Overview
MILK RIVER CSO RTB is a projected combined sewer overflow retention treatment basin in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, serving approximately 60,290 people. It will manage wet-weather flows to protect local waterways.
MILK RIVER CSO RTB is a projected combined sewer overflow (CSO) retention treatment basin located in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, within Wayne County. The facility is designed to serve a population of approximately 60,290, addressing wet-weather overflow events common in older combined sewer systems. As a projected facility, it represents planned infrastructure to improve water quality in the region. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, CSO control facilities like this one are typically required to meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit conditions, including technology-based controls and water quality standards. The facility will likely incorporate primary treatment and disinfection to reduce pollutants before discharge. The treated effluent will be discharged into the Lake St. Clair watershed, which flows through the Detroit River into Lake Erie. This water body supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical drinking water source for the region. Proper CSO management is essential to prevent untreated sewage overflows that can harm recreational uses and ecosystem health.
Environmental context
The facility discharges into the Lake St. Clair watershed, which connects to the Detroit River and ultimately Lake Erie, part of the Great Lakes system. This area supports diverse aquatic species and is a vital resource for drinking water and recreation. Effective CSO control helps reduce nutrient loading and pathogen contamination, protecting downstream ecosystems and public health.
Frequently asked questions
MILK RIVER CSO RTB is located at 1100 Parkway Drive, Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, United States, in Wayne County.
The facility serves approximately 60,290 people in the Grosse Pointe Woods area, managing combined sewer overflow events.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Lake St. Clair watershed, which flows through the Detroit River into Lake Erie. The facility is designed to capture and treat wet-weather flows before release.
As a CSO control facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which requires compliance with technology-based and water quality-based effluent limits.
Typical treatment includes screening, primary sedimentation, and disinfection. Facilities must meet NPDES permit conditions that often include capture of a certain percentage of wet-weather flows and reduction of solids and pathogens.
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