On-site Sewage Disposal Management Activities in the Rouge River Watershed - 1999

Studies of on-site sewage disposal systems in the United States, and more specifically in the Rouge River Watershed, have shown that on-site sewage disposal systems (OSDS) negatively impact surface water when they are not properly operating. Health Department evaluations of OSDS in selected areas of Oakland and Wayne Counties showed that 20 percent or more of the OSDS are failing. These failures result in wastewater from OSDS being discharged to ditches or being carried overland to storm sewers which ultimately discharge to surface water. The discharges carry disease- causing organisms and chemicals that can impair both human and aquatic health.

In 1999 numerous actions were undertaken by Rouge watershed communities and agencies to address the water quality problems related to OSDS:

1. Each of the 38 communities and three counties that applied for a Voluntary MS4 Storm Water Permit, from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, included in their application a description of how they were going to minimize infiltration of seepage from OSDS into their storm water drainage systems. Some of the actions proposed are to extend sanitary sewers to areas now served by OSDS, establish a regular inspection program of OSDS and to develop an accurate and reliable database of properties served by OSDS.

2. Wayne and Washtenaw Counties have adopted new requirements for the inspection of OSDS prior to the transfer of ownership of a parcel that is served by an OSDS. Wayne County's ordinance goes into effect on January 1, 2000 and initially will cover all properties in the Rouge River Watershed in Wayne County. Washtenaw County's regulation goes into effect January 3, 2000 and covers all residential parcels served by OSDS.

3. The Rouge Program Office has developed a model database design template to use for recording OSDS information.

4. Wayne County Environmental Health has also developed an OSDS database in Access and entered the information from paper OSDS permits into the database for sites with OSDS in Wayne County. They have entered all the information from OSDS permits issued by the Health Department from 1967-1999 into the database.

5. In February 1999 Oakland County Environmental Health began a program to inspect OSDS in the City of Southfield. These inspections are related to the construction of sanitary sewers in unsewered parts of the city. OSDS systems found to be experiencing difficulties or are failing will be required to connect to sanitary sewers or repair or replace the OSDS. Systems found to be functioning well will be evaluated periodically. The first phase of the sewer is under construction. About 50% of the residents contacted have contracted to connect to the new sewer. Less than 100 OSDS have been evaluated. Twenty percent of those evaluated have failed to meet the criteria for an adequate system.

6. Five pilot projects have been funded by Rouge Project grants from EPA through Wayne County to support efforts related to OSDS management. Those projects are:

a. Development of an automated septage disposal facility in Pontiac to serve Oakland and Wayne Counties.

b. Assistance to Washtenaw County in the development of their regulation to evaluate OSDS at the time of transfer of a residential parcel served by an OSDS.

c. Support to Michigan State University to train individuals who will be evaluating OSDS. The training will be at the Tollgate Education Center in Novi.

d. Assistance to Wayne County Environmental Health Division in the development of their ordinance to evaluate OSDS for all parcels in the Rouge River Watershed that are served by OSDS at the time of transfer of ownership.

e. Distribution of educational information to homeowners about OSDS, how they function, how to maintain them and how proper operation protects groundwater and surface water.

7. The Rouge Remedial Action Plan Advisory Council, On-site Sewage Disposal Committee has discussed many issues related to OSDS in the Rouge Watershed. One action taken by the committee was to prepare a motion that identifies important elements that should be part of a program to evaluate and maintain OSDS. This motion was approved by the Rouge Advisory Council.

For more information, contact:

Washtenaw County's OSDS inspection program at gregoryr@co.washtenaw.mi.us.

Wayne County's OSDS inspection program at
rsinha@co.wayne.mi.us.

Oakland County OSDS inspection program in Southfield at
hansellm@co.oakland.mi.us.

On-site sewage training at the Tollgate Education Center at mille906@pilot.msu.edu.

Please address all comments and suggestions about the contents of this Web page to rougeweb@co.wayne.mi.us.

The Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project is funded, in part, by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grants #XP995743-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -08 and C-264000-01.