JJeodlx Corpoaukm 750.00
Tfe Frito Company 300.00
Jooe« & LaugUia Steel Corpora'doa 300.00
Aigoaac Divisioa, Girts-Cralt Corporatiau 200.00
A. M. T. OoiporaUott 100.'JO
A. & P. Food Stores 100.00
Aggregates Corporatioa 100.00
tajuJard Industrial XHvisiou 100.00
Asa Axt»r Bank 100.CJO
Exhibit 5.2
aerial photography done
thet la oeceeaar; for this
type of voc&.
. Pxomiaed dteck
be available to CM? tibia
raooth.
Indicated tbat tf the General
Motor* Corp* pledged funds,
so would they.
To be allocated later.
To be allocated later.
Over 3-year period
Over S-ytar period
Qrer 3-year period
, butcrffered
columa support".
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AJLLQCATIOM
Fraakita Mortgage Corporation $100.00
J . A . Waclvor Lumber Company 100.00
Mortgage Corporation 100.00
fctoxtoa S«U Company 1DQ.OQ
reexi«e» Cement Coaopsay 100.00
S««i Pftper Company - Decroii Di?i«laa 100. 00
&. L. Sp4tzl«y Oettiog Comp*ay 100.00
BUae & i-aughUa 50.00
Tbe CommcrcUJ 4i i>a\ofl^ Baa4c of St. Ctair 35.00
others have given us tbclt verbal c
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JExttbit 8.3
DfcPARTMINT OF HEAITH, EDUCATION. AND WElPAtt
Public HMI* S«rvic«
Burt*v «f St«t« $*ryic*»
25. D. C.
AWMD
GMMt
•Aft
2-26-62
Mo.
NOTIFICATION OF AWARD
WATER SUPPLY AND POLLUTION CONTROL
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT GRANT
Tho grant dotcrlbod bolow hoi boon opprovod.
Till* of Projoctr Detroit Metropolitan Environnnntal Study
Awarded lot National Sanitation Foundation, Ann Arbor, Michigan
PM)«e» Dfractorr Poy*« (Chock will to aVawn to):
Hoary P. Vaughan
Proaidant
Rational Sanitation Foundation
Hichi«an School of Public Haalth
Ann Arbor, Michigan
*altar r. Snydorft CNtCMtlvo-flirooti
SacrataryTroaauror
Tha National Sanitation foundation
Michigan School of Public KM 1th
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Grant Ported: H-1-62/3-31-5 3
Total Gronh $23,000
: $S,000
Duo: SIS,000
Future Support (Tontorlvoty opprovod
»ubjact to ovailobillry of fundi and
ftuccottful dovolopmonf of nSo pro{oct)f
Ut Additional Yoor? $MD,000
2nd Additional Yoort $«*0,000
cv Sfcafomonh Tho ottaehod oxplonoHon owtllnot tho policy foJoHvo
fo Domomtrotlofi Granta In wator wpply ond pollution control ond ony
odditlom applyinf to thli oword. (To bo auppliod)
Acknowlodflomont: Tho Projoct Oiroctor is roquirod tor (I) ocknowlodgo
occopfonco of tho o/ont oword, ond (2) odvlio ol ony chongo In tho
starting, dato. Addross lottor to Chlof, Rosoorch ond Tmlnlng Gran*
Branch, ond rofor to grant numbor obova.
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456
SECTION 6
UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
VERSUS
NATIONAL SANITATION FOUNDATION - SANITATION
COUNCIL FOR SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN STUDY
The United States Public Health Service is to
assist the State of Michigan In identifying and recommending
methods for correcting pollution of the Detroit River and
Lake Erie. The Michigan waters of Lake St. Glair, Detroit
River and Lake Erie extending to the Michigan-Ohio State
line and the river basins of the Clinton, Rouge, Huron and
Raisin Rivers are within the scope of this study.
Two studies in the same area are not realistic and
are a waste of funds. The united States Public Health
Service would be financing two studies in the same area to
accomplish the same aims.
The National Sanitation Foundation-Sanitation
Council study is the one preferred to do the job for the
following reasons:
A. The study is already underway. Nationally
known consultants have been engaged, financing is
nearly completed and governmental and industrial
leaders are interested in and willing to get the
present and long-range sewerage and drainage
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457
problem in the area solved.
B. This study is more inclusive. It will
develop long-range plans and means for solving
the sewerage and drainage problems. It will
present a plan for the orderly and systematic
development and costs of the facilities necessary.
It will cover a larger area, extending north to
Port Huron, south to the Ohio border and west to
the far border of Washtenair County. It will not
be limited by state or international boundaries
and hence will have metropolitan area, inter-state
and International scope.
C. More constructiveness will be accomplished
through willingness and cooperative effort than
through threats and court action.
D. Two studies in the same area are not
realistic.
£. Technical standards should not be changed
now for the following reasons:
1. The area should first be brought up
to Detroit standards.
2. Communities under contract are willing
to pay for treatment under the present
definition. Any changes in treatment
should be gradual as some communities
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458
oannot pay more and others are un-
willing to pay and may rebel and
cause lawsuits. This would tie up
financing and all progress would cease,
3. Canadian Situation:
a) There are no sewage treatment
plants on the Canadian side of
Lake St. Clair and the Detroit
River. The only sewage treatment
plant on the Canadian side of the
St. Clair River is at Sarnia,
which was placed in operation last
year. Thus raw sewage and industrial
wastes from a sizeable population
including Windsor and its suburbs,
Chatham, Wallaceburg and Ammherst-
burg, as well as many smaller com-
munities, enter the river.
In contrast, every city and town
on the American side has a sewage
treatment plant.
b) There is no storm flow treatment
on the Canadian shore.
c) The expanding oil and petroohemica]
industry at Sarnia are releasing
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459
continuous flows of industrial
wastes, along with occasional
slugs of high concentrations.
MR. REMUS: For the Court's benefit now I have
several statements that I would like to add because they
are not in our record, at least not as directly as I would
like them there.
One is that all developments of our sewage system
have been approved by the State health officials and meet
the State requirements as far as performance is concerned.
The second statement refers to Mr. Klttrell's
report when he mentioned 1»24 parts per million gallons
in 1946 of phenol deposits that have been reduced to 1.O4.
To correct Mr, Kittre11, Trenton gets their water from the
Detroit system. I think he will appreciate that.
The International Joint Commission balance of
2400 parts MPN cannot be maintained at our plant because
the river count above our plant effluent is equal to that
and, therefore, there is no room at all.
5. I would refer to the charts that were shown
yesterday which showed Detroit's suspended solids with a
very large circle, and Wyandotte's with a little less, and
Dearborn also on the bacterial count. That was Detroit
and 4? communities, including more than 300 square miles
GPO 820818—B-23
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460
and it does not adequately reflect the fact that Detroit's
basic sewage system per capita performance is as good as
any.
Further, I would like to refer to Mr. Kittrell's
report where he stated yesterday, and we agree with him,
that 99 percent of the bacteria in the area that gets in the
Detroit River will be killed after the Rouge River has been
taken care of. I would like to point out what it would cost
to eliminate that last one percent. For Detroit, alone,
if you are going to take the storm flow control to take that
portion out, it would be in excess of $400 million.
Just visualize what is added to that by the addi-
tional areas, and there is just no financing base for that
in existence.
Also I would like to point out it would be unwise
to go beyond that one percent; at this time because if we
do we should also have the Canadian situation under control,
and they do not yet have their sewage plants. To get 100
percent we would have to eliminate the sewage from or, to
put sewage treatment in plants on 200,000 boats and put
diapers on 29,000,OOO ducks, and would have to eliminate
sea gulls and get the oats and dogs off the streets, and
as to the other fur bearing animals their wastes would have
to be eliminated as well as that of the people.
I think it should be remembered in here that this
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461
is for the benefit of the human race in part.
I have only one further comment. It has been our
experience that those areas that have complained the most
In recent months are the ones that have the most reason to
do something, but point their fingers the hardest in other
directions.
Thank you.
