Current River Facts & Conditions
The City of Westland has been working cooperatively with the Wayne County Department of the Environment, the Rouge Project Office, the US Department of Environmental Protection and the Federal Court to plan and implement a series of corrective actions for the improvement of the water quality in the Rouge River and its tributaries. The City has taken several steps in compliance with a General Permit authorized by the City to plan and program several activities. The General Permit was issued to the City to assure compliance with EPA regulations, which were adopted to implement the standards of the Clean Water Act. Following the completion of the General Permit activities, the City has embarked upon implementation of the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Initiative (SWPPI).
The SWPPI spells out the projects and activities that will be accomplished in the next three years. The EPA has new rules coming into effect in early 2002, which mandate communities to carefully manage and control their storm water runoff. The concern is not only the quantity of water but also the quality of the water. This means the potential treatment of storm water runoff before its sent to the River.
Here is a list of projects that the City has carried out during the last ten years:
- Constructed a sewer separation project for storm water and sanitary water to be in different pipes.
- Surveyed the city for all drains and pipes, whether public or private.
- Provides a citywide numbering system for all pipes and drainage structures coming into the River or its tributaries.
- Establishes a telephone hotline for reporting pollution problems.
- Preserved all the sewer and water information on maps using a Geographic Information System and stores the data on a computer.
- Prepared a storm water management plan for future control of runoff.
- Acquired additional sewer and street cleaning equipment.
- Implemented a residential leaf pickup program, which keeps the leaves out of the river.
- Adopted Ordinances prohibiting any septic tanks or systems in the City.
- Constructed new sewer lines to serve residents to reduce pollution.
- Required all septic systems to be removed and connection to the public sewer mandatory.
- Provided a series of public education videos and brochures describing the overall program for environmental improvement.
- Required new ponding basins to control the flow of water into the river.
- Constructed a ponding area for overflows adjacent to Hines Park.
- Began a rehabilitation program for manholes and related structures.
- Continued an education program with recommendations for proper lawn care, natural plantings to absorb water runoff, and proper management of household hazardous wastes and pet wastes.
- Continued to work with local school districts to provide Rouge River information to students.
- Initiated projects and programs for elementary school teachers to include Rouge River information in their curriculum.
