MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. (April 10, 2025) — Last week, heavy storms overwhelmed Oakland County’s aging water infrastructure, resulting in the release of 1.2 million gallons of raw sewage and an additional 820 million gallons of “minimally treated” sewage into the Red Run Drain — which ultimately flows into Lake St. Clair. This latest discharge is just one instance in a troubling pattern: Oakland County routinely chooses to dump an average of 1.5 to 2.0 billion gallons of sewage overflow into Macomb County waterways instead of modernizing their water infrastructure. In response to this troubling news, Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) released the following statement:
“Enough is enough. While it was not easy, we here in Macomb have found the political will to work across party lines and across all levels of government to secure the resources necessary to build up our water infrastructure. But we cannot be the only ones committed to protecting Lake St. Clair. Oakland County must step up and take responsibility for the damage they continue to cause.
“Dumping untreated sewage into Lake St. Clair is not just reckless — it is unsustainable and unacceptable for the more than four million people who rely on the lake for drinking water, recreational opportunities, and economic prosperity.”
Last month, Sen. Hertel joined Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller in calling on the Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to impose stronger, enforceable measures on Oakland County to reduce their sewage overflows. This letter is just one action Sen. Hertel has taken to protect the health of Lake St. Clair. Over the past several years, he has worked with local officials such as Commissioner Miller to bring nearly $100 million back to the region to reduce combined sewer overflows, proactively address aging infrastructure, and protect local waterways. Among the many investments was a $72 million appropriation to construct additional system storage at Chapaton Retention Basin to reduce CSOs into Lake St. Clair by 40%.
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