ROGERS CITY — What can Rogers City sewer customers do to help alleviate flooding-related overflow/sewer back-up problems?

Rogers City sewer and public works staff are asking that water and sewer customers take the

following steps over the next few days to assist efforts to control flooding-related overflows to

the sewer mains and wastewater treatment plant that will result in sewer back-ups into homes:

• Do not flush toilets, take showers, run dishwashers/washing machines, or run large

amounts of water into the sewer system unless entirely necessary.

• Temporarily disconnect your sump pump from the sanitary sewer system and run the

water instead into your yard and/or the storm sewer system.

• Contact City Hall at (989) 734-2191 if your plumbing seems to be backing up or acting

sluggish, as getting addresses help us get ahead of potentially new problem areas.

Like other communities throughout northern Michigan, Rogers City has experienced record

flooding, caused by a combination of rapid snowmelt and extensive rainfall. This flooding has

overwhelmed the City’s sanitary sewer system.

The treatment plant, designed to handle one million gallons of wastewater per day, has been

overrun with more than twice that average over the past few days, placing the plant itself in

jeopardy of failure and increasing the likelihood of community-wide sewer backups.

A significant portion of the sanitary sewer mains are similarly overwhelmed, likely due to a

combination of groundwater infiltration through root-caused cracks in old crock pipe and private

sump pumps running constantly from basements into the sanitary system.

The City is working with officials from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes,

and Energy to implement emergency measures to provide expedited relief to its sewer system

and customers. Conversations with the State are ongoing.

Though we remain at the mercy of Mother Nature, City staff will continue to do everything

possible, for as long as necessary, to reduce sewer back-up risks and get things running normally.

Customers taking the steps listed above will greatly assist those efforts.

What is Rogers City doing to relieve the flooding in the area of Spruce and Balsam?

The storm drain system in the area of Spruce and Balsam streets in the City of Rogers City has

been overwhelmed by the record flooding resulting from rapid snowmelt and excessive rainfall,

which has resulted in the flooding of the road system in this area.

The City has attempted to route as much stormwater as possible away from the impacted area,

without negatively impacting other areas. Water is being pumped directly from the streets into

nearby catch basins which appear capable of handling it.

Sandbags and other mechanisms also have been used in an attempt to alleviate, or at least

control, the problem. Unfortunately, the woods surrounding this area also are completely

flooded, with that water making its way into the roads and around homes.

City staff will continue to do everything in its power to get this under control, but is unfortunately

at the mercy of Mother Nature to a large extent, with the dissipation of the water filling the

woods into the ground key to the end of the flooding.