Protecting Southeast Michigan’s Waterways

Before the George W. Kuhn Retention Treatment Basin (GWK RTB) facility was built, during heavy storms, stormwater and sewage would flow directly into the Red Run Drain eventually reaching Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie. In 1960, the basin was constructed to store and treat this flow before it was discharged, protecting local waterways. 

This facility is tucked beneath the I-75 overpass at 12 Mile Road in Madison Heights. It has an underground tunnel the size of a four-lane highway. Of the 23 similar facilities in southeast Michigan, it is one of the nation’s largest retention treatment basins in the county and can hold and treat 150 million gallons of flow. It serves 14 municipalities in southeast Oakland County, capturing and treating combined stormwater and sanitary flow during storms. 

Oakland County communities have invested hundreds of millions into this facility over the years, and continues to spend millions more on improvements, ensuring we remain ahead of the curve in infrastructure advancements and continue providing high-quality service for our communities and the downstream environment.  

The GWK RTB, is a state-of-the-art facility that operates under stringent environmental standards as every other RTB facility in Michigan. We follow all environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, and we work closely with EGLE to meet or exceed these standards.  

Where does the flow go? 

When it rains, snows, or sleets, all that water has to go somewhere. This water, known as stormwater, will eventually flow into storm drains. Before the stormwater makes it to the drains, it runs over roads, lawns, and other surfaces, it picks up pollutants, bacteria, and hazardous waste along with it.

• Stormwater is water from wet weather events. It runs off streets, rooftops and other non-porous surfaces during storms or wet weather. As it flows, it can collect debris, chemicals, and pollutants before entering the drainage system.

• Sanitary Flow refers to wastewater from homes and businesses, such as water from toilets, sinks, and showers. This water needs to be treated to remove contaminants before it's safe to return to the environment.
  
  

How A Combined System Works 

In a separated system, pipes for stormwater are separate from pipes used to transport sanitary flow. One pipe system captures and transports the stormwater into a body of water without treating the water, and the other pipe system takes the sanitary flow to a wastewater treatment facility to be treated. In a combined sewer system both sanitary flow and stormwater travel through the same pipes to a facility to be skimmed and treated. 

 At the GWK RTB, during dry weather, all the sanitary flow  is sent directly to Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA)’s wastewater treatment facility in Detroit. However, when it rains, snows, or sleets, the stormwater also enters the pipes. When very large amounts of stormwater enter the combined system, especially in a short period of time, the system may reach the capacity of what it can hold and transport. When this happens, retention treatment basins like the GWK step in to help manage the flow by capturing and treating the combined stormwater and sanitary flow. Retention treatment basins play a critical role in protecting public health and the environment during large wet weather events. 

At the GWK RTB, a series of giant screens first filter out debris and then bleach is added to disinfect everything while it is stored in the basin. At the same time, the basin is being emptied by a system of pumps that send the treated sanitary flow to GLWA’s wastewater treatment facility for further treatment. The GWK RTB protects the environment and discharges 100% treated water into the Red Run Drain.

There’s a common misconception that the water leaving our facility is untreated, but that’s not the case. Everything is fully treated before release.

A Commitment to Water Quality

For more than 25 years, the George W. Kuhn Retention Treatment Basin has safeguarded public health and the environment, with a nearly 100% success rate in managing overflows. Our dedicated staff works tirelessly around the clock to keep the system running efficiently, ensuring that southeast Michigan’s waterways remain clean and protected.