Ortonville – For a monthly payment of $126 per household, Ortonville residents can increase property value and bring the village into the 21st century, with a local wastewater treatment system.
On April 12, the village council listened to a comprehensive alternative sewage treatment study, done, and presented by village contracted engineers from Rowe, Inc.
Council approved a study to be done last fall in order to review bringing independent alternate sewage relief to the village residents and downtown businesses.
Although the study cost more than $20,000 the Oakland County Environmental Infrastructure Fund provided reimbursement to the village.
‘So many residents in the village have old failing systems,? said village manager Paul Zelenak. ‘We have a great potential for ground water contaminants.?
Determined to pursue wastewater relief for the community, Zelenak said that when he first came into his position, a recent attempt to bring a multi-community county sewer connection into Brandon Township had failed.
Insistent that sewers would improve the welfare of village residents and businesses, environmental health, as well as improve property values, Zelenak remains undeterred in pursuing alternatives to the more costly multi-community connect.
‘We have to look out for the best interests of our residents and businesses,? Zelenak said.
‘I can’t say I’m doing that if we don’t look at possibilities and alternatives.?
The alternatives study presented by Rowe concludes there are three different wastewater treatment possibilities that would fit within village perimeters.
‘The village has always been a candidate for a community sewage system,? Rowe Chief Engineer Jim Redding told the council.
Council was told by Redding that installing a sewer system within the village, which could take up to four years to design and build, would eliminate the threat of nitrates and coliform pollutants released in and around several village wells.
Redding said the higher-than-normal levels of pollutants were found during a study performed in the village more than 11 years ago.
‘High levels of coliform and nitrates are typical symptoms of failing septic systems,? said Redding.
‘Because of the area’s high water table and failing systems, these levels can contaminate surface water and threaten Kearsley Creek.?
According to the study, there are 851 buildings or Residential Equivalent Units (REU’s) in the village, which equals a population of 1,535, with a future potential of more than 149 additional REU’s.
The study reveals that based on these calculations there is a potential to produce more than 315 gallons of septic flow, per house, per day.
Although the proposed treatment facility would be intended to service the village area, the study included a potential to expand service to the high school and middle school, just south of the village, as well as the shopping center at Oakwood Road and M-15, which is in the Groveland Township jurisdiction, should they need it.
Of the three sewage treatment system alternatives presented, Redding said the one most conducive to the area ground-scape is also the least expensive at $15,610,000.
While funding of the proposed project has not yet been discussed by the council, Redding said there are several funding options, such as Oakland County bond loans with a current interest rate of six percent, as well as two percent state revolving fund possibility.
Zelenak says he is concerned about the effects of the additional $126 monthly payment may have on senior citizens, but insisted the project is still only in the exploration phase and states there may be potential funding mechanisms that he is exploring that may assist seniors or those on fixed incomes. .
‘When I first got here I heard that sewers were a dead issue,? said Zelenak.
‘The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is not getting easier on us and the county is looking at checking wells for upgrades every five years which could drastically affect this village,? Zelenak stated, adding that not very long ago the state mandated that Goodrich install a sewer system within their village because of pollutants in the Mill Pond.
‘It is not a dead issue, and while we are just in a research stage, I am happy to see it move forward.?
Village President Sue Bess says the demographics of the village residents are changing.
Homes once occupied by two elderly persons with septic fields that would accomodate their needs are now giving way to younger families with a four-person household.
‘These old septic fields are just not adequate for a four-person family anymore,? said Bess who continues that septic fields also prohibit yard use and expansion.
Bess said the presentation is the most comprehensive she has seen yet and is encouraged by the interest that younger families have in ecological concerns.
Zelenak said council will continue to explore funding options within the next few village meetings.
The study cost more than $20,000 but was paid through the Oakland County Environmental Infrastructure Fund, which assists Oakland County communities by reimbursing them for improvement projects for ground, surface water, sewage systems or drainage systems.

Wastewater facility options:

According to village contracted Rowe, Inc. Chief Engineer Jim Redding, there are three distinct alternative for wastewater septic (movement) systems.
Wastewater movement options
* Conventional Gravity Sewer System- Which has a higher construction cost and latent leakage possibility. To install this system most of the roads will have to be torn out and multiple pump stations installed.
‘It’s a simple system but costly to build,’said Redding.
* Low Pressure Sewer System – Which is a lesser cost to construct and requires less street tear out and less environmental disturbance to trees. This system includes installing grinder pumps at each home and business (Residential Equivalent Unit)
‘The concept is that each REU has a grinder pump which is the size of a sump pump to grind the waste and disburse flow through a smaller diameter pipe, running with the village topography to a 30-50 gallon holding tank.
‘This is the recommended system for this community because there is little construction disturbance, normally the municipality takes on maintenance responsibility of the system along with the home owner.,? said Redding.
* Vacuum Sewer System – (collection system) – This system has a shallow bury depth but higher operating cost. It pumps wastewater from up to four homes into a nearby collection sump. From there the waste is vacuum suctioned through to a central station, then into a treatment facility.
Water Treatment station systems
* Low pressure/grinder sewer and treatment plant with a surface water discharge, with the treated water re-disbursed back into the soil.
This system needs heavy Department Environmental Quality permits and requires a 2-3 acre purchase within one mile of the village. This plan is a $3.5 million construction package.
* Ground water discharge – This facility has a membrane bio-reactor which is a compact module design that could fit onto a small piece of property.
The system applies discharge into the soil instead of stream – which depending on soil conditions, this system requires up to 5 acres, and is $4.2 million package.
A slow rate water discharge package would require at least 60 acres and creates a lagoon effect, which is not conducive to colder weather because winter water disbursement. This is a $7 million package.
‘This system must have an extensive hydrogeological analysis which is a detailed process to find specific site, assuming one is available within one mile from the village, after location then there is extensive approval from the DEQ,? said Redding.
* Genesee/Oakland County Connection- ‘Clearly not feasible for the village alone without the support of surrounding communities,’said Redding. This feasibility option is a $26,700,000 project.
Although Redding says any three of the suitable sewage disposal systems can be combined with any of the three water treatment systems to suit the village, but the total cost of the low pressure treatment plant system of is the recommended package at $15,610,000, or $126 per month, per REU considered with a low interest Oakland County bond.