(Applause)
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Are there any comments
or questions? I would like to point out just one thing on
the record here. This is a really very effective and
beautiful picture you have of the Rouge at its confluence
with the Detroit River. I know that our black and white
process is not going to do justice to it, though, and I
hope you will not be disappointed when you see it in the
transcript.
MR. REMUS: Yes. Since you mentioned the picture,
however, I would like, if you or anyone here Is interested
enough to take a look at it, to say that we had a slide here
but the projector disappeared today. It is colored film
and shows the Rouge River and the Detroit sewage plant out-
fall and waste that comes down the American shore of the
Detroit River. There are several factors that are in there.
Obviously the biggest gob of waste, by a wide margin, in
this is the Rouge River.
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462
Secondly, that Detroit outfall, the sum total of
that,mind you now, Is between 2,600,000 and 3,000,000 people.
It is not just one little stream or representing one little
community. That Is Detroit and 4? adjacent communities.
There are 3,000,000 people in the area, but they do not yet
get all their service. 3,100,000.
Also, on the upriver part, above the outfall, the
situation is such that we have felt In our treatment practices
that unless we wanted to pump the river in we were a little
foolish to waste money doing it a great deal more than the
way the river was.
The moral of this is simple: If we waste $1 for
chlorine it means that many dollars we haven't got for build-
ing something; and the building is the most important thing
in our estimation at this time.
THE CHAIRMAN: Dr. Heustis.
DR. HEUSTIS: I would like to call on Mr. Jim
Davey of the Wayne County Road Commission at this time.
Do you have a prepared statement?
STATEMENT OF JAMES M. DAVEY, MANAGING DIRECTOR
BOARD OF WAYNE COUNTY ROAD COMMISSIONERS
MR. DAVEY: I do.
The county of Wayne is vitally interested in the
elimination or prevention of pollution in the Detroit River
and Lake Erie. This interest is emphasized by the fact that
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463
we have under construction, scheduled for completion in 1963,
a new water treatment plant and a system of major trans-
mission mains, which will cost approximately 50 million dol-
lars. Since the intake for raw water to serve this system is
located in the vicinity of Fighting Island in the Detroit
River, it is axiomatic that this source of raw water should
be reasonably free of contaminanoe. In recognition of this
fact, and in compliance with the mandate of the Michigan State
Health Department, Wayne County has proceeded to correct ex-
isting deficiencies in the sewer system and treatment plants
over which it has Jurisdiction. This then is our purpose:
To preserve the public health and assure greater
economic development by modernization of our sewage and
sewerage system, and, at the same time, preserve a source
of potable water in the Detroit River to serve the affected
communities.
Wayne County today is in the midst of three major
sewer expansion projects totalling more than 37 million dol-
lars. These projects are part of an expertly conceived mastei
plan designed to solve all the present and future needs of
the county,. It is true that the county's economic develop-
ment has suffered in the past few years due to a lack of
capacity in both transmission and treatment. This economic
pale was caused by an overloading of sewerage systems in
portions of the county resulting in a State Health Department
-------
464
Construotion ban. However, through community, governmental
and citizen cooperation, this distressing problem has been
solved.
Making use of its master plan for development,
the county has implemented construction projects in the
Northeast, Rouge Valley and Downriver Districts. The
present projects in the Rouge Valley and Downriver Districts
provide for the development of the area up to the maximum
capacity of the present projects.
The master plan provides for the ultimate growth
and development of Wayne County. I know that a discussion
of sewers lacks general public appeal. However, the re-
sults obtained through well planned, well constructed and
efficiently operated sewer system are dramatic. Community
health and well being lead the list of these results. Fol-
lowing this is economic growth and development.
An adequate sewer system presents with it both
industrial and economic development. This is already taking
place in the Rouge Valley District where a building boom is
being experienced. The same activity is expected for the
Downriver District this spring.
Indeed, it is our position summarily stated, that
all sources of alleged pollution over which the Board of
Wayne County Road Commissioners and the Wayne County Depart-
ment of Public Works exercises jurisdiction, have been cor-
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465
rected or are In the prooess of correct ion. This would
Include work at the Wyandotte, Trenton and Grosse lie Plants.
Mr. George Bingham, who will also appear as a
witness before this honorable committee, will supply a break-
down of our efforts in this regard and supplement my remarks.
DR. HEUSTIS: Thank you very much, and with the
Chairman^ permission we will hear from Mr. Bingham before
we have questions of Wayne County.
These are the two representatives from Wayne
County that we have.
STATEMENT OF GEORGE R. BINGHAM, SANITARY ENGINEER,
WAYNE COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC WORKS, ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY OF WAYNE,
MICHIGAN
MR. BINGHAM: Since the mid-1930's Wayne County
has recognized the then present and the then future problems
confronting the county and its municipalities in regard to
the correction or elimination of deficiencies in the sewerage
systems serving the "out-county" area. Prior to that time,
very little coordinated effort had been made to solve these
problems on an area basis and local Interests had approached
the solution to local problems without much regard to the
over-all problem of sewage collection and disposal and the
accompanying public health implications.
By 1939» the county had completed and placed in
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466
service a $2,200,000 P.W.A. project which, while not com-
pletely satisfactory insofar as what was desirable, was a
means to accomplish the greatest benefit to the area served
and to the county with the money available. Small, inef-
ficient treatment plants were abandoned, areas using septic
tanks were connected to sewerage systems, discharge of sewage
to streams was greatly reduced and the first steps toward a
solution to these problems on a metropolitan area basis were
taken.
During World War II, very little additional work
was done, except for a project which provided five munici-
palities in the southeast part of Maoomb County and three
municipalities in northeast Wayne County with a connection
through the county project to the sewage disposal facilities
of the City of Detroit. This project, while small in size
and cost was large in its effect upon the public health of
the entire metropolitan area in that it minimized discharges
of sewage into the recreational waters of Lake St. Glair which
in turn are upstream from water supply intakes serving al-
most 2,000,000 people.
During the period just prior to the end of the war
and immediately following, the county completed plans for
the construction of facilities to supplement, augment and
extend the facilities previously constructed. The work on
these projects was unable to proceed at that time because the
-------
46?
anticipated post-war slump in business activity and its
accompanying unemployment did not materialize. The expected
continuation of federal participation in public works pro-
jects did not occur and the county, because of its limited
statutory ability to finance these projects was unable to
proceed. The area continued to grow and the sewage disposal
problems increased. In 1955* an extension to one of the
facilities, allowing two small sewage treatment plants to
be abandoned, was constructed by assessment under the Drain
Law.
In 1956, the Board of Supervisors approved, in
principle, a report and recommendation for a county master-
plan project to correct remaining deficiencies in the ex-
isting system and to provide for the growth and development
of the entire "out-county" area. The Board of County Road
Commissioners, as the county's agent, prepared a detailed
master plan together with a method of financing and pre-
sented it to the Board of Supervisors in 1958. This pro-
ject, which proposed a $36 million program financed on a
revenue basis, was approved by the Board of Supervisors and
the accompanying revenue bond rate schedule was placed in
effect. However, the Sewage Disposal and Water Supply Com-
mittee, sitting as a statutory board of review on rates,
cancelled the increase and left the project without a
method of financing. The subsequent search for alternate
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468
financing methods led the county to establish a County De-
partment of Public Works to take advantage of certain fin-
ancing provisions of the D.P.W. Statute. Utilizing person-
nel and available sewage disposal system funds provided by the
Road Commission, the D.P.W. has, in a period of about 30
months, prepared plans and negotiated agreements to accomplish
the financing of the much-needed improvement and expansion of
most of the county system facilities. The Road Commission
has also proceeded to arrange financing of other work where
D.P.W. financing methods were not wholly suitable. A brief
description of the county's accomplishments to date follows.
Northeast District Project cost $800,000,
Federal Grant $218,000.
