Oakland County water officials outline $570M in 2025 projects and new trenchless sewer repairs

The Water Resource Commissioner delivered the office’s annual drain report to the county’s Economic Development & Infrastructure Committee, emphasizing a strategy of maintaining and reinvesting in aging water, sewer and storm systems rather than building new infrastructure. The commissioner said Oakland County relies on roughly $21 billion worth of water infrastructure and reported more than 150 active projects in 2025 representing over $570 million in investment.

The presentation highlighted three projects as illustrations of that strategy. Jen Cook, assistant chief engineer and project manager, described a Huron Rouge sanitary pipeline rehabilitation in Novi. Condition inspections found hydrogen‑sulfide damage along roughly three continuous miles of 36‑inch pipe, prompting a decision to use a trenchless cured‑in‑place pipe (CIPP) method to install a new lining without open excavation. “This method allowed us to install like‑new pipe without digging a single hole,” Cook said, noting the approach minimizes community disturbance and accelerates work.

Cook also described upgrades at 16 small sewer pump stations serving the Village of Lake Orion. The existing equipment had reached the end of its service life and two pressurized pipes originally laid on the lake bed were replaced using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to bore under the lakebed and avoid disturbance to the shoreline. The upgrades include new piping, instrumentation and equipment intended to reduce backups and overflows.

Lynn Seymour, chief engineer for environmental permitting and erosion control, outlined green stormwater infrastructure installed at the Georgia retention/treatment basin in Madison Heights: planting 18 native trees, creating a rain garden able to capture about 22,000 gallons per rainfall, and converting over three acres of turf to native prairie to reduce mowing and long‑term maintenance. Seymour said the project was partially funded by a $95,000 ZMCOG planning assistance grant that nearly covered rain garden construction and supports the county’s sustainability plan goals.

Committee members applauded the focus on resilience and coordination with local communities. After questions from commissioners, including site specifics and funding sources, Commissioner Johnson moved and Commissioner Smiley supported a motion to receive and file the WRC presentation; the committee approved the receipt and filing unanimously.

The report underlined the WRC’s emphasis on planning, condition assessment and targeted reinvestment to limit system failures and reduce the scope of emergency repairs.