CSOs in the Rouge River and Detroit

River Watersheds

Detroit River Lighthouse,

photo courtesy of the Friends

of the Detroit River

Phil Argiroff, DEQ-WRD

January 12, 2015 1

Acronyms CSO: Combined Sewer Overflow

SSO: Sanitary Sewer Overflow

WQS: Water Quality Standards

RTB: Retention Treatment Basin

DO: Dissolved Oxygen

TRC: Total Residual Chlorine

NPDES: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

RAP: Remedial Action Plan

WWTP: Wastewater Treatment Plant

MDD: Million Gallons per Day

GI: Green Infrastructure

ACO: Administrative Consent Order

O&M: Operations and Maintenance

TSS: Total Suspended Solids

TP: Total Phosphorus

CBOD5: Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand

CAFO: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

MAEAP: Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program

S/D: Screening/Disinfection Treatment Facility

LTCP: Long-Term CSO Control Plan

2

Water Resources

Protect and Monitor

4 Great Lakes

3,288 miles of Great

Lakes shoreline

11,000 inland lakes

36,000 river miles

5.5 million acres of wetlands

70,000 acres of critical dunes

For swimming, fishing, drinking water and aquatic ecosystems.

3

Major Impact of CSOs on Water Quality

Impact public health because CSO contain raw

sewage

Impact fisheries and aquatic organisms by

depressing dissolved oxygen

Impact from nutrients

Impact aesthetics due to sanitary trash

4

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Wet Weather – Uncontrolled CSOs

Typical Uncontrolled CSO

WWTP

Storm Sewer

Sanitary Sewer

Combined Sewer

Michigan’s CSO Control Program

Refocused in 1988; based on revised WQS in

1986 to protect all waters for total body contact

CSO Control Manual (1994) documented a

phased program; revised WQS led to all

discharges with sewage needing disinfection

Municipalities must either:

eliminate the CSO through sewer separation, or

provide adequate treatment to meet all water quality

standards (WQS) at times of discharge

6

Adequate Treatment

Presumptive definition • complete capture of the 1 yr–1 hr event

• 30 min of detention of the 10 yr–1 hr event, for

screening, settling, skimming, and disinfection

Demonstration approach • allows evaluation that treated discharges, across a

range of events, meet WQS at times of discharge

Typical treatment is a Retention Treatment

Basin (RTB)

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Demonstration Criteria

Refined in 1998 for Rouge River; “Criteria

for Success in CSO Treatment”

• Eliminate raw sewage

• Protect public health

• Meet the DO standard

• Control TRC

• Ensure health of biological communities

Now used statewide

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Some Historical Notes

1985 Rouge RAP called for CSO correction by

2005 to protect public health and eliminate raw

sewage, and meet all WQS sometime after.

Contested 1988 NPDES CSO permits were

resolved in Federal Court (Judge Feikens).

Resulted in Bulkley Agreement which was a

demonstration approach.

Led to Rouge River National Wet Weather

Demonstration Project.

The 2007-8 recession led to extended correction

schedules.

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Rouge Watershed

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Oakland County CSO Control

3 demonstration RTBs constructed to treat

wastewater from 38 CSOs; Acacia Park RTB,

Birmingham RTB, Bloomfield Village RTB

No remaining CSOs. Main Branch free of CSO

impact into Detroit (Pembroke Ave).

Eliminate raw sewage, protect public health,

meet DO standard, provide for heathy biological

communities

Currently drafting NPDES permits that will

resolve last demonstration criterion, TRC

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Redford Twp. CSO Control

One demonstration RTB constructed to correct

several CSOs

8 remaining CSOs to Upper Branch. Upper

Branch is free of CSO impact into Redford

Currently drafting NPDES permits that will

require correction of remaining CSOs by 2025

Considers the Township’s finances (medium

burden), and will continue the option to correct

CSOs regionally

12

Dearborn Heights CSO Control

One presumptive RTB constructed to correct

several CSOs, with additional CSOs added

7 remaining CSOs; one to Middle Branch, 2 to

Upper Branch, 4 to Lower Branch (3 shared with

Inkster). Middle Branch is free of CSO impact

into Dearborn Heights

Currently drafting NPDES permits that will

require correction of remaining CSOs from

2020-25

Considers the City’s finances (medium burden),

and will continue the option to correct regionally 13

Dearborn CSO Control

3 treatment/storage shafts and one storage shaft

constructed, and some separation projects

completed to address several outfalls

8 remaining CSOs; 5 to Lower Branch, 3 to Main

Branch

Recently issued NPDES permit will require

correction of remaining CSOs from 2020-25

(high burden).

