Tree Roots and Grease Contributing to St. Clair Shores Basement Backup Problem

(Posted Nov. 1, 2016) ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI — Well, at least we know what the problem is. Tree roots and grease. The St. Clair Shores City Council hired an engineering firm to investigate what went wrong with the city's sewer system after heavy summer rains caused basement backups in the city, The St. Clair Shores Sentinel reported.

Kyle Seidel, a senior engineer with Anderson, Eckstein and Westrick, recommended a cleaning and maintenance program to clear up the problem. The cost is about $3 million, and the goal is to clean every sewer line in the city at least once every five years. Another $550,000 should be spent every two years for chemical control, the engineer recommended.

Seidel also suggested a public awareness campaign educating the public on the importance of keeping downspouts disconnected from the footing drains around their houses, which is required under a city ordinance. A spot check showed "several houses that appear, speculatively, to appear like they reconnected to the system," he said.

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