Wastewater Plant Discharge

CITY OF FLINT UTILITIES / WATER POLLUTION CONTROL DIVISION

July 13, 2023, 6 a.m. Wastewater Plant Discharge

On July 13, 2023 at 6 a.m., the City of Flint Water Pollution Control Facility discharged wet weather flows, consisting of a mixture of stormwater and partially treated sewage, from its Wastewater Treatment Plant. This discharge was due to excessive wet weather flows, which exceeded the plant’s capacity for full secondary treatment of sewage. The Wastewater Treatment Plant has a Retention and Treatment Basin to contain excess flows, but it must discharge its disinfected wastewater into the Flint River whenever its capacity and the plant’s treatment capacity are exceeded.

As a precautionary measure required by law, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the Genesee County Health Department have been notified, as well as officials of Flint Township and Flushing that the discharge has now ended.

The Genesee County Health Department recommends against body contact with the Flint River under high flow conditions, particularly downstream of the release, west of the Mill Road Bridge at Flushing Road. Large amounts of runoff and churning of the river sediments generally result in high bacterial levels in the river throughout high flow areas. Notification of the water sample test results will be made by postings on the State of Michigan website.