Projects will be a combination of treatment

shafts, and sewer separations

14

Inkster CSO Control

2 demonstration RTBs constructed to correct

several CSOs

7 remaining CSOs; all to Lower Branch (3

shared with Dearborn Heights). Lower Branch is

free of CSO impact into Inkster

Currently drafting NPDES permits that will

require correction of remaining CSOs. Schedule

being discussed.

Considers the City’s finances (high burden)

15

Detroit WWTP and CSO Control

The current Detroit WWTP permit was

effective on May 1, 2013

Largest single site WWTP in the US

Treats dry weather flow and significant wet

weather flow through secondary treatment up to

930 million gallons per day (MGD)

Treats wet weather flow through primary

treatment up to 1700 MGD

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3 Key Issues Addressed in

Permit

Sustained compliance with permit requirements

Reductions in authorized total phosphorus loads

to help address Lake Erie algae

Adaptive Management CSO Control program;

includes Green Infrastructure, considers Detroit

residents’ finances

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Detroit WWTP

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WWTP - View of Pump Station 2 and gravity

thickeners

19

WWTP – view of secondary clarifiers

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Issue 1: Sustained Compliance

Periods of non-compliance over the last 35

years.

Was under Federal Court Order, until 2013.

Under an administrative consent order

(ACO) with the DEQ for violations from

2009-2011.

Permit specifies a “Facility Improvement

Program”

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Facility Improvement Program

Includes ACO conditions that control the

solids inventories at the WWTP

Requires construction of new solids

dewatering equipment by 2016

Requires a Long-term Solids Disposal

Plan

Requires Asset Management to address

operation and maintenance issues

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Adjustment of Effluent Limits

based on good O&M Monitoring periods at wet weather outfalls

changed to more quickly reflect good WWTP

operation and maintenance

Effluent limits at wet weather outfalls adjusted to

require well operated WWTP

Pollutant Previous Limit

(30 discharge

days)

Final Limit

(monthly average)

TSS 100 mg/l 70 mg/l

CBOD5 100 mg/l 40 mg/l

Total

Phosphorus

2.5 mg/l 1.5 mg/l

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Issue 2: Total Phosphorus

Algal Blooms in Lake Erie

Toledo Blade, 2012

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Michigan actions to address

Phosphorus into Lake Erie

Controlled WWTP discharges to Great Lakes and tributaries to 1.0 mg/l or less

Instituted statewide ban on phosphates in laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent and residential lawn fertilizer

Permitted all Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) which includes comprehensive nutrient management plans

Encourages voluntary Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) certifications for farms

Actively required comprehensive Sanitary Sewer Overflow and Combined Sewer Overflow correction programs for over 2 decades

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Detroit WWTP – TP load sources

2011 % Total 2012 % Total

Secondary Treated 756590 70 751110 94

Primary Treated (WWTP/CSO facilities) 275780 26 48250 6

Untreated CSO 42090 4 2240 0

Total 1074460 100 801600 100

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Detroit Total Phosphorus Loads

Secondary treated outfall 049B

to Detroit River – 80% of P load

Wet weather

outfalls

050A

049A

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Reduction in Permitted

Phosphorus Levels Beginning 2015

WWTP secondary treated outfall reduced from 1.0

mg/l to 0.7 mg/l as a monthly average

Growing season average of 0.6 mg/l (from April –

September)

WWTP currently meeting 0.2 – 0.4 mg/l as monthly

averages

Based on levels the current WWTP can

achieve optimizing existing facilities

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Annual TP load (lbs) – Michigan WWTP

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Michigan actions to address

Phosphorus into Lake Erie

Participant with Ohio, Indiana, Ontario

under the Great Lakes Water Quality

Agreement

Chaired by EPA and Environment Canada

Evaluate causes of Lake Erie algae

• Make recommendations

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Issue 3: Adaptive CSO Control

