Sampling Locations & Results

In order to determine if the nonpoint source pollution from failing septic systems degrade the water quality of the Rouge River, Oakland County Health Division began a program that would:

Prioritize the tributaries in Southfield and Farmington Hills as to poor water quality and concentrations of clusters of known septic system failures;

Dye test homes on higher prioritized tributaries which were identified in step one in an effort to establish a rate of failure for septic systems in the Rouge River watershed.

Oakland County Health Division had identified approximately 160 sewage disposal system failures occurring since January 1990 along the headwaters of the Rouge River, within the cities of Farmington Hills and Southfield. Fecal coliform sampling was carried out at 46 sites. Over 90% of the samples sites exceeded the standard limits for surface water quality. A total of 65 houses were dye tested, with 52.3% testing positive (34 houses).

Dye Test Results

100 Branch - Mainstream, Rouge River

200 Branch - Evans Branch

300 Branch - Pebble Creek

400 Branch - Ravines Branch

500 Branch - Upper Rouge River

600 Branch - Minnow Pond Drain

700 Branch - Seeley Drain

800 Branch - Tarabusi Creek

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.