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Concept 5 Sewer Improvements
Please note: For a history of the City's Storm & Sanitary Sewer Study following the 2017 & 2020 flooding events and all flood-related work completed to date, please visit the Flood Response page. This page discusses the Concept 5 Sewer Improvement Plan only.
What is Concept 5?
The Concept 5 Sewer Improvement Plan is a $48 million project designed to address sewer and lift station capacities during wet weather events in the city. Through this work, we aim to reduce clean water infiltration into the sewer system and basement backups into residents' homes in impacted areas of the city. This project will allow for the system to convey flows during a design rain event of a 25-year, 24-hour event, ultimately reducing the risk of surcharging sewers and basement backups. The work done through Concept 5 will not mitigate overland flooding or basement flooding from non-sewer sources.
Given the history of flooding events, particularly the devastating events in 2017 and 2020, this project is a critical component to addressing current and future infrastructure needs and protecting the health and safety of residents and their property. The Concept 5 Plan was approved by the Midland City Council in March 2021. Click here to watch the meeting (discussion begins at the 5:30 mark).
Construction bids for the first phase of improvements were awarded by the Midland City Council on August 22, 2022. Click here to watch the meeting (discussion begins at the 2:05:00 mark).
Click the button below to read the Concept 5 Sewer Improvement Plan (PDF).
What's Involved in Concept 5?
Click the image above to view a larger map
Concept 5 will improve the sanitary sewer collection system through a variety of projects including increasing the sizes of certain sewers, adding off-line sanitary sewage storage, repairing structurally defective sewer pipes, and disconnecting footing drains from the sanitary sewer system in certain areas.
The map listed above is a tentative timeline of key elements in the Concept 5 Sewer Improvement Plan. The larger map and box in the top left corner provide details on infrastructure improvements including new pipe installation, existing pipe lining and repair, and the installation of a 1 million-gallon underground storage area at the Sylvan pumpstation. Use the legend in the top right corner to see the projects color-coded by estimated implementation year. The smaller callout boxes detail phasing and property boundaries for two Footing Drain Disconnection Programs (FDDP) in the Moorland and Whitewood neighborhoods.
These timelines for construction are highly subject to change as the timeline progresses. A summary of the map's tentative information is listed in the table below. More detailed information on each individual project can be found in the next section.
Project Type | Project Location | Project Year |
---|---|---|
Moorland FDDP | Moorland Dr, Berry Ct, Grouse Ct, Partridge Ln | 2023 |
Whitewood FDDP | Whitewood Dr, Travis Ct, Mt. Vernon Ct | 2023 |
Off-line storage | Sylvan pump station | 2023 |
Sanitary pipe repair | Waldo Avenue | 2023 |
Sanitary, storm, water main, street reconstruction | Main St & Sugnet Rd | 2023 |
Moorland FDDP | Partridge Ln, Oakridge Dr, Pinewood Dr/Ct, Oak Meadows Ct, Brambleridge Ln | 2024 |
Whitewood FDDP | Congress Dr, Mt. Vernon Dr, Plymouth St | 2024 |
Sanitary, storm, water main, street reconstruction | Main St & Saginaw Rd | 2024 |
Moorland FDDP | Oakridge Dr, Briarwood Ct, Chicory Ct | 2025 |
Whitewood FDDP | Forestview Dr | 2025 |
Sanitary, storm, water main, street reconstruction | Perrine Rd | 2025 |
Moorland FDDP | Wackerly St, Dublin Ave | 2026 |
Whitewood FDDP | Georgetown Dr | 2026 |
Sanitary, storm, water main, street reconstruction | Sylvan Ln & Wanetah Dr | 2026 |
Moorland FDDP | Moorland Ct, Warblers Way, Pine Meadow Dr, Butternut Pl | 2027 |
Project Updates
The Concept 5 Sewer Improvement Plan is a series of ongoing projects occurring in succession - or, sometimes, at the same time! In the tabbed boxes below, you'll find information related to each individual project that includes work outlined in the plan. Check back often for more info as projects move forward!
Citywide Sewer Lining Project
Beginning in November 2022, crews from Insituform will install cured-in-place pipe lining in City sewer lines that is intended to repair existing cracks, reduce inflow and infiltration (I&I), and extend the overall life of the sewer system.
Lining crews began working in the northwest corner of the city and will move from west to east in quadrants until all areas have been completed. Ahead of lining placement, crews from Monchilov Sewer Services will clean City sewer lines to prepare the area for work. This process is estimated to take approximately 12 months to complete.
Contractors will be communicate directly with residents in areas where the work is being performed. Residents will receive a door hanger (below) from the contractor before work is performed.
Map of Sewer Lining Areas with Lining Locations
Click the image above to view a larger map and a quadrant-by-quadrant breakdown of locations (PDF).
Sylvan Offline Storage Basin in Russell Park
In December 2022, the City of Midland began construction of an offline sanitary sewer storage basin located undergroundin the Russell Park lawn area near the Sylvan lift station on Sylvan Lane. This basin will be designed to receive and hold up to 1 million gallons of sanitary sewer wastewater when flows are very high due to significant rain events or high groundwater levels. This will reduce strain on the sanitary sewer system during major events. As flows return to normal levels, the basin will drain back to the sanitary sewer system.
After construction and restoration is complete, Russell Park will return to its normal state and the basin will be mostly unnoticeable to park visitors with the exception of seven (7) visible locked access hatches and concrete lids for the below-grade structures near the existing lift station.
Footing Drain Disconnection Program
A footing drain disconnection program (FDDP) aims to remove clean water from the sanitary sewer system by removing the existing connection between a home's footing drains and the sanitary sewer and redirecting that water to the storm sewer system. (A footing drain is a series of pipes around and under your home that moves groundwater and stormwater away from your foundation to prevent it from entering your home.)
Prior to 1987, homes in Midland were often built to connect their footing drains to the sanitary sewer system. The result: 1) The City's sanitary sewer system becoming overwhemled with water that shouldn't be there, particularly during heavy rain events, which causes sewer back-ups into homes; and 2) the Wastewater Treatment Plant unnecessarily treating clean storm water, which increases wear-and-tear on plant equipment, and increased operational costs, which result in higher rates for utility payers.
The City of Midland has proposed a footing drain disconnection program for approximately 300 homes spread out over two neighborhoods: Moorland and Whitewood. Work is anticipated to begin in 2023 and, through a phased approach, be completed in 2027. Watch the video above for more information on this project!
If you're a resident in a neighborhood impacted by the Footing Drain Disconnection Program, click here for more information that's relevent to you.