This project consists of expansion of pumping
facilities in leased space located in a sewage pumping sta-
tion owned by the City of Grosse Pointe Farms and the con-
struction of a metering and peak-flow booster station at the
county line. In concept, this project changes the existing
interceptor from a strictly gravity sewer to a system which
operates as a pressure conduit during times of maximum flow,
at which time all areas served by this interceptor must pump
their flow into it. The project assures the South Maoomb
Sanitary District of a fixed capacity and maximum hydraulic
gradient at the county line. The project also provides
treatment service to the Milk River District located in
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469
Grosse Pointe Woods and Harper Woods in Wayne County. The
Milk River Project oonslsts of a storm water pumping station
and a sett ling -skimming basin which can contain the flow
from small storms and the first rush of flow from large
storms* Following each storm, the basin is de-watered into
the county system's sanitary interceptor and that flow is
transported to the Detroit system for treatment and disposal.
Construction of this Northeast District project
was made possible by adding a charge of $9.00 per million
gallons to the regular charges for pumping and disposal,
and by marketing Wayne County Revenue Bonds. The project
is under construction, completion date this summer.
Rouge Valley District Project cost $18,000,000.
This area has been served from time to time by
municipally operated treatment plants, by county system
treatment plants and by sewage disposal service provided
by the City of Dearborn and the City of Detroit. Almost
half of the total project cost is for "outlet" interceptors
which pass through the City of Dearborn, the City of Allen
Park, the City of Melvindale and the City of Detroit, but
do not serve these municipalities. The City of Detroit
has agreed to receive the flow from this district into its
system at two locations, with 94.5 cubic feet per second
maximum at Ford Road and Southfield and 230 cubic feet per
second maximum at Fort Street and the Rouge River.
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470
The financing of this project has been achieved on the basis
of a contract between the county and 14 municipalities In
the district whereby each municipality has acquired a guar-
anteed capacity in the system and has agreed to make annual
Interest and principal payments over the next 40 years. All
of the work is under contract except the Rouge River Siphon
Structure which will be advertised for bids shortly. Pro-
vision has also been made for this project to serve an area
within the Rouge Valley, but lying in Oakland County, In
order that the branches of the Rouge within the area served
by the county system may be kept free of pollution and suit-
able for the recreational uses of the flood-plain lands
now enjoyed by the people of the metropolitan area* This
project Is sized, not for the ultimate capacity requirement
of the service area, but was limited in size by the flow
that the City of Detroit system was capable of receiving
for treatment.
Down-River District Project cost $18,270,000.
Federal Grant $373,500 (for part of project).
As in the areas previously described, the Down-
River District Project augments, supplements and provides
relief for the system facilities which have been In service
for 23 years. Part of the area is served by a sanitary
i
interceptor which discharges into a system of combined
sewers and pumping station. During dry weather, the system
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471
performs satisfactorily, but during time of storm, only a
small part of the sanitary sewage from this interceptor is
pumped by the sanitary sewage pumps at the pumping station
and reoelves treatment in the plant* When the hydraulic
gradient at the pumping station is high, the connection of
the sanitary interceptor to the combined sewer is closed
and the flow from the interceptor is diverted to Ecorse
Creek, or is pumped to Ecorse Creek, the Rouge River or the
Detroit River. This not only is unsatisfactory from the
standpoint of diversions, but creates operating problems
at the treatment plant because of grit and low sludge content
of the flow during times of storm and the excess sludge in
the flow as combined sewer systems are de-watered following
the storms. The enlarged treatment plant will have its own
pumping station and a separate extension of the sanitary
interceptor from the present point of connection to the new
pumping station will eliminate these overflows and discharges
of sanitary sewage. Additional parts of the project will
remove sanitary sewers from their present connections to
combined sewers, will provide for relief of overloaded fa»-
QLlities and will remove the dependence upon septic tanks
from most areas now served by them and will allow the growth
of the area to benefit from the water filtration and pumping
station with its transmission mains all of which are now
under construction. The project will allow two treatment
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Plants operated by the county system and one small plant
operated by the City of Belleville to be abandoned and taken
out of service.
The county has made an offer to certain Washtenaw
County communities, offering them the opportunity to Join
with Wayne County in the construction of this project and
to be served by this system on a permanent basis. While
no reply to this offer has been received, it has been reported
that the City of Ypsilanti is proceeding to expand a treat-
ment plant discharging effluent to the Huron River.
The cities of Trenton and Riverview were included
in previous drafts of the financing and disposal agreement,
but refused to sign the contract, preferring instead to
build their own small treatment plants, rather than to
Join the county system project.
Since these projects could not be completed for
at least 18 months, the county is preparing the necessary
facilities to serve these two municipalities until they
remove their flow from the county system. In the case of
Riverview and the north part of Trenton, these facilities
will consist of a connection from the present interceptor to
the new pumping station. In the case of the area served by
the county system's plant located in Trenton and serving
the rest of Trenton and all of the City of Gibraltar, the
county system will temporarily expand the facilities at the
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473
plant.
Flat Rook and Rockwood
At Flat Rock, the plant will be expanded to approx-
imately twice its present.capacity, assisted by a $45,000
federal grant against a total cost of $153,000. The balance
of the cost will be raised by selling $110,000 In revenue
bonds based upon an increase of six and a half cents per
thousand gallons of water used plus a $25 connection charge
for each new user.
At Rookwood, the same type of increase in service
charge has been proposed to the Village in order that a sim-
ilar project might be undertaken for the county system's
plant at Rockwood. The only difference between the two
would be that for the Rockwood project,no bonds would be
sold and the project would be constructed in stages, mostly
on a force-account basis, using funds advanced by the county
system and recovered from the increase in service charges.
On Grosse lie, the county operates two small sew-
age disposal plants owned by and leased from the Township
of Grosse lie, one of which is a temporary facility, the
other being a permanent installation. The necessary pro-
ceedings have taken place and easements and right-of-way
are now being acquired for the construction of a sewage dis-
posal plant and system of lateral sewers and interceptors
under the Drain law.
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The present projects in the Rouge Valley and
Down-River Districts provide for the development of the area
up to the maximum capacity of the present projects. The
ultimate growth and development of the rest of future metro-
politan areas in the Rouge and Huron Valleys will be made
possible by future projects which although part of the county's
master plan, are not yet even in the preliminary concept
state — only the general location and faction of these pro-
jects have been set.
The county has also established a policy of approv-
ing no new additional combined sewer systems and has limited
approval of combined sewer extensions to those areas now
served by such systems.
Wayne County has recognized the problem, has
prepared a master plan, has prepared and negotiatied the
necessary financing agreements, and has now reached a point
where it can be said that the only thing that remains to be
done is to complete the construction of approximately $37
million worth of Improvements. The next stage in the de-
velopment of the master plan will come in approximately
twenty years. In the interim, the metropolitan area can
enjoy residential, commercial and Industrial growth as a
result of these projects, and diversion to the water-courses
of untreated or inadequately treated sewage will have been
greatly reduced, if not entirely eliminated.
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Thank you very much.
(The Wayne County map attached to the statement
of Mr. Bingham Is as follows:)
GPO 820819-B-26
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PAGE NOT
AVAILABLE
DIGITALLY
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476
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Dr. Heustis.
DR. HEUSTIS: The next person that I would like to
call would be from the Supervisors Inter-County Committee,
and as I understand it Mr. David Calhoun has a very brief
statement to present on their behalf.
STATEMENT OF DAVID R. CAIHOUtt, CHAIRMAN,
PHYSICAL PLANNING COMMITTEE, SUPERVISORS
INTER-COUNTY COMMITTEE, MACOMB-MONROE-
OAKLAND-ST. CLAIR-WASHTENAW-WAYNE, MICHIGAN
MR. CALHOUN: This is a very general statement
which I think: would be of Interest to all and that is why
I would like to read it.
Secondly, as the only elected official on the pro-
gram, being the Mayor of my own town, I didn't want to leave
without saying a few words.
The Supervisors Inter-County Committee as one of
the founders and supporters of the Sanitation Council of
Southeastern Michigan, would like to present testimony con-
cerning the action of the Sanitation Council over the past
two years concerning pollution in the lower Detroit River
and Western Lake Erie.
