Clinton Township’s Unwavering Diligence is Successful in Eliminating Sanitary Sewer Overflows and Earns an Award from the APWA
After more than 20 years of persistent, demanding work, and approximately $35 million worth of sewer improvements, Clinton Township has been successful in eliminating sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) which ultimately released into the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair.
The Township was pleased to learn recently that it has been honored with a “Project of the Year” award in the category “Environment $25 to $75 Million,” from the American Public Works Association (APWA) Michigan Chapter. AEW and our long-time partners, Applied Science, Inc. are also listed on the awards plaque.
The winning project entry has also been forwarded to the APWA National office for competition at the national level.
The APWA is a “nonprofit, professional association of public works agencies, private companies, and individuals dedicated to promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge.”
The 28.2 square mile Township, home to approximately 100,500 residents, was one of the first to enter a correction program under the state’s “Sanitary Overflow Policy” that was established in 2002. Clinton Township entered into an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) with the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality, now the Department of the Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to address sanitary sewer overflows that were caused by wet weather pumping of sewage to the storm sewer system to prevent basement backups.
The Township’s greatest challenge in meeting the terms of the ACO was due to the Township having a total of nine separate outfall locations where SSO controls were needed. A combination of infrastructure rehabilitation projects that included sewer cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), point repairs and manhole rehabilitation were implemented.
The significant project also included wet weather capacity improvement projects that included relief sewers, pump stations, and restriction removals. Additional work included a blend of trenchless construction techniques, such as micro tunneling and horizontal directional drilling. This huge endeavor was a multijurisdictional effort involving cooperation with EGLE, the Macomb County Public Works Office, and the Macomb County Department of Roads.
Mary Bednar, Clinton Township’s Director of Public Services, and her team were instrumental in bringing this project to the successful termination of the ACO by EGLE, and AEW is honored to be one of the lead Consulting Engineers on this huge cumulative effort.
