MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – Macomb County announced a significant environmental achievement aimed at reducing sewage overflow into Lake St. Clair, a problem that has persisted for decades.
The two-year, $29 million construction project will cut sewage overflow by half without increasing residents’ water bills.
“It’s all about water quality and improving our environment,” said Candice Miller, Macomb County public works commissioner.
Miller explained the challenge: “In the really, really heavy rains, some of the older communities that have combined systems, their systems get overwhelmed and we end up discharging out into the lake. We treat it. It’s minimally treated, and in 2025, no one should be doing this anymore.”
The project involves rehabilitating and expanding the Chapaton Canal on Nine Mile Road, along with improvements to the Chapaton pump station.
Vince Astorino, Macomb County operations manager, described the impact.
“The difference now is incredible. We went from 3 million gallons to 17 million gallons of additional storage in this area. It’s about a 50 percent reduction of overflows into Lake St. Clair,” said Astorino.
Officials hope this project will serve as a model for other counties to improve water quality and protect the environment.
“We are now at about 75-80% reduction of our combined sewer overflows. Which, we really are a role model for the region and for the state,” Miller said.