Program

Municipalities must either: eliminate the CSO or

provide adequate treatment to meet all water quality standards at

times of discharge

Detroit’s collection system consists of basically

all combined sewers. Detroit’s Long-term Plan

(1996) as updated in 2001, 2008, and 2010, calls

for providing adequate treatment

Different water quality priorities for Rouge and

Detroit Rivers

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Significant Progress to Date

This permit builds on the City’s progress in

correcting CSOs over the last 20 years, spent

~$1.2 billion

Detroit’s Long-term Control Program principles

Additional treatment capacity at the WWTP (1700

MGD), and disinfection of all flow

Construction of key Retention Treatment Basins

(RTBs) and Screening/Disinfection Facilities at key

outfalls; 6 RTBs, 3 S/D Facilities to date

Use of in-system storage

32

Significant Progress to Date – Additional

WWTP Capacity

Added more primary clarification, additional

influent pumping, to provide primary treatment

during wet weather events

Brings around 11 billion gallons per year to

WWTP of what was untreated discharges from

CSOs

Core CSO control program to be completed in

2019 with the disinfection of all wet weather

excess flow at the WWTP.

All flow disinfected to protect public health.

95% of annual wet weather flow treated 33

Significant Progress to Date – Key RTBs

and In-system storage

Completion of 4 RTBs, and one

Screening/Disinfection facility on Rouge River

Completion of 2 RTBs and 2

Screening/Disinfection facilities on the Detroit

River

6 in-system storage gates on Rouge River

outfalls, and 13 in-system storage dams in large

sewers

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Detroit’s CSO Facilities

(as of 2008)

CSO Correction Progress – completion of core

program in 2019

0

5

10

15

20

25

1993 2019

Untreated CSO (BGY)

36

37

Adaptive Management Program

Completion of core program mean achieving a

very high level of CSO control

Remaining CSOs (55) 17 CSOs remain to the Rouge River

38 CSOs to the Detroit River

An adaptive management approach for these

will: Use lessons learned from previous CSO projects and better

discharge data

Consider the financial capability of DWSD and City residents

Consider reductions in stormwater flows by using an expanded

Green Infrastructure (GI) program

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Green Infrastructure (GI)

Fits within the opportunities provided in the

Detroit Future City report

Areas of Green Infrastructure

Upper Rouge Area

Near Eastside Area

Develop a required level of stormwater control

for new and redevelopment by 4/1/17

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GI - Upper Rouge Area (implementation)

Requires spending $50

million over 20 years

Spending consistent

with GI Plan, once

approved

Targeted reduction of

stormwater of 2.8 MG

by 2017

Detroit Future City Report 40

More Details – Rouge River CSOs

Rouge CSOs: Implement Green Infrastructure,

evaluate accurate discharge volumes and

frequencies from the 17 remaining CSOs.

Submit revise LTCP by 1/1/17

In 2022, and for each 5 year permit cycle,

propose gray projects to be completed in that

permit term.

Goal is to have all “high priority” CSOs corrected

by 2037.

High priority outfalls are: 059, 060, 061, 062,

063, 069, 074 (7 of the 17) 41

GI - Near Eastside (planning)

Removes gray CSO

projects from previous

permit

Allows for planning of GI

potential in an area that

has a relatively high

amount of vacant land

Requires a revised CSO

correction plan

Detroit Future City Report 42

More Details – Detroit River CSOs

Submit a revise engineering report for the near-

eastside area, 7 CSOs, by 4/1/17

In 2022, and for each 5 year permit cycle,

propose gray projects to be completed in that

permit term.

Goal is to have all “high priority” CSOs corrected

by 2037.

High priority outfalls are: 016, 019, 021, 022,

025, 026, 031, 038, 040, 044 (10 of the 38)

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Summary of CSO Correction Progress

Significant progress in both Rouge and Detroit

Rivers over 2 decades; CSO volume reduced

sharply, several stream miles now no longer see

untreated CSO, improved water quality

More work needs to be done

Remaining suburban CSOs (23) will be

corrected by 2020-2025

Remaining City of Detroit high priority CSOs (17)

will be corrected by 2027-2037, with

consideration of an adaptive management

approach 44

Questions

Discussion

Comments

Contact: Phil Argiroff, P.E., Permits Section

argiroffp@michigan.gov

517-290-3039

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