The Sanitation Council of Southeastern Michigan was
established by action of the S3x-County Supervisors Inter-
County Committee (Oakland-Mac omb-Wayne-St. C lair-Washtenaw-
Monroe) for the purpose of studying the sewerage problems
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477
(sanitary and storm) in the six-county area and the prepar-
ation of a Master Plan for an ultimate solution.
The Sanitation Council of Southeastern Michigan
is under the direction of six sponsors: 1) Supervisors
Inter-County Committee, 2) Southeastern Michigan Metropolitan
Community Research Corporation, 3) National Sanitation Found-
ation, 4) Greater Detroit Board of Commerce, 5) Detroit Met-
ropolitan Area Regional Planning Commission, and 6) City of
Detroit.
Preliminary discussions established the following
"Statement of Scope" for the proposed program.
In order to guide the development of proper sewer-
age and drainage programs In the Six-County Area, the follow-
ing study will be required.
The study should be pursued in four broad areas as
follows:
1) Determination of future needs
2) Determination of technical standards
3) Delineation of a Master Plan
4) Cost estimates,
DETERMINATION OF FUTURE NEEDS
The determination of future needs will require in
general the following information:
1) Preparation of a plan showing the existing
and programmed sewerage and drainage system.
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478
2) A study of the demography of the area
to determine the forecast population and
urban development.
3) Determination of the future oapaolty
requirements flor both sewerage and drain-
age.
DETERMINATION OF TECHNICAL STANDARDS
The delineation of a Master Plan for the Six-
County area will require Initially that the following basic
technical factors be established:
1) System to be used, Separate or Combined.
2) Need for storm water treatment,
3) Treatment process to be used, primary,
Intermediate, complete.
4) Adoption of a unified or multiple system
operation.
DELINEATION OF A MASTER PLAN
The delineation of a Master Plan should be compre-
hensive to include the following information:
1) Ultimate Objectives as to:
a) Sewerage and drainage system
b) Sewage treatment process and facilities*,
2) Initial Program
a) Sewerage and drainage system
b) Sewage treatment facilities
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479
3) Intermediate Programs
a) Sewerage and drainage system
b) Sewage treatment facilities
COST ESTIMATES
Cost estimates will of necessity have to be made on
the basis of preliminary and schematic designs and also as
of a certain date. Subsequent statements of cost will have
to take into consideration any fluctuation of the construction
cost Index.
On the basis of the "Statement of Scope," the follow-
ing action has already been taken by the Sanitation Council
of Southeastern Michigan.
1. Mr. John R. Wilt, Manufacturers
National Bank, was appointed Chair-
man of the Executive Committee;
2. Mr. Clyde L. Palmer, City Engineer,
City of Detroit, was appointed Chair-
man of the Technical Committee;
3. The Technical Committee and the
Executive Committee have selected
three consultants who will work with
the Technical Committee, namely,
Hubbe11, Roth, & Clark; Lewis,
Ayres, Norrls and May; and Abel
Wolman;
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4. A budget of $305,000 has been
approved by the Executive Com-
mitteej
5. The Finance Committee has already
obtained commitments in the fol-
lowing amounts:
United States Public Health Service....$100,000
Local Government „.... 100,000
Industry. 60,000
6. An aerial survey of the six-county
area has been made at a cost of
approximately $20,000 as part of the
contribution of The Detroit Edison
Company.
The Sanitation Council of Southeastern Michigan
expects that very shortly the program will be fully imple-
mented and will be completed in two years.
As shown in the foregoing statements of fact, the
Sanitation Council of Southeastern Michigan is a well-planned
cooperative effort between Government and Industry which will
produce, for the foreseeable future, a Master Plan to guide
the six-county area in the orderly and proper programming
of its sewerage and drainage construction to adequately meet
the developing needs of the area.
The urgent need for a Master Plan cannot be over-
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481
emphasized. Considerable work has been done in the past
both as to planning and oonstructlon. At least $100,000,000
worth of sewer construction is now under contract in the
area and about the same amount is being prepared for adver-
tising at an early date. All this work will have significant
bearing on the problem of pollution control in the entire
area. In addition, upon completion of a Master Plan, the
consolidation of the various systems, both existing and
future, into a unified system, will require additional cor.
struction costing in the neighborhood of $500,000,000.
In the opinion of the Chairman of the Technical
Committee of the Sanitation Council of Southeastern Michigan,
the superimposing of action by the Department of Health,
Education & Welfare in the area at this time may disturb
past and future efforts of the Sanitation Council of South-
eastern Michigan.
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Dr. Heustis.
DR. HEUSTIS: I would like to call Mr. Ken Hallen-
beck, of the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority, who also
has an extremely brief statement to make.
STATEMENT OF KENNETH L. HALLENBECK, DIRECTOR,
THE HURON-CLINTON METROPOLITAN AUTHORITY,
1750 GUARDIAN BUILDING, DETROIT 26, MICHIGAN
The following brief statement is
submitted to indicate our interest and concern in the above
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482
subject.
This Authority was made possible by an enabling
act of the 1939 Michigan Legislature which permitted a refer-
endum in the general election of November, 19^0 in the counties
of Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne.
The voters of these five counties approved the
formation of the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority and
directed that it proceed to acquire, develop and operate park
and recreational facilities for its people.
The Authority has since acquired, developed and
operated three major facilities: Kensington Metropolitan Park,
consisting of 4,50O acres on the Huron River in Livingston
and Oakland Counties; Metropolitan Beach with 550 acres on
Lake St. Glair in Macomb County; and Lower Huron Metropolitan
Park, a 2,000 acre area on the Huron River in Southern
Wayne County. A "more recent major facility is being de-
veloped on Stony Creek, a tributary of the Clinton River,
consisting of more than 3*000 acres, in Macomb and Oakland
Counties. Among the important features of these parks has
been swimming.
These ventures along with smaller units on the
Huron and Clinton Rivers were used as a basis for a recent
Park Users Survey conducted by the Detroit Metropolitan Area
Regional Planning Commission.
This study indicated that the major activities that
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483
attracted people to the regional parks in order of their
preference were picnicking, rest-relaxation, and swimming.
The survey in the Authority parks consisting of Kensington
Park and Metropolitan Beach showed that swimming was the
dominant attraction.
Due to these findings and the emphasis placed on
swimming and other water uses as a major attraction to
Regional parks, the Authority finds itself concerned with
the condition of waters in and bordering all of the above
five counties and offer our continuing cooperation with
your office and all other agencies — national, state and
local — toward a total abatement of water pollution.
MR. MALLONEN: Mr. Chairman, the statement is al-
ready made part of the record.
DR. HEUSTIS: That's right.
MR. MALLONEN: I would just like to make a short
addendum to it.
DR. HEUSTIS: All right. For the record, or not
for the record?
MR. MALLONEN: For the record.
DR. HEUSTIS: Go ahead.
STATEMENT OF EDWARD A. MALLONEN, REPRESENTING
MR. KENNETH HALLENBECK, DIRECTOR, THE HURON-
CLINTON METROPOLITAN AUTHORITY
MR. MALLONEN: This is merely a statement made in
. GPO 820819—B-2B
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484
the light of experiences had by the Michigan Conservation De-
partment at Sterling Monroe bathing beach. It is the con-
sensus of the Authority that any displacement of any swimming
facility in the Greater Detroit Metropolitan Area can cause
burdensome loads on the facilities supported by the Authority}
suoh as at Metropolitan Beach, for example, which is in
Macomb County, or Lake St. Glair. It can be described as
a bathing facility on Lake St. Clair near the mouth of the
Clinton River, and may be described as an expenditure of
about $8,000,000, catering to people in the metropolitan
area with an amount of about one and a half million annually.
While this session is limited to Lake Erie and
the Detroit River, we do feel any faci'lity displaced in the
downriver areas can cause great concern on the part of the
Authority in the facilities it now supports.
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Are there any questions?
DR. HEUSTIS: I would like next to call on the
Oakland County Department of Public Works. I do not have
the name of an individual.
