Oakland County, a prosperous region in the state, operates under a Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) permit. Under this system, both stormwater and sewage flow through the same pipes. These pipes often discharge untreated or partially treated wastewater into the Red Run Drain during heavy rainfall, which subsequently snakes its way into Macomb County’s Clinton River and ultimately into Lake St. Clair.

“This can’t go on,” says Wozniak. “Dumping vast amounts of wastewater into our waters isn’t right.”

He points out that there’s no reason influential Oakland County can’t commit resources tooverhaul the wastewater system. In contrast, he is urging the state’s environmental department to force Oakland County to revamp their combined sewage system, thereby ending the discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage into Red Run Drain.

Macomb County representatives have been rallying with this call to action since June, asking the state to legally require Oakland County to substantially decrease or eradicate its CSOs. Currently, legislation is being drafted to penalize Oakland for CSOs, however, Wozniak is urging the department to step in regardless of this pending process.

One of the key objections is that, currently, Oakland is the single county in the state permitted to unleash CSOs directly into a neighboring county, which poses considerable environmental and quality of life problems.

According to Jim Nash, Water Resources Commissioner for Oakland County, separating sewer and water systems is not an economically viable or scientifically justified solution. He also points out that operating under an expired permit is not uncommon while waiting for a renewal.

While this exchange continues, the crux of the matter is the well-being of the waters flowing through these counties, which in turn, impacts innumerable aspects of the residents’ lives, including water quality, recreational activities, and property values. Flooding is also a concern in the densely populated neighbors adjoining Red Run Drain, that are often subjected to the flooding of untreated waters.

With these concerns shadowing, there’s an active plea from the neighboring county to foster a mutually beneficial solution that safeguards shared environmental resources. The ball now is in the state’s court to adjudicate.

Author: STAFF HERE NOVI WRITER

The NOVI STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENovi.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Novi, Oakland County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Motor City Comic Con, Michigan State Fair, and Novi Home and Garden Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, technology, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Stoneridge, and Daifuku North America. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.