WARREN (WWJ) -- Macomb County’s Public Works Commissioner is outraged over what she says was a massive sewage overflow from Oakland County into the Red Run Drain.
Candice Miller said this time it was 1.2 million gallons of raw sewage, and some 800,000 of “combined” storm water and "minimally-treated" sewage.
Miller said wipes, condoms and tampons were found stuck in shrubs and trees along the banks of the Red Run — which flows into the Clinton River, and eventually into Lake St. Clair.
And this isn't the first time.
"Every time we have a heavy rainfall it seems like it happens again, and so we're simply asking our regular regulators, which is EGLE — the state environmental department that regulates our permits — to step in and force the issue, do something, please," Miller said, in an interview with WWJ Newsradio 950's Mike Campbell.
"I mean, seriously. This not only do we recreate out in Lake St. Clair here — whether you're fishing or you're swimming or whatever — it is also the drinking water supply, our fresh water drinking supply," Miller said.
"It's 2025. Seriously, this is what we're doing? This has to stop."
Miller said her department sent a letter to the head of EGLE — the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy — asking that they address the issue of sewage overflow, while they're considering another round of permits for Oakland County.
WWJ has reached out to the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner and the head ogle EGLE for comment.