MR. REID: I thought the Regional Planning Com-
mission was next.
DR. HEUSTIS: I beg your pardon. Did I get mixed
up here?
MR. REID: We were to come after the Supervisors
Inter-County Committee. To take an extra second of your
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485
time, Mr, Chairman, and conferees, may I say we are somewhat
In the position now of the engaged couple In the nudist camp
who decided to break their engagement — they had been seeing
too much of each other.
THE CHAIRMAN: Would you identify yourself, please?
MR. REID: I am Paul Reid, Director of the Detroit
Metropolitan Area.
THE CHAIRMAN: Without clothes it's hard to dis-
tinguish.
STATEMENT OF PAUL M. REID, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
DETROIT METROPOLITAN AREA REGIONAL PLANNING
COMMISSION, 800 CADILLAC SQUARE BUILDING,
DETROIT 26, MICHIGAN
MR. REID: The Detroit Metropolitan Area Regional
Planning Commission is the official regional planning agency
for the five-county area of Wayne, Oakland, Maoomb, Washtenaw.
and Monroe counties. It was established under state enabling
legislation in 19^7 and is concerned with the preparation of
sound plans to guide the physical development of this area.
At its meeting on March 22, 1962, the Executive
Committee of the Commission considered the purpose of the
conference called for March 27-28, 1962, and adopted the
enclosed resolution.
The Executive Committee further directed that the
Executive Director of the Commission, Paul M. Reid, and the
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486
Deputy Director for Facility Planning, Fred Cheek, attend
the conference and participate in its proceedings.
The resolution referred to is as follows;
WHEREAS the Detroit Metropolitan Area Regional
Planning Commission has been concerned about the problem of
pollution in the Detroit region and in 1949 first undertook
staff studies and established advisory committees on drainage
and pollution in the river basins of the region,
WHEREAS subsequent studies of water supply needs
and priorities and of sanitary sewer and storm drainage needs
and priorities have been conducted and the findings publi-
cized,
AND WHEREAS the Detroit Metropolitan Area Regional
Planning Commission has been a constituent member of the
Sanitation Council of Southeastern Michigan, Joining In a
cooperative effort of the six agencies to undertake studies
and plans for proper region-wide systems of sanitary sewer
and storm drainage facilities to Insure public health and
provide safe water supply for the people and economic enter-
prises of the Detroit region,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Detroit Metro-
politan Area Regional Planning Commission:
(1) Recognizes the general concern of the federal
government in pollution problems and appreci-
ates its willingness to provide assistance in
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48?
solving these problems In the Detroit region,
as demonstrated by a pledge of funds to the
Sanitation Council of Southeastern Michigan,
and
(2) Reaffirms its faith in the cooperative effort
of the Sanitation Council of Southeastern
Michigan, directed and conducted by local
governmental and private agencies, and pledges
its continued desire to assist in carrying
through an adequate study and proper plan for
regional sanitary sewer and storm drainage
facilities in the Detroit region.
The above resolution was adopted at the March 22,
1962, meeting of the Executive Committee of the Detroit
Metropolitan Area Regional Planning Commission.
/s/ Gerard H. Coleman, Secretary
Thank you.
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
DR. HEUSTIS: The Oakland County Department of
Public Works. I have a statement here from them.
MR. RINGLER: My name is D. W. Ringler, Deputy
Director of the Oakland County Department of Public Works.
Since this statement is a combined statement of our Depart-
ment and the Office of the Drain Commissioner, and is on
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488
file I will not attempt to read It.
DR. HEUSTIS: For the record I have a letter dated
Maroh 22, signed by R. J. Alexander with a statement attached
which will be entered into and made a part of the record,
STATEMENT OP THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS,
COUNTY OF OAKLAND, MICHIGAN AND THE DRAIN
COMMISSION, COUNTY OF OAKLAND, MICHIGAN.
STATEMENT PRESENTED TO DETROIT RIVER-LAKE ERIE
CONFERENCE ON MARCH 27, 1962
Various areas of Oakland County are naturally
tributary to five different river basins, three of which are
within the scope of this conference, namely, the Rougej Clinton
and Huron Rivers and the jurisdiction over pollution control
facilities Is divided between the Drain Commissioner and the
Department of Public Works. This letter is, therefore,
being submitted on behalf of both Oakland County Departments.
ROUGE RIVER BASIN:
Approximately 150 square miles of Oakland County
lies within the Rouge River Basin and during the past several
years considerable planning and construction has been done
to provide sanitary facilities for this rapidly developing
area. The municipalities of Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield
Township, Birmingham and Lathrup Village were cited by the
Water Resources Commission for pollution of the Rouge River
and pursuant to this action the Evergreen Interceptor was
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489
constructed in 1959 and I960 to provide interceptor sewers for
a 70 square mile area and serves the above municipalities and
all or part of an additional four municipalities. During
this same period the Parmington Interceptor was constructed
to serve an additional 50 square mile area. Both of these
systems were designed to serve the area under ultimate built-
up conditions (340,000 population) at rates of 259 gallons
per capita per day, for strictly sanitary districts and 942
gallons per capita per day, for areas served by combined
sewers. Treatment of sewage is provided by the City of
Detroit through a contract between Detroit and Oakland
Bounty. These two interceptors, along with six extensions
constructed during the past year, were constructed at a
total cost of $14,548,000.00.
It is our opinion that adequate facilities have
been constructed and are available to control pollution
within the Rouge River Basin of Oakland County.
CLINTON RIVER BASIN (Area of Oakland County
directly tributary to
Clinton River proper)
The pollution control projects within this area
that are either under construction or in the planning stage
are listed as follows:
(a) City of Pontiao - The City of Pontiao was
cited by the Water Resources Commission for
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490
pollution of the Clinton River and in 1961,
$3*500,000.00 of Court Order bonds were sold
to construct a new sewage treatment plant.
Both primary and secondary treatment is pro-
vided,
(b) Village of Rochester - The Village of RoohesteJ-
was also cited by the Water Resources Com-
miesion and in 1961, $350,000.00 of Revenue
Bonds were sold to expand the primary treat-
ment facilities and to add secondary treat-
ment facilities.
(o) M,S.U»-Oakland - A sanitary sewer system and
interim sewage treatment plant was constructed
in I960 to provide sewage disposal service
for the new Michigan State University-Oakland
and surrounding areas. This system provides
both primary and secondary treatment and was
constructed at a cost of $800,000.00.
(d) The remainder of this district is virtually
without sanitary sewers and consequently
septic tanks are used for sewage disposal,
however, plans for an interceptor system have
been prepared under a $311,000.00 planning
advance from the Housing and Home Finance
Agency. Treatment would be provided by eithef
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491
the construction of a treatment plant on the
Clinton River or by the construction of an
Interceptor to the Detroit system, If and
when a contract can be negotiated with the
City of Detroit.
It Is our opinion that adequate measures to abate
pollution, with minor exceptions, have either been constructed
or are being constructed. The only exceptions to this
statement are those areas where septic tank facilities do
not function properly during certain seasons of the year,
however, trunk interceptors and lateral sewers will be con-
structed when the service district is sufficiently developed
to support a bond issue.
CLINTON RIVER BASIN; (Area of Oakland County trib-
utary to Clinton River via
Red Run Drain)
In 19^2, the Oakland County Drain Commissioner
constructed the Southeastern Interceptor, rtiioh provided
sewage disposal service for approximately 48 square miles
In the south-east corner of Oakland County. The facilities
consisted of a sanitary Interceptor from the outlets of the
Royal Oak, Campbell Road, Lawson and John R. Road Drains to
the City of Detroit sewer system south of 8 Mile Road and
serves all or part of the Cities of Hazel Park, Madison
Heights, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Royal
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492
Oak, Clawson, Oak Park, Berkley, Birmingham, Troy, Southfield,
the Village of Beverly Hills and Royal Oak Township.
