Outline. Introduction to illicit connections Strategies t to identify illicit it connections. Southeast t Michigan results Challenges Acknowledgements

Transcription

1 Reducing Sewage Contamination in Stormwater: Southeast Michigan Success Stories Annette DeMaria, P.E. Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. Clinton Township, Michigan HOW Great Lakes Coalition 7 th Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference October 14, 2011 Detroit, Michigan Outline Introduction to illicit connections Strategies t to identify illicit it connections Field surveys Training Public education Septic system inspections Southeast t Michigan results Challenges Acknowledgements 1

2 The Problem Infrastructure issues, although not seen, are affecting water quality Illicit connections between the storm and sanitary sewers exist in most urbanized areas Failing septic systems are impacting rural areas How does this happen? Mistaken identity: Accidental connections Sins of the past: High level connections purposely created to prevent sewage backup into basements Plumbing short cuts: Improper connections (sometimes) not caught during sewer separation projects Aging infrastructure and insufficient funding for maintenance 2

3 The Challenge Sources are scattered and sometimes intermittent Masked dby stormwater t runoff No good indicator for sewage contamination E. coli or fecal coliform: can indicate contamination for any warm blooded animal and doesn t necessarily indicate recent contamination Genetic (DNA) methods too sensitive and costly Motivation to fix it The hammer: Much of southeast t Michigan is subject to stormwater t regulations Municipalities are required to conduct illicit discharge elimination programs to prevent non stormwater from discharging to surface waters The carrot: Improved water quality Funding was available through the Clean Michigan Initiative bond program 3

4 Strategies (some, not all) Conduct a systematic survey of your stormwater system Map your system Visual observations and sampling data Training municipal staff Conduct septic system inspections Encourage public involvement Continued maintenance on the sanitary sewer (not discussed) Subject Area Macomb County Okl Oakland dcounty St. Clair County Washtenaw County Wayne County 4

5 Source Identification: Smoke Testing Cooperation with homeowners traps inside homes need to be filled with water. Photo credit: Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc Eliminating 15 years of discharge along the Upper Rouge River er Ro Rouge River U.S. 16 Drain $T 5

6 The Results Elimination of 599 million gallons per year of untreated sewage from entering surface waters >24,000 outfalls surveyed >9,000 facilities dye tested 4,500 illicit connections/discharges identified Public Involvement: Pollution Complaint Lines Michigan s Pollution Alert System Macomb Co IDEP@macombcountymi.gov Oakland Co St. Clair Co SWIM Washtenaw Co Wayne Co

7 Public Education Campaign SEMCOG: Seven Simple Steps Campaign Using the public as your eyes and ears: How to Spot Card Sanitary Discharges Observations: - Sanitary debris - Staining on pipe - Heavy foam - Gray or Discolored Water - Odors (sewage, chlorine, rotten eggs and detergents) Illegal Dumping, Spills, or Floor Drain Connection Observations: - Oily sheen - Trash, non-sanitary debris - Petroleum odors - Stained sediment, rocks, and vegetation Staining Industrial Discharge Observations: - Discolored water - Chemical odor Agricultural Runoff, Fertilizers, or Sanitary Sewer Waste Observations: - Algae growth at or near outlet - Heavy vegetation at or near outlet *This slide was produced by the New York State Thruway Authority and is used with their permission. 7

8 Training municipal staff Wayne County s Illicit Discharge Elimination Training Program Purpose: Screen and investigate for illicit discharges Trained 1,200 municipal staff Across lower MI Duluth, MN Lake County, IL Storm System Screening Surveyed stormwater drainage system for signs of Illicit it connections Gray staining, soap suds Failed septic systems Cheater pipes from clogged fields Wet drain fields Illegal dumping Drums, pet waste, trash Household hazardous waste Ag related discharges Manure runoff 8

9 Screening: Outfall Sampling Take sample of flow (no precipitation orsignificant melt off for last 48 hours) Bacteria (E. coli) Surfactants (detergents) Temperature (winter time) Conductivity ph Source Tracking Investigations Track suspected problems back to a source Visual / olfactory inspection Sample collection CCTV (closed circuit TV) inspection Dye testing Smoke testing 9

10 Visual Signs Sanitary debris in storm drain Gray staining under inlet Gray water, odor, and turbidity Excessive algal growth Visual Signs Flow through drain tile Soap suds Low lying wet areas with sewage odors Dilapidated sewer 10

11 Visual Signs Dumpster juice Oil, fuel, grease sheens Manure leachate Cattle input Source Identification: Dye testing For sewers 11

12 Source Identification: Dye testing For septic systems Source Identification: Sewer Inspection 12

13 Source Identification: Sewer Inspection Problems in an Urban Watershed Dry weather results Number of outlets E.coli (cfu/100ml) ,000 3 > 3,000 Total samples: 29 13

