Macomb County Public Works 2023 Fall Report
CANDICE S. MILLER MACOMB COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSIONER IN THIS ISSUE: Reducing Combined Sewage Overflows, Award Winning Projects, NO MORE SINKHOLES, Sewer Collapse Prevented, Lake St. Clair Lyngbya 'muck' Study Underway, and more...
Pictured:LakeSt.Clair
Our Mission Quality of Life Critical Component of Economic Prosperity TheMCPWOadministers474countydrainsthatpreventfloodinginourcommunities. Someofthesedrainsareopenstreamsorcreeks,whileothersaremassive undergroundstructuresthatcarrystormwaterawayfromneighborhoodsand businesses.Givenourresponsibilityforthesewaterways,weareactivelyengagedin numerousinitiativestoenhancetheoverallwaterqualityinourlakesandrivers, mostnotablytheClintonRiverandLakeSt.Clair.Inaddition,weoperate68milesof sanitarysewerlineswhichtransportwastefrommorethan800,000residentsand businessestotheGreatLakesWaterAuthority(GLWA)WaterResourceRecovery Facility(WRRF)forpropertreatment. Improve Water Quality
TheMacombCountyPublicWorksOfficehasthreegoals: improvewaterquality,improvethequalityoflifeforourresidents,andserveasa criticalcomponentofeconomicprosperityinourcommunity.
Pictured:ClintonRiverSpillway
DearNeighbors,
COMMISSIONER'S MESSAGE TheMacombCountyPublicWorksOfficecontinuestomakehugeprogressinseveralwaysincluding: inspectingandmaintainingourvitalundergroundinfrastructure;removingdeadtrees,overgrown vegetationandsedimentbuildupinouropenchannelstoimprovestormwaterflowtoreducetheriskof flooding;andreviewingplansfromlanddeveloperstoensureproperdrainageontheirsites.
SincetakingofficeinJanuary2017,Ihavebeencommittedtotransparency.Muchofthecriticalwork weperformliterallyoccursfarbelowthesurface,outofviewfrompassersby.We’recommittedto opennessofnotonlyhowmuchwespend,buthowwespendit.
Thedepartmenthascomesuchalongwayinsevenyears.Inmanyways,wewerelikeastart-up company–takingonchallengesoldandnew,forthegoodofthemanypeoplewholive,workandplay inMacombCounty.Wehaveatremendousteaminplace–adedicatedmanagementteamandstaff, whoworkverywelltogether.
Asyouwillseeinthisreport,everythingwedoiswithaneyeonourdepartment’smission:Improving waterqualitywhichequalsqualityoflifeanddoingwhatwecanasstormwatermanagerstofoster economicprosperity.
Frommajorconstructionprojectstosewerinspections,fromclearinglogjamstoreviewingland developmentengineeringplans,theMacombCountyPublicWorksOfficeisworkinghardinavarietyof waystoimproveourundergroundinfrastructureanddrains.
OurvariousprojectsareproofthatMacombCountyisaleaderinnotonlyidentifyingunderground infrastructureneedsbuthavingthepoliticalwilltomakethemajorinvestments.Ofcourse,oneof department’stopgoals–andoneoftheprimaryreasonsIranforthisjob--continuestobereducing combinedsewerinflowsintoLakeSt.Clair.Wecontinuetomakemajorstrides.Eventhoughmuchof theworkwedoisbelowgroundandout-of-sighttopassersby,I’mconfidentthatintheyearsahead, futureleadersacrossthestateandtheregionwillpointtoMacombCountyasashiningexampleof howtodothingsrightforfuturegenerations.
FormoreinformationaboutthePublicWorksOffice,visitusatpublicworks.macombgov.org,subscribe tooure-newsletterandfollowusonsocialmedia.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Candice S. Miller receives “Local Elected Official” award TheMichiganRecreation&ParkAssociationhas honoredMacombCountyPublicWorks CommissionerCandiceS.Millerwithits“Local ElectedOfficialAward”forheryearsofeffortsto improvethequalityoflifeforMichiganresidents throughpromotionofparksandrecreation.