Since 1942, the population within Southeastern
Oakland County Sewage Disposal System District has increased
substantially and, therefore, the Oakland County Drain Com-
missioner has a $40,000,000.00 storm relief system under
contract for construction, and intends to have a relief san-
itary interceptor and the enclosure of a portion of the Red
Run Drain under contract within the next several months to
control pollution. The relief interceptor, which will be known
as the Dequindre Interceptor, along with the Red Run Enclosure,
will provide for a total flow of 198 b.f.s. from an estimated
future population of 500,000 people to outlet into the De-
troit system.
The storm relief system (12 Towns Drain) outlet Is
provided with a high weir outlet structure designed to pro-
vide storage in the system amounting to 100 acre feet, and
at the same time skim the overflow. The Dequindre Inter-
ceptor will de-water the system after each storm. It is an-
ticipated that no overflow will occur with rains of less than
.10 inch over the area. Since the service area is not fully
developed, it is estimated that the total average volume of
storm water to be treated. In any one year, based on an initial
maximum interceptor rate of 115 o.f.s., will be approximately
12,000 acre feet. For any given year this volume can be ex-
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493
pected to vary from 5,000 acre feet to 18,000 acre feet with
spills occurring only about twelve times per year. The
estimated oost of the Dequindre Interceptor and Red Run En-
closure is $7,480,000.00.
It is our opinion that the construction of the 12
Towns Relief Drain, the Dequindre Interceptor and the Red
Run Enclosure will adequately abate pollution*
HURON RIVER BASIN:
This section of Oakland County is rather sparsely
populated, and except for several small Villages that have
constructed sewage treatment facilities, septic tanks are
in general use* A detailed preliminary plan for trunk: sewers
and treatment facilities or interceptor to a metropolitan
system is being prepared under a planning advance from the
Housing and Home Finance Agency. Since these studies are
not complete, we are not in a position to comment on the
adequacy of measures to*ate pollution in this basin
SUMMARY;
During the past four years, Oakland County munici-
palities have expended $19*198,000.00 for sanitary Inter-
ceptors and treatment facilities to abate pollution and an
additional $40,000,000.00 for relief sewers to protect the
public health. It is also estimated that at least $7,480,000
will be expended In 1962 for interceptor facilities. We
firmly believe that the major sources of pollution either
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494
have or will be corrected by the end of 1962 and that facil-
ities for the unsewered areas of the County will be provided
when bonding permits.
Very truly yours,
/s/ R. J. Alexander, Director
Oakland County Department of Public Works
/B/ Daniel W. Barry, Drain Commissioner
DR.HEUSTIS: The next city I would like to call is
the City of Wyandotte. I saw George Hazey here.
STATEMENT OF CARL P. BUPE, SUPERINTENDENT,
DEPARTMENT OP MUNICIPAL SERVICE AND GEORGE
J. HAZEY, SUPERINTENDENT, WATER DIVISION,
DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL SERVICE, 2555
VAN ALSTYNE BLVD., WYANDOTTE, MICHIGAN
MR. BUPE: I am Carl Bufe, Superintendent of
Municipal Service of the City of Wyandotte, which depart-
ment operates the water and electrical department. Mr.
Hazey, Superintendent of the Water Division will make the
statement.
DR. HEUSTIS: Can you prevail on Mr. Hazey to cut
his statement down, Mr. Bufe?
MR. BUFE: I have been working on him.
DR,HEUSTIS: Mr. Hazey, anything you oan do to
shorten the presentation of this extremely important mate-
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495
rial will be greatly appreciated*
MR. HAZEY: I will speak as fast as I can, Doctor,
The City of Wyandotte, on the west bank of the
Detroit River, has been the home of its citizens and its
industries for over 100 years. Its present population Is
about 44,000. Two of its major industries, whose reputation
and products are nation-wide In scope are: The Wyandotte
Chemicals Corporation and its J. B. Ford Division, and the
Pennsalt Chemicals Corporation and its west plant division,
the former Sharpies Company.
Water and electric power utilities are city owned,
and the Detroit River Is the source of water supply for both
units. Since 1948 approximately $10,000,000 has been spent for
expansion of these utilities, paid for by earnings, and with-
out any increase in consumer rates. Both utilities are free
of bonded Indebtedness. Fire protection services and public
lighting services are installed, maintained and operated
by the utilities division at an annual cost of $1.00 each to
the city government. Corrosion control of water mains, now
in its 10th year, and fluoridation, now entering its 12th
year, .are provided without additional cost to the consumer.
Presently under construction for the water division are
modern mixing and settling facilities, costing $800,000
will be paid for by cashew hand. In the engineering stage
presently is a program for an addition to our water dlstri-
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496
button system approximating a cost of $1,250,000. The water
service for our consumers has no restrictions as to use
for air-conditioning and lawn sprinkling. Our basic water
rates have nox; been increased since their adoption in 1927.
The activities of our utilities divisions are di-
rected towards improving service, attracting new industries
and people, continuing adequate service at low cost to the
consumer, and making our community a better place in which
to live.
Copies of the 68th Annual Report, for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 1961 are presented for the record.
On July 21, 1950 at about 1:30 PM the City of
Wyandotte placed in operation a new raw water intake line.
This line was constructed at a cost of approximately $211,000k
The line extends into the Detroit River about 1800 feet from
the American Shore. The intake crib for this line was lo-
cated at a point to provide a water of acceptable quality
as the source of its public water supply. This location was
supported by the following facts:
1. Permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Detroit District.
2. Permit for construction, without any qualifi-
cations, issued by the Michigan Department of
Health.
3. The new line was designed, constructed and
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497
located to assure its source of water would
be from the main ship channel. The quality
of these waters was substantiated further by
the data from the following surveys:
a. U. S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
Environmental Health Center
SPECIAL STUDIES-U.S. Hopper Dredge
SAVANNAH Operations-Detroit River:
June-August 1948 Item 2 of the conclusions
of the report is as follows and we quote:
"The dumping of Rouge River dredged mater-
ials in the Detroit River at the head of
Fighting Island constitutes an extension
of pollution to a relatively unpolluted
area of the Detroit River,
b. The report of the International Joint Com-
mission, United States and Canada, on the
Pollution of Boundary Waters, 195L
The data in this report from the 1946-1948
survey show the waters at Detroit Range
14.6-W at 2000 feet from the American shore
to have a coliform MPN median value of
2400 per 100 milliliters. This range i&
about 600 feet north of the present intake
crib location.
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498
Further, it was expected that due recognition
would be given to the fact that the Detroit River is a boundary
water, under the Jurisdiction of the International Joint Com-
mission as outlined by the International Waters Treaty of
1909; and that adequate protection would be provided for the
use of boundary waters for domestic purposes as specifically
outlined in ARTICLE VIII of the treaty.
Furthermore, it was expected that upon acceptance
of the findings, remedial measures, and conclusions of the
1951 International Joint Commission report on the pollution
of Boundary waters, these waters would retain their good
qualities, and gradually proceed to improve towards a better
quality.
The letters and reports filed with the various
agencies concerned, with respect to sewage pollution at our
new intake source, have been many over the years. We believe
the following review will serve the purpose at this time:-
AUGUST 31, 1953
The City of Wyandotte received a letter from the
Technical Advisory Board to the International Joint Commis-
sion under the above date, requesting full information on
the progress being made to meet the objectives outlined in
Boundary Waters Quality Control. Also full information with
respect to taste and odor problems in the city water that
would be attributable to pollutants in the raw water. As
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499
requested, a report was presented In complete detail, at
Its regular scheduled meeting held on September 18, 1953 in
Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
MARCH 20, 1958
A letter was forwarded to the Sewage Division of the?
Michigan Department of Health expressing our oonoern with
the increasing degree of sewage pollution in raw water qual-
ity. Complete data with respect to the MPN index values for
the years 1951 to 1957 Inclusive, and the first two months
of 1958 were attached to the letter. Information was re-
quested relative to measures in effect, or contemplated, that
might reduce this gross pollution and its potential health
hazard to a rightful level. On May 2", 1958 and May 28,
1958 a request was made for a response to our letter of
March 20, 1958. On June 2, 1958 a response was received.
