Waste Water Treatment Plant

 
NORTHFIELD TOWNSHIP WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
11500 LEMEN RD., WHITMORE LAKE, MI 48189
Normal business hours are Mon. - Fri., 7:00am till 3:30pm

 SEWER BACK-UP INFORMATION


FOR A SEWER EMERGENCY, DISCONTINUE HOUSEHOLD WATER USE AND CALL (734) 449-4159.  FOLLOW THE PROMPTS FOR AFTER HOURS EMERGENCIES, OR CONTACT YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.  FOR ADDITIONAL WWTP CONTACT INFORMATION, PLEASE USE THE LINK ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THIS PAGE.

Preventing Sewer
Back-ups:

Because a sewer is not a closed system, many things can cause back-ups and overflows.  Diapers, disposable wipes, and roots are common causes of back-ups.  Back-ups often are the result of grease build-up, and can lead to costly clean-ups and repairs as well as health concerns.  Household kitchen drains are a big source of residential fats, oil, and grease (better known as FOG -cooking oils, butter and meat fats). While municipalities can adopt rules prohibiting dumping of these items into the sewer and can educate the public about the problems they cause, there is no way to absolutely prevent back-ups from happening.  Other factors can cause problems as well.

The courts and legislature have made it clear that a municipality is permitted to reimburse for sewer back-up damages only if four basic questions are answered "yes".

  • Was there a defect in the municipalities' sewer line?
  • Did the municipality know or should it have reasonably known about the defect?
  • Did the municipality fail to correct the defect within a reasonable time frame after learning of the defect?
  • Did the failure by the municipality cause both the event and the damages?

If you think you've met all of the above criteria, and intend to make a claim, you must file a written claim with Northfield Township within 45 days of the discovery of the event.

THE FILING OF A CLAIM DOES NOT GUARANTEE ANY PAYMENT WILL BE FORTHCOMING, UNLESS LIABILITY IS DETERMINED.


"Notice of Claim" forms will be hand delivered by Northfield Township Wastewater Treatment Plant personnel.

To present this claim, you will be required to provide the following items:

  • Copies of receipts for cleaning costs, plumbing bills, or other bills.
  • List of damaged items and receipts to prove the ages of your items.
  • Proof of ownership of the items.
  • Photos of all damaged items and areas.

If you do not provide sufficient detail to support your claim, the items will lose much of their value.

Reimbursement for the Actual Cash Value of damaged items is the maximum amount payable.

Avoid Future Back-ups

Call the Wastewater Treatment Plant at the first sign of a problem, before the sewer back-up, at (734) 449-4159.  If your drains are running slowly for example, call us.  We'll come and check the Township's sewer main line.

Dispose of grease, fats, and oils with your trash, not down the drain.  Even if you run it through a garbage disposal, grease in drains can collect and harden into a plug.

Disposable Wipes:  Even though these are supposed to be bio-degradable, they do not break down soon enough to prevent clogging of lines and pumps.

Never connect sump pumps, French drains, or other flood control systems to your sanitary sewer system.  It's illegal, and the debris and silt will clog your line.  Call a plumber to undo any illegal connections.