MICHIGAN

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MICHIGAN ON-SITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT ISSUES
CHALLENGES Ric Falardeau,
P.E. June 10, 2009
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Surface water protection has been remains a
priority
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TOTAL OF SYSTEMS
535,000 total
1,400,000 total
680,000 total
1,000,000 total
800,000 total
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Relative of On-Site Systems by County
OAKLAND COUNTY 85,000 SYSTEMS
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NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
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January 20, 2004 Governors Message to
Legislature on Water Protection

• .The bi-partisan Land Use Leadership Council
  that finished its work last year identified this
  issue as critical, as well, and I have now asked
  the DEQ to work with appropriate constituencies
  on this and to draft and deliver a suggested
  sanitary code for your consideration within 90
  days..
• We remain today after more than five years
  without statute.

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SENATE BILL 45

• Proposed
• 1. Phased in 10 year inspection of conventional
  and existing alternative systems with reporting
  to local health departments
• 2. Certification of inspectors
• 3. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
  guidance and approval of alternative systems
• 4. Establish On-Site Wastewater Treatment System
  Advisory Council Alternative System Technical
  Advisory Committee
• 5. Development of Educational Materials

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SENATE BILL 45

• Legislation has not moved forward due to Realtor
  opposition and lack of funding mechanism.
• Further discussion this year ?

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Point of Sale Programs
existing
proposed
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Non Governmentally Owned Community Systems

• 2003 Court of appeals decision eliminated
  requirement of resolution from local unit of
  government in order to obtain MDEQ Part 41
  construction permit.
• Along with a greater emphasis on decentralized
  systems, this has resulted in a substantial
  increase in the number of small systems being
  proposed statewide.

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Issues

• MDEQ regulatory structure does not deal with
  clustered systems effectively both permitting
  and managing operation.
• Process improvement underway.
• Poor economy has resulted in serious concerns for
  many new systems
• Bankruptcies foreclosures
• Slow build out leaves few users
• to share in responsibilities and cost

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QUESTIONS ?