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Residents press Grosse Pointe Farms over persistent sewage odors; city says filters and contractor evaluation under way
Summary
Multiple residents told the City Council they have faced daily sewage odors for weeks; the city and the Southeast Macomb Sanitary District said they are evaluating odor control systems, have hired a consultant, and expect activated carbon filter beds to be replaced as early as January.
GROSSE POINTE FARMS, Mich. — During public comment at the Dec. 8 meeting, residents described persistent sewage odors near a sanitary pump station and urged faster action from the city and the Southeast Macomb Sanitary District.
David Pitts, who said he has lived in the area for 24 years, told the council the smell has been a near‑daily problem and has affected his family’s ability to use their yard. “I smell sewage all the time... I can't even sit in my yard. My wife has asthma,” Pitts said on the record.
Mayor and city staff acknowledged the problem and said the city is working directly with the Southeast Macomb Sanitary District. Shane (city staff) said the district has hired Environmental Consulting Services (ECS) to evaluate the odor control system and that the district is fast‑tracking replacement of activated carbon (GAC) filters. “As early as January, those filter beds will be replaced with new GAC filters,” Shane said, adding that the city is also having engineers review the city's own pump stations to rule out contributing sources.
Councilmember Ritchie asked staff for a timeline and requested the city provide a status update to Mr. Pitts and other affected residents in 90 days. Staff agreed to a monthly public update while the district tests and implements fixes. Several residents asked whether the city has authority to force changes; staff replied that the pump station in question is operated by the Southeast Macomb Sanitary District and leased property limitations complicate unilateral city action, but that the district has been cooperative in obtaining quotes and moving quickly.
City staff and residents also discussed potential causes — a prolonged dry period reducing flow through the system, the age of some equipment, and a large nearby construction project that has altered flows. Residents asked whether the city had records of illegal dumping; one resident said he had video and offered to provide footage to staff.
What the city will do next
City staff committed to the following steps: coordinate with Southeast Macomb and ECS to complete the odor system evaluation, fast‑track replacement of the GAC filters, run a parallel review of city pump‑station systems, and provide monthly updates to affected residents. Council asked for a 90‑day follow‑up to assess progress.
Provenance: public comment and staff response recorded at the Dec. 8 council meeting.