14 Problems in an Urban Watershed Upstream Sampling Drain walk 120 taps identified 18+ contain sewage E.coli (cfu/100ml) ,000 > 3,000 Sources Identified Leaking dumpster Government facility Apartment complex Automatic car wash Broken sanitary line Transmission shop Catering trucks Cheater pipe from an on-site system Elementary School (suspected) Wrong pipe bulkheaded Failing bulkhead on sanitary 6 Failing bulkheads on taps 48 sanitary connected 3/4 14

15 Septic System Inspection Ordinances 3 of 5 counties have a Time of Sale Ordinance Problems are found dbf before direct impacts to surface waters Failures include Backup of sewage into a home s plumbing Improper drainage of tank Dilapidation id i of the tank Breakthrough to ground, surface water, groundwater or storm drain Macomb County Accomplishments Since 2001 Over 5,400 drains inspected via surveys Over 75 million gallons of pollution eliminated/year Funding: $1.5 M (75% grant) Since ,000 septic systems inspected via Ordinance Ave: 11% failures/month per ordinance definition 15

16 Washtenaw County Accomplishments 200+ drains inspected 630 outfall inspected ~50 illegal connections identified 3.5 million gallons eliminated/year Washtenaw County Accomplishments Pollution Prevention ordinance (1994) E bl i ti f h i l t d h dli Enables inspections for chemical storage and handling practices, and illicit connections Septic system ordinance (2000) 16

17 Wayne County Accomplishments: Dye testing Since 1987 Inspected 9,163 facilities; 7% had illicit connections/discharges 2,566 illicit connections/discharges identified Over 463 million gallons of polluted water eliminated/year Swimming Pool Sump Drains 0.7% Sump Pumps 1.3% Machinery Process Water 0.5% Floor Sinks 0.3% Showers 2.1% Urinals 1.1% Drinking Fountains 2.6% Washing Machines 2.6% Other (Not specified) 14% 1.4% (Horse) Washing Pads 3.1% Floor Drains 49.3% Toilets 11.0% Sinks 21.4% Catch Basins with Oil Separators 2.5% Wayne County Accomplishments: Septic system inspections Since ,560 systems inspected 21% were failing per ordinance definition 17

18 Oakland County Accomplishments Belle Leonard Since ,466 drains inspected 8,300+ outfalls mapped and screened Ortonville Holly Brandon Addison Gr oveland Flint Oxford Holly Lake Orion Fenton Independence Shiawasee Rose Oakland Orion Springfield Village of Clarkston Clinton Auburn Hills Lake Angelus 305 illicit discharge investigations 293 complaint based investigations 196 sources removed d 11.5 million gallons of sewage eliminated Funding: ~$1 M (85% grant) Oxford White Lake Highland Pontiac Sylvan Lake Keego Harbor Huron Milford Orchard Lake Village Commerce Wolver ine Lake Milfor d West Bloomfield Troy Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Birmingham Walled Lake Wixom Farmington Hills Beverly Franklin Bingham Hills Southfield Farms Rouge Lathrup Village Novi Southfield Lyon South Lyon Rochester Rochester Hills Waterford Farmington Novi Berkley Clawson Royal Oak Madison Heights Huntington Woods Pleasant Ridge Hazel Oak Park Ferndale Park Royal Oak Northville Location of discharge points and outfalls screened from St. Clair County Accomplishments Since , miles il surveyed d 6,150 outfalls screened 590 failing septic systems identified 50 million gallons of sewage eliminated Funding: $1.2 M (75% grant) 18

19 Barriers to Success: Rural Areas Misconception: Septic systems can be repaired. Field replacement was more typical. Bad soils for fields Fields need to be oversized, raised, fill brought onsite Elevation challenges Grinder pumps needed when the home sits below the field Financing: $10,000 $15,000 for field replacement Many not eligible for federal assistance Home equity loans are currently tough to secure Some areas requiring regional solutions Barriers to Success: Urban Areas Improper connections are scattered and difficult to locate Investigations even more complicated in lakefront communities No good indicator for sewage contamination Municipalities are not accustom to providing funding for storm sewer maintenance Investigations are costly and you may just be chasing your tail 19

20 Federal and state grants made these efforts possible! Acknowledgements U.S. EPA and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Rouge River Wet Weather Demonstration Project Residents of the State of Michigan Clean Michigan Initiative Macomb County, Lynne Seymour OaklandCounty, JimWineka/Ron Fadoir St. Clair County, Kristen O Reilly Washtenaw County, Meghan Bonfiglio Wayne County, Dean Tuomari Annette DeMaria, P.E. ademaria@ectinc.com 20