August 3, 2007

The Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Attorney General announced today that a civil lawsuit against Worth Township in Sanilac County was filed in the 30th Judicial Circuit Court for Ingham County. The lawsuit alleges that Worth Township's ongoing sewer discharges violated the state's water protection laws.

The DEQ is seeking injunctive relief requiring Worth Township to eliminate the illegal discharges of raw and/or partially treated sanitary sewage from numerous failing septic systems within the township. The DEQ and the DAG contend new sewage is appearing on residential lawns, migrating to adjacent ditches, and then discharging directly to tributaries connecting to Lake Huron. The discharge of raw and/or partially treated sanitary sewage poses a significant health threat to the citizens that are living within Worth Township, persons who travel through or visit this community, and detrimentally impacts Michigan's surface water and groundwater.

The DEQ is also seeking injunctive relief requiring Worth Township to design and construct a sanitary sewer treatment and collection system, the only viable option for providing a long-term solution to resolve these sewage problems.

"Raw sewage is a significant source of pollution that degrades the quality of Michigan's waters and creates a significant health hazard to the citizens of this state," said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. "It is time for Worth Township to take action to ensure the safety of its residents and the community."

The lawsuit was filed after the DEQ's attempts to resolve this matter administratively were unsuccessful. In addition to the injunctive relief, the DEQ is seeking cost recovery and civil penalties under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.

"It is unfortunate that the state must resort to the courts to compel a township to take corrective action," said Attorney General Michael Cox. "I will not stand idly by as the public's health and our environment are placed at risk."

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised August 3, 2007 by Pat Watson