This letter stated that the problem was being studied, and
that they were trying to arrive at a statistically sound
conclusion, and that we would be advised of their opinion
at a later date.
OCTOBER 21, 1958
A complete report was filed with the Water Resources
j
Commission on the State of Michigan with respect to the de-
gree of sewage pollution In the raw water supply. Our
letter asked that an investigation be made of this pollution,
that controls be provided for the reduction in the degree of
GPO 620819—8-29
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500
sewage pollution, and that the degree of protection be in
aooord with the specific objectives as outlined by the Inter-
national Joint Commission, On November 14, 1958 additional
information was forwarded to the Water Resources Commission
as requested and pertinent to our letter of October 21.
FEBRUARY 6, 1959
A meeting was held in Lansing, Michigan, at the
offices of the Water Resources Commission, with city repre-
sentatives and the staff members of the Commission. At
this time, the staff outlined the program for sewage pol-
lution control in the Detroit River. The final report of
this meeting states that an improvement in the sanitary
quality of the city's intake would be noticeable in 1961.
AUGUST 26a 1959
A letter to which was attached a detailed report
on the degree of sewage pollution in our raw water source,
was presented to the Technical Advisory Board to the Inter-
national Joint Commission on Control of Pollution of
Boundary Waters at its regular scheduled meeting held in
Albany, New York on the above date.
This letter advised the Board that the city was
not aware of any work having been done, or being done, for
pollution control in the lower Detroit River. The Board
was requested to consider the data presented and substanti-
ate it, if necessary. If all was found to be in proper
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501
order, it was requested that there be set In motion the
required procedures to provide adequate protection for the
source of domestic supply for the city of Wyandotte. It
was also asked that should we be in error in our interpre-
tation of the protection available to us under Boundary
Water Pollution Control, as outlined by the International
Joint Commission, we would be pleased to be so informed.
Today, two years and seven months since the pre-
sentation of the letter and report, it still is unanswered.
MAY 17, I960
The City Council of the city, in regular session
on the above date, passed a resolution with specific refer-
ence to pollution in the Detroit River. In brief it asked
that the Detroit office of the Public Health Service increase
its activities in the matter of pollution control in the
Detroit River, that pollution enforcement agencies in the
state of Michigan increase their vigilance in the matter
of enforcement to insure the speedy attainment of IJC
objectives. Copies of the resolution were forwarded to
the following:
International Joint Commission
Michigan Department of Health
Water Resources Commission
Mr. Arthur1 Fleratung; Secretary-Health,
Education and Welfare
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502
On November 22, 1961 a letter was sent to Mr.
Abraham RIbiooff, Secretary of Health, Education and Wel-
fare, Washington, D.C. This letter expressed our views and
comments on the pollution problem in the Detroit River.
Copies of the letter were sent to the following:
Governor J. B. Swainson, State of Michigan
International Joint Commission
State of Michigan-Representatives in
Congress and Senate
Monthly reports, as required by regulations, are
filed with the Michigan Department of Health. These contain
data relative to daily operations, such as total water pump-
age, dosage of all chemicals applied in treatment, physical
and chemical analyses, and the results of bacteriological
analyses on both raw and finished waters.
Although the recommendation of the International
Joint Commission report with respect to the establishment and
operation of a local office for continuing supervision over
boundary waters pollution had been complied with, little or
no work: had been done in the lower Detroit River, The first
occasion of survey work was started after the city filed a
report on pollution in our raw water source with the Advi-
sory Board to the International Joint Commission, United
States Section, on August 26, 1959.
The International Joint Commission report of 1951
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503
on the pollution of Boundary Waters set forth both general
and specific objectives for the protection of the various
uses of these waters. The present day status of these ob-
jectives apparently can only be concluded to be in the cate-
gory of "something to be desired, but not to be achieved0"
Fourteen years have now passed since the conclusion
of the 1946-1948 survey on pollution in the Detroit River
by the Public Health Service, and twelve years since our new
intake was placed in service. Let's briefly review the data
taken from our operating records with specific reference to
the degree of sewage pollution in the raw water:-
ANNUAL AVERAGE RAW WATER COLIFORM INDEX
MOST PROBABIE NUMBERS PER 100 ML.
1. The period of January 1, 1955 to December 31, 1958
exceeds tne previous period of January 1, 1951 to
December 31, 1954 by 44.4$.
2. The period of January 1, 1956 to December 31, I960 ex-
ceeds the previous period of January 1, 1951 to December
31, 1955 by 82.1$.
3. The period of January 1, 1956 to December 31, 1961 ex-
ceeds the previous period of Januay 1, 1951 to December
31, 1955 by 126.$.
Data obtained from the annual reports of the City
of Detroit, Department of Water Supply indicate the follow-
ing:- for the period of July 1, 1952 to June 30, 1958 the
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504
annual average of the MPN Index per 100 ml. for raw water
quality was 79.07.
Our operating records indicate the following:
for the period of January 1, 1952 to December 31, 1958 the
annual average of the MPN index per 100 ml. for raw water
quality was 11,666.
The above data indicates the drastic change in
raw water quality between two raw water intakes on the same
river less than 15 miles apart.
Further comparison, based on median values are
of interest. Quoted below are the percentage figure by which
actual median values for the year and month presented ex-
ceeds the median value of 2400 per 100 ml. which the Inter-
national Joint Commission states in its specific objectives
should provide adequate protection for water intakes:
1951 % 1961
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
358
92
0
0
92
288
288
288
615
213
288
0
0
288
1,358
525
900
1,900
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505
1951 1961
OCTOBER 79 79
NOVEMBER 0 79
DECEMBER 0 0
Such a record most certainly does not indicate
progress; nor is it one to be proud of; nor is it in keeping
with present-day concern about preserving our water re-
sources; it certainly does not give recognition to the fact
that the preservation of the public health is of paramount
importance; and finally these conditions are permitted to
exist in spite of the fact that all sewage pollution must
be considered as a potential health hazard.
It Is evident that those who are responsible for or
permit discharges of raw, partially or inadequately treated
sewage to enter the Detroit River exhibit little or no con-
cern as to the effects of these discharges upon the receiv-
ing stream, especially with reference to protecting the
sources of domestic uses,
A specific incident occurred during the winter of
1955-1956. The coliform MPN count of our raw water began
Increasing and no immediate cause was apparent at the time.
Upon investigation, it was found that on October 27, 1955
the Pairview Sewage pumping station for the City of Detroit
was shut down for repairs. This required that approximately
1^0,000,000 to 200,000,000 gallons per day of raw sewage be
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506
diverted directly into the Detroit River. Further investi-
gation revealed that State Health agencies concerned were
not aware of, nor had given approval for this discharge of
raw sewage.
No emergency measures were provided for to com-
bat the potential health hazard of these discharges, nor
was the City of Wyandotte notified. This diversion contin-
ued even though a severe ice jam had occurred at the head
of the St. Glair River at Port Huron, Michigan, This ice
jam resulted in a reduction of water levels and normal water
flow was reduced from 180,000 cubic feet per second to about
80,000 cubic feet per second, a loss of flow of 55$. On
February 2, 1956 the Fairvlew pumping station resumed tem-
porary operations due to low water levels. On April 12,
1956 the station was again taken out of service and raw sew-
age diverted directly to the river. Repairs were completed
and sewage pumping station returned to service on May 27,
1956.
On January 14, 1958 the Detroit Sewage treatment
plant suspended operations in order that a diver could in-
spect the effluent outlet on the Detroit river bottom. Our
operating records show that the chlorine demand of the raw
water at 9:15 AM to be 31$ per million gallons, then dropped
to a low of 16# per million gallons, and then returned to
per million gallons at 9:20 FM. This operation was re-
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507
peated again on January 15* 1958. At 5:00 AM the chlorine
demand of the raw water was 31# per million gallons, then
dropped to a low of 13# per million gallons, then returned
to 28# per million gallons at 10:15 EM. This data is indic-
ative of the effect of the sewage treatment plant effluent
on the chlorine demand of the raw water at our intake.
