Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Program

CSO Compliance Program

The City of St. Joseph is nearing completion of a decades-long combined sewer overflow (CSO) compliance program required by the Federal Clean Water Act.  The CSO compliance program schedule is dictated by a CSO National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit, which is regulated and enforced by the Michigan Department of Great Lakes, Environment and Energy (EGLE).  Over the life of the program, the City has requested and received multiple extensions to complete the final corrective measure, the construction of the storage tank.  A link to the City's current CSO NPDES permit is available under the Supplemental Documents section below.

Notice of Public Meeting - FY27 CWSRF Project Plan Update

A public meeting will be held in City Commission Chambers as part of the regular City Commission Meeting on April 6, 2026, at 6 pm to discuss the proposed FY27 Clean Water State Revolving Loan Program Update. The project plan update is required for the City to be eligible for a low-interest loan through the State Revolving Loan Fund.  The FY27 CWSRF Project Plan Update includes the construction of a CSO Storage Tank at Public Works and renovations to the Hawthorne Lift Station at its current location.  The estimated cost of the work proposed to be funded through the low-interest loan program is $22,600,000.  Construction of the CSO Storage Tank is expected to commence in the early summer of 2027.  The estimated rate increase for a typical user is approximately $19.29 per month; however, the cost could be lower if the storage tank size is reduced based on a hydraulic study, which is currently underway.

A link to the project plan is included in the Supplemental Documents section below.

Additional Background

Phase I of the CSO Storage Project was completed in the Spring of 2025, laying the groundwork for the future CSO Storage tank construction.

There have been numerous alternatives analysis conducted over the life of the CSO compliance program.  The most recent analysis was presented at a public meeting held on June 28, 2023, in City Commission Chambers.  The recommended alternative of an above-ground storage tank, located next to the Public Works facility at 1160 Broad Street, was presented at that meeting.  The City Commission approved the above-ground storage tank recommendation during the November 13, 2023, regular meeting to take advantage of low-interest loan funding for phase I of the CSO Storage tank work.

A video of the June 2023 public meeting is available for viewing here:  https://youtu.be/XPp-WVlR3sQ