Clinton Township gets $4 million for sewer pipe replacement

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Some things aren’t repaired until they’re already a problem.

Sewer leads are one of those things. But, with $4 million appropriated from the 2024 federal budget, Clinton Township can address these pieces of aging infrastructure with the pilot sanitary sewer lead program.

Clinton Township Department of Public Services Director Mary Bednar said the underground leads are privately owned vitrified clay pipes that lead into the public sewer system. The township has assessed about 5,000 of these 60-70-year-old pipes in need of replacement.

She said normally the pipes would be the owner’s responsibility to fix.

“To repair these leads is very, very expensive,” Bednar said.

The cost of the pipes can vary depending on the length and can range from $10,000 to $20,000, according to Bednar. She said the federal funds would help fix leads for about 250 homes.

Assistant DPS Superintendent Joe Tresick said the cost could be less if the pipe only needs to be lined and isn’t in need of a complete replacement. Lining can range from $5,000 to $10,000, according to Tresick.

“It’s kind of that crossover between private and public,” Bednar said about the repairs. “So being able to help the residents get these fixed is a great opportunity. Hopefully, we can figure out exactly how to do this pilot project and then get more funding to help the other residents in the area.”

When the pipes fail, Bednar said they can create small sinkholes. That can be an issue, causing sewer backups in the home and damage to the public sewer system. It can also cause the sewer system to get overwhelmed during a heavy rainfall, causing overflows in basements and discharges into the Clinton River or Lake St. Clair.

The township finds which pipes are aging when residents alert them and with the help of cameras in the sewer system.

“This is not going away, it’s not going away at all,” Clinton Township Supervisor Bob Cannon said. “This is something that we have to address.”

On Aug. 19, U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Twp., met with township officials to present them with a large check for the amount pulled down in federal appropriations. He said that the project was an example of tax dollars at work.

“Sadly, you’re not going to see it because it’s going under the ground,” James said. “When your basements aren’t flooding, when your toilets aren’t backing up, this is your money at work.”