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The Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department approves the submission of four (4) grant applications to the Water Resources Division of the Michigan Department of Environmental Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), for the total amount of $78,000,000 from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) for the Schoolcraft and West Chicago Stormwater Improvements Project Plan which will significantly reduce untreated combined sewer discharges at four (4) active outfalls along the west bank of the Rouge River if the project is funded. This also authorizes the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
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Agenda of March 15, 2023
Item No. 2023-70
TO: The Honorable
Board of Water Commissioners
City of Detroit, Michigan
FROM: Samuel Smalley, Chief Operations Officer
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department
RE: CWSRF Schoolcraft and West Chicago Stormwater Improvements Project Plan
MOTION
Upon the request of Samuel Smalley, Chief Operations Officer, the Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department approves the submission of four (4) grant applications to the Water Resources Division of the Michigan Department of Environmental Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), for the total amount of $78,000,000 from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) for the Schoolcraft and West Chicago Stormwater Improvements Project Plan which will significantly reduce untreated combined sewer discharges at four active outfalls along the west bank of the Rouge River if the project is funded. This also authorizes the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
As part of compliance with the City of Detroit’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) strives to deliver infrastructure projects that improve water quality of Rouge River and create capacity within the existing combined sewer system. In recent years, this has taken the form of Green Infrastructure projects that work to reduce runoff volumes through infiltration, peak flow control and where possible, treatment and diversion to surface waters. DWSD’s goals to reduce and/or eliminate untreated combined sewer overflows has aligned with the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) 2020 Wastewater Master Plan which outlines where stormwater improvement projects would benefit the combined sewer system.
BUDGET IMPACT
DWSD is proposing four (4) projects that will greatly reduce untreated combined sewer overflows (CSOs) at four locations (B063, B064, B069 and B070) along the Rouge River on Detroit’s west side. Combined, these outfalls discharge in excess of 43 million gallons a year to the Rouge River. DWSD has submitted Intent To Apply (ITA) forms to the State of Michigan Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) for the Schoolcraft and West Chicago Project Stormwater Improvement Plan for these projects and intends to move forward with the design and construction of these projects, if the State fully funds these projects through the CWSRF grant.
The improvements detailed within this project planning document were initially identified as early implementation projects within the 2020 Great Lakes Water Authority Wastewater Master Plan document (Technical Memorandum 6). The improvements were elevated as early implementation projects after planning and modeling efforts identified high performance at attaining reductions in collection system flooding and improved water quality within the Upper Branch of the Rouge River. The improvements detailed within this project planning document will attain these goals by creating new sewers that capture, convey, and treat runoff with new outfalls to surface waters. The projects attain the five desired outcomes of: protecting public health and safety, preserving natural resources and a healthy environment, assuring value of investment, maintaining reliable high-quality service, and contributing to economic prosperity.
The four (4) stormwater improvement projects proposed as part of this project planning document are as follows:
• West Chicago South - B063: This $19M project will construct a new outfall to discharge treated flows to the Ashcroft/Sherwood Drain at West Parkway. The project includes neighborhood green infrastructure, water quality treatment devices and peak flow control provisions. Weir systems will be developed upstream of CSO B063 to utilize in-system capacity. The project will work within City and County public right of way and city-owned property.
• West Chicago North - B064: This $17M project will construct new infrastructure and repurpose CSO B064 as a new treated wet weather outfall. The project includes neighborhood green infrastructure, water quality treatment devices and peak flow control provisions. The project will work within City and County public right of way and city-owned property. The project also includes a new combined sewer to convey combined sewer flow south to B063 that had previously utilized CSO B064. The project will eliminate untreated CSO discharges at B064.
• Schoolcraft South - B069: This $22M project will construct new infrastructure to manage and treat wet weather flows with a new outfall to the Rouge River immediately east of the intersection of Glendale Avenue and West Outer Drive. The project includes neighborhood green infrastructure, water quality treatment devices and peak flow control provisions. A section of combined sewer will be replaced on Glendale due to utility conflicts. The project will work within City and County public right of way and city-owned property.
• Schoolcraft North - B070: This $20M will project will construct new infrastructure to manage and treat wet weather flows that will be diverted south into the Schoolcraft South drainage area. The project includes neighborhood green infrastructure, a new stormwater treatment basin within Eliza Howell Park and peak flow control provisions. The project will work within City and County public right of way, utility easements and city-owned property.
Subject to approval from the DWSD Board of Water Commissioners and the award of 100% CWSRF project funding with total principal forgiveness, the projects’ construction would start in late 2024 with construction substantially complete by 2026. The projects will be designed, bid, and constructed in full accordance with all requirements as described in current CWSRF Project Planning Preparation Guidance documents.
COMMITTEE REVIEW
This item is being presented to the full Board of Water Commissioners on March 15, 2023.