New Sewer Connection at Lakeland High Expected

White Lake Township and Huron Valley Schools are looking to update a sewer connection that runs along the Bogie Lake corridor between and Commerce Road. 

The township, school district and county are working on the design phase of a sewer connection that would replace the sewage system along the border of Lakeland High School. This new system would connect to the Commerce sewer treatment plant. Currently, the high school has it's own treatment plant and retention pond.

Right now, professionals from the Oakland County Water Resources Commission come out to inspect the current treatment system and retaining pond an average of “once per week,” Janet Roberts, director of community relations for the district, said.

“They monitor the groundwater and make regular visits,” Roberts said.

The new sewer connection will make it so that commission professionals and other sewer and water professionals will no longer have to manage treatment of the sewage on-site at Lakeland, said Mike McAdams, White Lake Township Storm and Sanitary Sewer Director.

The new technology will allow the sewage to be managed at a wastewater treatment plant in neighboring Commerce Township.

The design plan for the new connection is being developed now but will have to go through several approvals, McAdams said. If approved by the township board, it will need to be reviewed by the Oakland County Resources Commission and then taken out to bids. 

Until the bid process begins, it is not clear what this project would cost, although the township has estimated a cost of around $700,000. It would likely still be a couple of months before the new sewer connection is installed. 

McAdams said this system upgrade would reduce the likelihood of issues that could come up with the retention pond and current sewer system which has been in place for several years.

“I’m not aware of any recent problems there (at the school) but this would be an upgrade from a technological standpoint. I know (the district) wanted to have it done before the start of the school year but that likely won’t happen," he said.

Lakeland High School was constructed in 1974 and the school has rid itself of sewage waste using the retention pond over the past 37 years.

On Wednesday, the White Lake Township Board of Trustees approved the transfer of funds from its improvement revolving fund to the sewer fund to supplement the sewer project, and a proposal from engineering firm Johnson and Andersaon for the sewer. The project will be paid for by a combination of funds from the township and the school district.