“ThiswasanunexpectedhonorandI’mvery grateful,”Millersaid.“Throughoutmycareerin publicservice,I’vealwaystriedtothinkabout qualityoflife,andhowwecanimprovethe qualityoflifeforeveryone.EventhoughImight betheonegettingtheaward,membersofthe associationdeserveawardsforallthethings theydoforthequalityoflifeforourfolks throughoutMichiganeachandeveryday.”
MillerwasnominatedfortheLocalElected OfficialAwardbyAmyMcMillan,directorofthe Huron-ClintonMetroparks,alongwiththeDetroit ZoologicalSocietyandtheSixRiversLand Conservancy.
Odor Control & Corrosion Prevention Wheninspectionsrevealmoderate,significantorsevere degradationoftheinteriorsideoflargesanitarysewer concretepipes,aplanisdevelopedforpreventive maintenance,rehabilitationorreplacement.
TheMacombCountyPublicWorksOfficehasfourongoing projects–knownand“Odor&CorrosionControlFacilities”–tomitigatethesewergasthatishighlycorrosivetothe concrete.
Thesenewbelow-groundstructureswilldrawinthegas (hydrogensulfide)that’screatedbyturbulenceofsanitary sewageflowandfilterit.Thiswillreduceneighborhoododors emittedfromtheinterceptorsandprotectthoselargepipes fromfurthercorrosion.
“Wefindit,wefixitANDwepreventitfromhappeningagain,” PublicWorksCommissionerCandiceS.Millersaid.
MCPWO wins American Public Works Association Award for Emergency Repair in Warren TheMacombCountyPublicWorksOffice receivedanawardfromtheMichiganChapter oftheAmericanPublicWorksAssociationfor theemergencyrepairofalarge,rottedsewer pipefromtheearly1960sthathadcauseda sinkholealong10MileRoadinWarrenandjust afewfeetfromahome.
Therepairofthesinkholeandthespraylining ofanearly30-footstretchoftheenclosed sectionoftheBearCreekDrain,westofMound Road,wasnamedbytheAPWAasits“Project oftheYear/EmergencyResponseLessThan$1 Million.”
It’sthefirsttimeinMichiganthataspraylining methodwasusedoncorrugatedmetalpipe torehabilitateasewer.Thecompletedwork provideslong-termprotectionofthesewer withoutthealternativeexpensivemethodof excavationtoremovetherottedmetalpipe andreplaceitwithnewconcretepipe.
“We’rehonoredtoreceivethisaward,and we’reverypleasedthatthroughswiftaction featuringfirst-of-its-kindmetalpipe rehabilitationinMichiganthatwewereable toavertthepotentialcollapseof10Mile,” saidPublicWorksCommissionerCandiceS. Miller.“InMacombCounty,we’recommitted toinspecting,maintainingand,where necessary,rehabilitatingourdrains.”
Commissioner Candice S. Miller with Construction & Maintenance Manager Stephen Downing
Lake St. Clair Lyngbya 'muck' Study Underway MacombCountyhaspartneredwiththefederal governmenttogettotherootofthemuckproblem plaguingpocketsoftheLakeSt.Clairshoreline.
ResearchbiologistswiththeU.S.ArmyCorpsof Engineers(USACE)andCountyofficialshavebegun samplingoftheLyngbyaalgaetodeterminehowit growsinthelake,beforebreakingawaytoformdense, free-floatingmatsthatclingtotheshoreline,canals, boatwellsandsomebeachareas,andwhetherthe muckposesanyhealthrisks.
“Weneedtounderstandwhatiscausingit,whatits makeupis,andwhethertherearepreventativeor maintenancestepsavailabletoeradicateit,”Macomb CountyPublicWorksCommissionerCandiceS.Miller said.
TheMacombCountyPublicWorksOfficereachedoutto USACElastyeartoproposethatfederalofficials considerthePlanningAssistancetoStatesgrant programtofundastudy.Eachyearofthe2-yearstudy willcostanestimated$200,000andwillbesplit betweentheUSACEandMacombCounty.
