Bronson rolls out multi‑phase sewer lining, grouting and pipelining project to cut inflow and infiltration

Bronson City Manager Brandon Merman on the recording announced a multi‑phase sanitary sewer rehabilitation project set to begin in December 2024 to address decades‑old pipes and reduce groundwater and stormwater entering the system.

Merman said most of the city’s sewer system was constructed in the 1950s and 1960s and is now roughly 60 to 70 years old, which has left joints and cracks that allow inflow and infiltration (I/I). He described 2019 smoke testing used to find defects where groundwater or stormwater enters the sewer lines.

City officials told residents the wastewater treatment plant has a permit limit of 5 million gallons per day and that wet months can drive excess flows. According to Merman, the city is under an enforcement order with the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to reduce I/I below that permit level.

The project is funded in part by state low‑interest loans, Merman said; the recording includes an estimated cost statement that is unclear in the transcript. The city will perform lining and grouting to plug leaks and extend pipe life as a less‑disruptive and less expensive alternative to full pipe replacement.

Merman explained how the methods work: lining forms a new, watertight interior layer that bolsters the old pipe, while grouting fills voids in surrounding soil and seals joints. He said properly lined pipes can deter tree roots, reduce leaks and maintain structural integrity without wholesale excavation.

The work will proceed in phases. The initial grouting phase will use two to four trucks and crews working at manholes across the city; residents should expect localized lane closures and temporary noise or odors but minimal broader disruption. The city expects to begin work in December 2024, with the first phase continuing into 2025. Pipelining is scheduled to start in March 2025 and run through June or July 2025; those operations may require short service interruptions where lines are taken offline to reline sections, generally for less than a day.

Where open cutting is required because lining or grouting is not feasible, crews will excavate and repair those sections and also line manhole structures, Merman said. Residents in affected areas will receive door tags explaining the work and any service outage windows.

Merman asked for patience while the work proceeds, saying the efforts are intended to prevent sewer backups and ensure continued wastewater service for households and businesses. "This work is important to ensure you do not have sewer backups in your homes or places of business and that the wastewater continues to flow," he said.

The city will provide progress updates on its website and Facebook page and directed questions to City Hall at (517) 369‑7334. The announcement closed with thanks to residents for their cooperation.