Wet Weather Sampling

Historic water quality data suggests that some of the bacteria problems within the drainage area occur only during wet weather events. The likely causes remain:

1. Sewage entering the storm drains from sanitary sewer overflows (SSO)
2. Bacteria washed of the land and into the drainage system by storm water
3. Re-suspension of bacteria associated with sediment
   
   

Task 2 will identify and remove the largest sources of bacteria ladened sediment. The wet weather sampling will concentrate on identifying areas with high levels of bacteria ladened storm water and/or SSOs. Since the storm water from most of the drainage area has bacteria readings (E. coli) below 3,000 colonies/100ml during wet weather, SSOs are a likely source of this type of pollutant. A few SSOs have already been identified in the system by local communities. Remedial action is in progress. It is possible that some remain unidentified. A discrete sampler with an area-velocity meter will be used in an attempt to locate these SSOs.

Sampler installation on the Kutchey Warren Branch Drain

Up to 24 discrete samples will be taken in each tributary drain. Each sample will be field screened for ammonia, surfactants and conductivity. Based on the field screening results, a minimum of 20% of the samples will be sent to a laboratory for E. coli analysis. Wet weather sampling locations, shown on the map below are the same as the dry weather enclosed drain locations. Sampling results from this task will be updated monthly.

Sampling results can be seen by clicking on a sampling location ID shown on the map below.

American Public Works Association | Clinton River Watershed Council | Macomb Conservation District | Macomb County Health Department | Michigan Agriculture Department | MDEQ | Michigan State University Extension Service-Macomb | Oakland County Drain Commissioner | Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project | US Army Corps of Engineers | USEPA CSO Partnership | USEPA Nonpoint Source Pollution | USEPA Sanitary Sewer Overflows | US Geological Service