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Macomb County inspectors search for illegal dumping into Lake St. Clair

Posted at 5:57 PM, Aug 07, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-07 17:57:31-04

What is flowing into Lake Saint Clair? That is the million dollar question.  Literally.  

Macomb County is spending just over that amount to inspect massive storm water drains that empty into the lake.

The action comes after they discovered millions of gallons of sewage had been illegally dumped right into our waters.

Investigators say about thirty years ago someone illegally hooked up the sewage system at some apartments near Ten Mile and Gratiot in Eastpointe to a storm water drain. It sent an estimated 250,000 gallons of raw sewage into Lake Saint Clair until it was discovered earlier this year.

Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller held a press conference with other local leaders to announce the start of work on an inspection process on three major drains along Lake Saint Clair. 

The 11-foot in diameter drains carry storm water from Roseville, Eastpointe, and St. Clair Shores into the lake.  They haven’t been inspected in decades.  

A company has been hired to pump water from the lake out of the drains so what is being discharged can be observed and tested.  If it appears there are any signs of illegal dumping, the county will investigate further. 

They will also inspect the structural integrity of the drains.