
New Sewer Rates
The Clark Township Board of Trustees in June approved increasing the quarterly REU (residential equivalency unit) sewer rates from $95 a quarter to $115 a quarter, a $20 per quarter increase or $80 per year. The increase begins with the September 2020 billing.
The Board knows this increase comes at a difficult time, but the 30-year old sewer system needs repairs and updates. Last year the rate was increased $5 a quarter, the first increase in several years, but it was not enough. That added about $22,000 overall to the budget. However, the Township is looking at more than $200,000 in additional expenses in the next two years.
1. The current grinder pump model we use was discontinued by the manufacturer and its replacement costs more. The Township has begun a plan to replace all the grinder pumps over the next several years, including an initial purchase of 30 new pumps which will be about $45,000. This will be split over two years.
2. A 600-foot section of the force main on Blind Line Road must be replaced at a cost of $125,000. This will significantly reduce the sewer fund as this project must be done soon. The Township will apply for grants or loans from the USDA and other agencies to help pay for it.
3. Five flowmeters will be purchased at about $16,000 to monitor water flow rates in the system. The Sewer Department has seen the per gallon water flow increase significantly above seasonal and normal increases which stresses the system beyond its designed capacity. The Department employees discovered some residents were using sump pumps to redirect water into the sewer system. State and Federal law, as well as the Township Sewer Ordinance, prohibit the use of the sanitary sewer for removal of "clear water." The system was not designed to handle the volume of clear water pouring into it, and this drives up the operating costs for all users.
Clear water from perimeter and roof gutter drains, sump pumps, groundwater, faulty plumbing, or any other source is not allowed. If this exists on your property, it must be corrected at once. If you cannot or will not fix the problem, the Township must take any necessary steps to correct the problem. Township public works employees may go house-to-house to inspect systems where clear water is suspected to be redirected into the sewer system.
4. One lift station pump was replaced this year at a cost of about $40,000.
5. The Township needs to purchase a jetter, a hydro-spray system used to clear obstructions such as ice, grease, and tough roots in sewer lines, which will keep the sewer lines cleared of clogs. The Township chose not to purchase the $60,000 machine this year. The Township has rented a jetter in the past.
LES CHENEAUX COVID-19 STATEMENT FOR RETURNING RESIDENTS & VISITORS
Clark Township Board, June 30, 2020
Click here for notice
Clark Township Waste Water Treatment Plant
A Treatment Plant's Settling Ponds Create an Attraction for Birds — and Bird-Watchers
A rural Michigan treatment plant near Lake Huron attracts an abundance of birds and waterfowl to its settling ponds – along with visitors carrying binoculars.
https://www.tpomag.com/editorial/2018/03/a-treatment-plants-settling-ponds-create-an-attraction-for-birds-and-bird-watchers
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