In-System Storage Project will reduce Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) ConstructioncontinuesnearI-94and9Mile Roadatamajorundergroundprojectthatwill useexistinginfrastructuretoreducecombined seweroverflows(CSOs)intoLakeSt.Clair.
Monthsofexcavationtoadepthof approximately35feethasnowexposedthe11foot-diameterinterceptorsewerthatconveys combinedsanitarysewage,stormwaterand snowmeltfromallofEastpointeandmostofSt. ClairShores.
Aspartofthe“In-SystemStorage”project,a largerubberdamwillbeinstalledinsidethe pipe.Duringheavyrain,ourengineersand pumpstationoperatorswillinflatetherubber deviceforittotemporarilyholdback–or
“store”–theflowwithinthepipeinsteadof muchofitbeingdischargedintoLakeSt.Clair. Whentheraineventsubsides,therubber bladdercanbeslowlydeflatedandallow thecombinedsewerflowtocontinue downstreamtotheGreatLakesWaterAuthority wastewatertreatmentplantinDetroitforfull treatment.
“Thisissuchanimportantandinnovative projectthatwillhelpusreducetheriskof floodinginthetwocitiesandprotectour beautifulLakeSt.ClairfromCSOs,”Macomb CountyPublicWorksCommissionerCandiceS. Millersaid.“Theadditionalgreatthingisthatthe projectwillbecompletedwithnoincreaseto rate-payersduetothereceiptofcountyfunds.”
The inflatable dam will provide 3.5 million gallons of additional storage within the system thereby reducing CSOs.
NO MORE SINKHOLES Sewercollapse preventedin Macomb Township AninnovativerepairofamajorsanitarysewerservingMacombandShelbytownshipshas preventedthecollapseoftheseverelydeterioratedconcretepipeandavertedasinkhole.
Theinstallationmethodandproductknownas“spiralwoundpipe”nowprotectivelylinesthe interiorofa755-footsectionoftheGarfieldInterceptorSewerbeneathGarfieldRoadat21Mile RoadinMacombTownship.Thesewerrehabilitationwasnecessarybecauseaninspectionof the7-foot-diametersewerin2022discoveredseveredegradationoftheconcretepipe,caused bycorrosivehydrogensulfidegasthatiscreatedbyturbulenceofrawsewage.
“I’mnotexaggeratingwhenIsaythatwiththeconditionofthisinterceptorat21Mileand Garfield,ifweweren’ttakingthesesteps,wecouldhaveasinkholethere,”saidMiller,“andyou canimaginewhatthatwoulddototrafficiftherewasasinkhole.”
Thespiralwoundmethodrequireslessconstructionspaceonthesurfacethansomeother sewerrehabilitationmethods.TheinterlockingPVCstrip–measuringapproximately3inchesin width--isfedfromitsspoolanddownamanholetoreachtheinterioroftheinterceptor,where workersguideitbyhandintoauniquetoolwhichresemblesabicyclesprocketandpressesit upagainsttheinteriorwallofthepipeasthedeviceturnsandlocksitinplace.
It’sthefirsttimethatspiralwoundPVChasbeenusedinMichigantorehabilitateasewer.The productisexpectedtolastmorethan50years.
SEWER COLLAPSE PREVENTED 21Mile&GarfieldRoad InterceptorBefore
Two Major Sewer Rehabilitation Projects nearing completion on 15 Mile Road Workisprogressingontwolarge,vital projectstoensurewedon’thaveanother majorsewercollapseandsinkhole.
On15MileRoad,westofSchoenherrRoadin SterlingHeights-Segment5,thenewpump stationbeingbuiltinsidea70-foot-deep shafttohelpconveysanitarysewageinthe MacombInterceptorDrainthatservesnearly 600,000residentsfrom11communitiesin MacombCountyisnearingcompletion. Imperviouslininghasbeeninstalledinthe widestsectionoftheinterceptoralong15 Mile.Furthereast,theapplicationofa geopolymer/cementsprayontheinteriorof thepipeinprogress.Bothmeasureswill protecttheconcretepipe–whichhadbeen severelydegradedbyapproximately40 yearsofexposuretohighlycorrosivesewer gas–formanydecades.
