Sewage Fills Macomb County Sinkhole Trench

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — As much as nine feet of sewage — some 1.5 million gallons — filled the trench being used to repair the 15 Mile Road Sewer Collapse in Macomb County on Tuesday. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident. None of the sewage escaped into the Clinton River or other local waters, according to county officials.

An investigation is ongoing, Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller said in a statement. She termed the incident as a “setback,” but said it shouldn’t alter the county’s projected re-opening of 15 Mile Road in December.

“We are relieved first and foremost that no one was hurt and, equally, that there was no impact to the Clinton River,” Miller said. “In fact, the recovery trench was actually designed in such a way that, if there was an incident like this, the trench would contain any sewage, which is exactly what happened here.”

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Last December, a giant sinkhole was created when a below ground interceptor failed. The Detroit Free Press reported that the sinkhole runs along 15 Mile Road between Utica and Hayes roads.

Sewage was expected to be completely drained from the trench sometime Wednesday. All of the sewage being pumped out of the trench is being returned to a sewer line further downstream for eventual treatment at the treatment facility in Detroit.

Three vehicles being used at the bottom of the 300-foot by 28-foot by 65-foot deep trench were completely submerged. The extent of damage to a small tractor and an excavator are unknown.

A third vehicle used to insert new pipe into the existing sewer line at the work site was also damaged. Miller was unsure of when the so-called “bat-mobile” would be to resume inserting pipe, but said a plan will be developed to continue the work.

“We’re hopeful that the fact that we were running under budget so far will still allow us to complete this project within our anticipated budget of $75 million,” Miller said. “We will know more by the end of the week.”

Photo courtesy of the Macomb County Public Works Department