Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Program

CSO Storage Early Action Project - December 23, 2024 Update

Broad Street will be closed near Public Work entrance starting January 13, 2025 to complete work on the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Storage Early Action Project.  The closure is expected to be in place for one week with traffic restored by January 20, 2025.  During this time, Kalin Construction will lay a new 24” diameter sewer pipe under Broad Street to replace the existing 12” diameter sewer pipe that is currently in service.  The traffic maintenance plan calls for a detour on Napier Avenue, Niles Avenue, and Main Street similar to that used during the 2021 Langley Avenue Reconstruction Project.  A copy of the traffic control plan is included in the supporting attachments below.

CSO Compliance Program

The City of St. Joseph is nearing the completion of a decades long combined sewer overflow (CSO) compliance program required by the Federal Clean Water Act.  The CSO compliance program schedule is dictated by a CSO National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit which is regulated and enforced by the Michigan Department of Great Lakes, Environment and Energy (EGLE).  Over the life of the program, the City has requested and received multiple extensions on the construction of the storage tank in order to complete CSO separation and inflow & infiltration removal projects.  A link to the City's current CSO NPDES permit is available under the Supplemental Documents section below.

A public meeting was held on June 28, 2023 in City Commission Chambers to discuss the location of a future Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Storage Tank.  The recommended alternative of an above ground storage tank, located next to the Public Works facility at 1160 Broad Street was presented at that meeting.  The City Commission approved the above ground storage tank recommendation during the November 13, 2023 regular meeting.

A video of the June 2023 public meeting is available for viewing here:  https://youtu.be/XPp-WVlR3sQ

A link to the Power Point for the meeting, and other pertinent information on the CSO program is provided below.

The CSO Storage Early Action Project commenced on November 4 and is expected to be underway through the winter/early spring of 2025.  This project will lay the groundwork for the CSO Storage tank located next to the Public Works facility in the northwesterly corner of the property.  Construction of the storage tank is expected to begin in 2027, and is intended to be the final project in the CSO compliance program.