(City of Escanaba)

ESCANABA — As the area is inundated by high water levels due to snow melt and rainfall, officials urge residents to mitigate water use and redirect sump pumps to lessen the burden on sewer systems.

Wastewater superintendents in both Escanaba and Gladstone have told people that sump pumps are not supposed to be directed into the sanitary sewers, which are for wastewater.

“The best way for residents to help in these situations is to get their sump pumps off of the city’s sanitary sewer system,” said Gladstone Wastewater Superintendent Rodney Schwartz, emphasizing that it was unlawful for stormwater to be discharged into sewers, as per the city’s code of ordinances. “Tips for residents that have a sump pump connected to the sanitary sewer would be to put the water outside away from your home.”

Rainfall that enters the streets is meant to find storm drains, which lead to waterways like creeks or the lake. Water seeping into basements and into sumps can be directed to the same.

“They can redirect their sump pumps to the street. That will take a huge burden off of us,” said Escanaba Water/Wastewater Superintendent Jeff Lampi. “Sump pump water is considered clean water, considered storm water, and we need to get that out of the sanitary.”

Since water used in homes — for dishes, laundry, showers, flushing — all heads to the sanitary sewer, he also requests that people minimize usage until conditions improve.

The City of Escanaba announced Monday morning that the 23rd Avenue lift station in south Escanaba was surcharged, and stated, “If you are using a sump pump, it is possible you are contributing to the flooding of your neighbor’s house and/or your own home.”

At the wastewater plant itself, though they have not experienced an overflow, Lampi said it’s the most he’s ever seen and that more water is coming in than the plant is rated for.

“Technically speaking, I think our plant’s rated for 5 million gallons a day (MGD), and we have a peak flow of 7.25, and we have consistently been running 7.5 MGD to 8.5 MGD on our pumps for the last 24 hours or more,” Lampi said around 1:30 p.m. Monday. “The new plant is keeping up, but there’s only so much we can put into the lake.”

Manistique was less fortunate — a combined sewer overflow occurred at 7:40 a.m. Sunday into the Manistique River. By Monday afternoon, the Press had not been informed that the spill had stopped.

In Gladstone, where a new water treatment plant was recently constructed, operating are monitoring lift stations and clearing items like rags caught on screens at the plant.

“With the new upgrades to the plant, we can focus more on the collection system than in the past,” said Schwartz.

He also noted that Gladstone’s plant had experienced higher flows from rain and melt events in past years when lake levels were higher.

“If a (Gladstone) resident believes that they are experiencing a sewer back-up, please call the wastewater plant (906-428-2311 Prompt 3, Extension 3) or 911 before calling a local drain cleaner,” Schwartz advised. “If the issue is in the sewer main, we can rectify the problem at no cost to the homeowner.  Once we evaluate the situation and determine that it is the homeowner’s issue, then they can call the drain cleaner of their choice.”