On April 29, 1958 the Detroit Sewage plant had
occasion to discontinue the discharge of the sewage plant
effluent into the Detroit River in order to permit the in-
spection of the effluent outlet on the river bottom. Samples
were taken for bacteriological tests to determine the MPN
index of raw water every half-hour from 9:00 AM till midnight.
The following is indicative of shut-down and start-up of
operations;
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508
9 tOO AM to 7:30 PM
8 samples MPN Index per 100 ml 0
360
730
910
" 2100
" 2300
" 9300
" 110000
11 15000
11 24000
11 4300
11 9300
11 2300
31 samples
On December 19> I960 the City of Detroit advised us
of a breakdown of pumping operations at their Conners Creek
station* Pump damage would require about four weeks for
repairs and a new station was under const ruction at the time
and would be completed In about four weeks. During this
period, It was stated that a volume of raw sewage ranging
from 120 to 240 cubic feet per second would be discharged
Into the Detroit River. We are not aware if permission was
granted for this discharge, or if emergency measures were
8-9 PM
9:30
10:00
10:30
11:00
11:30
mldnlte
3
2
5
1
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
"
¥
it
it
ii
ii
it
it
it
H
¥
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509
provided for to protect downstream uses.
Our records Indicate that we received a total of
50 telephone calls from personnel of the Detroit Sewace
Treatment plant, advising us that chlorlnatlon at the plant
would be suspended for various reasons. The period of sus-
pension of chlorinations ranged from several hours to seven
days. These suspensions of ohlorination were during the time
period of January 1, 1946 to December 31, 1961.
It is about time that adequate protection be pro-
vided public water supply sources in the lower Detroit River
by means other than a telephone call, whenever upstream con-
tributors of sewage pollution suspend chlorination at treat-
ment plants, or by-pass discharges of raw sewage.
With reference to industrial pollution that pro-
duce objectionable taste and odor problems during treatment,
it must be acknowledged that considerable progress has been
made. However* taste and odor problems have occurred on
occasion. A severe condition occurred this year during the
entire month of February and the early part of March. A
complete report on the varying chlorine demand of the raw
water, and the occurrence of tastes and odors in the finished
water have been filed with the Detroit Office of the Public
Health Service and the Water Resources Commission. Since
efficient survey work cannot be done during the winter
months, and this is the time that the problem is acute,
it is Indicated that more adequate controls should be pro-
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510
vided at the sources of such discharges known to be the cause
of these taste and odor problems.
In 1944 the City of Wyandotte began the use of chlo*'
line dioxide treatment for control of taste and odors due to
industrial wastes pollutants in the raw water supply. Ap-
proximately $18,355.00 has been spent for this control from
the period of January 1, 1951 to December 31, 1961.
For a point of clarification, Mr. Chairman, it is
not the total cost but strictly the sodium chlorite used
on treatment. I don't know how we can evaluate the time and
dollars spent in trying to arrive at an adequate and effi.
dent treatment to prevent the taste and odors from reaching
our consumers.
In 1948 the city purchased an automatic chlorine
residual chlorine recorder, to provide for more accurate
control of pretreatment in the use of chlorine, due to vary-
ing chlorine demand of the raw water. This instrument was
the first of its kind in the state of Michigan and the first
to be used for control purposes with chlorlnation of raw
water. The instrument is equipped with alarm controls, to
indicate changes in chlorine demand, and operation is con-
tinuously recorded on a chart. The instrument has been
effective in controlling taste and odor problems by the
use of chlorine and thereby reducing the cost of chlorine
dioxide treatment. The savings can be visualized when
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511
comparing the oost of nine cents for one pound of chlorine
versus the conversion of one pound of sodium chlorite to
chlorine dioxide costing 79 cents. The original cost of
the instrument was $3,000.00. Presently experimental work
is being done with another unit of automatic chlorine residual
recording. Upon acceptance, it will be placed into service
at a cost of $2,800.00.
An Absolute Light Scattering Photometer has been
purchased and is on hand, at a cost of $3,700.00 for use
with our new pretreatment facilities now under construction.
This instrument will be used in order to assure that water
of the highest quality will be supplied our consumers at all
times.
The Michigan Department of Health has advised the
City*of Wyandotte that it should seek a better source of
raw water quality, since there are no indications that the
present quality of water at our intake would ever improve,
and that conditions are indicative that raw water quality would
be injured further by increased sewage pollution. Once
again the Detroit River as a boundary water under Internationr-
al Treaty, and for which the International Joint Commission
has spelled out specific objectives for pollution control
to provide adequate protection for domestic uses therein,
is looked upon as suitable only for the disposal of indus-
trial wastes and sewage. To this kind of thinking we do not
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512
subscribe.
Only three alternatives are available to the City,
should it ever consider another source of water supply. A
brief review is as follows:
A. At an expense of several million dollars, con-
struct a new intake line under city streets to
tie-in to the Wayne County raw water tunnel,
whose shore shaft is located in the northern
part of the city, about 1.8 miles from the
present filter plant. This water would not be
desirable since it is contaminated by sulphur
water due to leakage of the tunnel under the
river. The intake line is also situated in
the Detroit River and subject to sewage pollution.
/
B. At an expense in excess of a million dollars,
extend the present intake line from American
waters to Canadian waters. Before considering
suoh a project, it would be expected that we
would be notified by a responsible agency that
the disposal of industrial wastes and sewage
in these waters take precedence over domestic
uses; and that pollution control agencies at all
levels of government cannot control pollution
of these waters; and that the waters of the
United States section of the lower Detroit
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513
River are no longer available to the citizens
of Wyandotte for use as a source of its public
water supply.
C. Abandon the present water treatment plant and
its facilities and take water from the City
of Detroit. This would involve a financial
loss, an increase in water rates for our con-
sumers, and a tremendous expenditure of money
to reverse the water distribution system. Since
the City of Detroit is presently responsible
for the greater share of sewage pollution at
our intake in the lower Detroit River, such actiqn
on our part would be giving consent to continu-
ing the pollution of our public waters; We have
no intention of subscribing to such a principle.
The questions at hand to be solved are quite ob-
vious :
1. Can adequate protection be provided for
the source of public water supply for the
City of Wyandotte?
2. If so, wherein lies the responsibility to
provide this adequate protection?
We are fully confident that this Conference, upon
review of all the facts, will be fair and just in its
decisions. Thank you for the courtesy of our appearing at
-------
this conference and presenting our report.
Very truly yours,
CITY OF WYANDOTTE
Department of Municipal Service
/s/ George J. Hazey
Superintendent Water Division
(Applause)
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Hazey. Are there
any questions or comments?
There might be just one that I have for the purpose
of clarification. As I recall it, Mr. Kittrell's report
indicated that the taste and odor problems in drinking water
downstream had disappeared and that your report indicates on
occasion you still have some tastes and odor problems.
MR. HAZEY: Mr. Chairman, it is quite difficult
to evaluate taste and odor problems. My opinion is v/hen 1£ 1*
suitable for complaining we like to complain. Due to the
varying chlorine demand of our water, I think you will agree
it is very difficult to pinpoint very troublesome things as
to the exact source. Unfortunately, the incident that oc-
curred in February and March was not in time to present here.
It has been detailed and I thought there was no point in pur-
suing it.
THE CHAIRMAN: That is correct, and I thought the
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515
Information you have, without objection from the conferees,
will probably take precedence over that statement.
MR. HAZEY: I like to give credit where credit is
due.
THE CHAIRMAN: Yes. Thank you.
DR. HEUSTIS: The next statement will be from the
City of Estral Beach and Lake Erie Clean-up Committee. Mr.
John Chasesa. Do you have a written statement?
MR. CHASCSA: I have several documents, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN: May we have a five minute recess at
this point?
(Whereupon a recess was had.)
THE CHAIRMAN: Will you kindly take your seats so
we can resume? Mr. Chasesa.
(See Volume II, Part 2 for continuation.)
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