Asimilarprojectiscontinuingafewmiles furthereast,at15MileandGarfieldRoadnamedSegment6.
“Wecan’temphasizeenoughthecritical importanceoftheseproject.Werealizeit’s takenquiteawhile,butthisisintensive, criticallyneededinfrastructureworkto preventpotentialinfrastructureand environmentaldisasters,”MacombCounty PublicWorksCommissionerCandiceS. Millersaid.“Weappreciatethepatience andunderstandingfromresidents, businessesandmotoristsinthoseareas.”
Bothprojectsarebeingdonewithstate fundingwithnoincreasetorate-payers.
Settingupdewateringpump inSegment5
Movingpumpcomponentin placeinSegment5
"We remain committed to inspections, maintenance and sewer rehabilitation where necessary."
-Commissioner Candice S. Miller
Torchcuttingflumeofpipe downstreaminSegment5
SettinglastHOBASpipein placeinSegment6
DRAIN MAINTENANCE REDUCES RISK OF FLOODING Ofthe474drainsinMacombCountythatareunderthejurisdictionofthePublicWorksOffice, 401milesareopenchannels.
TheMacombCountyPublicWorksOfficeisincreasingthemaintenanceinourcountydrainsat anunprecedentedrate.Thatworkinvolvesremovingfallendeadtrees,overgrownvegetation andsedimentthatcanseverelyimpactwaterqualityandleadtoflooding.Removingthose obstructionscaninstantlyimprovetheflowandreducethethreatoffloodinginresidential, commercial,industrialandagricultureareastraversedbytheseopendrains.
“Withhundredsofdrains,manyofwhichhaven’tbeentouchedfor50yearsormore,thissortof workisendless.Ourhard-workingdrainmaintenanceteamisdoingatremendousjob,”Public WorksCommissionerCandiceS.Millersaid.
Alocalcommunitydrainmaintenancecost-sharingprogramwasstartedbyCommissioner Miller.Ithasbeensuccessfulinlargepartbecauseofanannualbudgetallocationbythe MacombCountyBoardofCommissionersandcostsmatchedbyanymunicipalitythatwantsto addressblockagesinkeylocations.
Pictured:DenryterDraininMacombTownship
DRAIN BEFORE & AFTER FISHCREEKDRAINBLOCKAGEREMOVAL-CHESTERFIELD CLINTONRIVERMIDDLEBRANCHBLOCKAGECLEARED-MACOMB WE FIND 'EM WE FIX 'EM
Promoting Economic Prosperity TheMacombCountyPublicWorksOfficereviews theengineeringplansforallnewdevelopmentsto ensureproperstormwaterdrainage.
Ourengineeringteamdetermineswhethernew basins,sewerpipes,culverts,tapstoexistingdrains andrelocationsofdrainsthatareunderthe jurisdictionofouroffice,meetourstandards.Once constructiongetsunderway,ourinspectors monitorthoseimprovement.Assuch,ourofficeisa keycomponentofeconomicprosperity.
Onerecentexample:theKingsburyDraininShelby Township.Improvementsconsistedofconstructing aforebayforwaterqualityandretrofittingthe existingcontrolstructureforchannelprotection.
“Ensuringthatrainfallrunoffandsnowmeltare handledproperlybeforeanybuildingsare constructedwillreducetheriskofsevereflooding,” countyPublicWorksCommissionerCandiceS. Millersaid.
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Permit&PlanReviewPortal
Requestadrainpermitorsoilerosion permit
SubmitplansforreviewbyPublicWorks staffandscheduleaninspection Seecommentsbyengineersand inspectorsinrealtime
Paythepermitfeeonlineusingacredit card
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TrackingRainfall:HowMuch RainDidYOUGet? MacombCountyresidentscanviewhow muchraintheirneighborhoodorother partsofthecountyhavereceivedby viewingraingaugesdataontheMacomb CountyPublicWorkswebsite.The informationcanhelphomeowners determinehowmuchraintheirlawnsand gardenshavereceived.Theinformation helpsourpumpstationoperatorsprioritize stormwaterstorageinoursewersystems.
If
