State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Clean Water Revolving Funds:
Strategic Water Quality Initiative Fund (SWQIF).
Project Plan - Benzonia and Lake Townships, Benzie County.
II. PROJECT BACKGROUND
A. Study Area Characteristics
1. Delineation of the Study Area
Attachment i: Location map of Benzonia and Lake Townships in relation to Benzie County, showing delineation exclusion of Village of Beulah and Village of Benzonia which are distinct and separate units of government.
Attachment ii: Location map of Lakes, rivers, ponds, and wetlands
Attachment iii: Location map of existing treatment facilities, effluent disposal locations, Sludge disposal sites.
Attachment iv: Location map of Population distribution (homes and businesses).
Attachment v: Location map of Parks and recreational areas.
2. Land Use in the Study Area
Attachment vi: Land Use mapping.
Benzonia Township follows County Planning.
See BENZIE COUNTY 2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN [attached as an addendum]
Prepared by the Benzie County Planning Commission October, 2000 and
BENZIE COUNTY OPEN SPACE & NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTION PLAN
Prepared by: Open Space and Natural Resources Protection Committee For the Benzie County
Planning Commission and the Benzie County Board of Commissioners April 2002:
[Chapter Four attached as an addendum]
PDF versions of both documents are available on the accompanying CD-ROM at each public respository location
Lake Township, having its own Planning and Zoning Commission, is in the process of updating its Ordinance in compliance with revised State law.
See Attached, most recent, Lake Township Comprehensive Plan at each public respository location
3. Surface and Ground Waters
Attachment viia: | Attachment viib | Attachment viic : Water Resource mapping.
Watersheds; Public water wells; Municipal Water Systems with delineated Wellhead Protection Areas; Agricultural Water Use; Glacial Aquifers; Glacial Aquifer draw down; Water Table; Flood plains as mapped by FEMA.
B. Economic Characteristics
Median Annual Household Income: Benzonia Township
$22,271 [1990] | $32,837 [2000] | 47.4% change 1990-2000
In 1999 dollars $28,905 | $32,837 | 13.6%
Benzonia Township's main economic base relies on travel and tourism related enterprises, retail, manufacturing and commercial activity tied to the US31 corridor.
Median Annual Household Income: Lake Township
$26,429 [1990] | $46,979 [2000] | 77.8% change 1990-2000
In 1999 dollars $34,301 | $46,979 | 37%
Lake Township has minimal retail, manufacturing or agricultural activity. The economic base depends heavily on tourism and natural environment based income generation.
For full demographic breakdown please refer to:
Attachment viii: 2000 and 1990 Decennial Censuses Benzonia Township, Benzie County, MI
and:
Attachment ix: 2000 and 1990 Decennial Censuses Lake Township, Benzie County, MI
The principle trend, and concern, which lead to the creation of this project is the rise in population and housing developments in Benzie County, and, in particular, the increasing wastewater treatment problems in those areas bordering major water resources. The economy of both Townships is dependent on maintaining the environmental integrity of these water resources.
In 2006 National Wildlife Federation in conjunction with Center for Environment and Population published its U.S. State Reports on Population and the Environment -Michigan.
A copy in PDF format is available here:
[ Households
For the past decade Michigan experienced a 10% increase in housing units, similar to the 10.1% growth in housing for the Midwest as a whole, but slightly lower than the national growth of 13.3% in the same period. During this time, Michigan's population increased by only 6.9%, reflecting the shift to smaller household sizes. Indeed, 386,353 new housing units were built for only 384,423 new residents. Second home development plays a minor role in increased housing development, yet Michigan ranks fourth in the country with 234,000 seasonal, recreational, and occasional-use homes, representing 5.5% of the state's housing stock.
Since every household tends to have certain minimum possessions, occupy a certain minimum amount of space, and emit a minimum amount of pollutants, an increase in the number of households can significantly increase environmental impacts even when the population as a whole is not growing at a fast rate.
Projections
Michigan's population is projected to slowly increase in the decades to come, adding a total of 755,728 people over the next 30 years and then stabilizing between 2025 and 2030. Even though the population as a whole will increase, growth is expected only in the 45 years of age and older population, with the under 18 population decreasing 6% and the 65 and older population increasing by 70.7%.32It is expected that the majority of population growth will occur in the outlying fringes of the metropolitan areas, specifically within the Southeastern and Western sections of the Lower Peninsula.
High growth rates are also likely to continue in the northwestern corner of the Lower Peninsula, .......... ]
Benzie, at 39.4%, is now the 2nd fastest growing County in Michigan. In addition to the growth in residences, each summer there is roughly a tripling of seasonal population. Since this region of the state is a desirable tourist destination as well, there are periods in the summer when seasonal population multiplies six to seven times over.
Future projections in the study area show a trend toward increased planned unit development which will require the consideration of additional wastewater services based on this Project Plan.
Future projections within the initial service areas indicate that adjoining properties are likely to experience the same load and limiting conditions driving participation in this application. However, as this is a voluntary participation project for immediate need, the Project Plan can address those future needs but may not request funding at this time. Future additional SWQIF applications are anticipated as property owner requests arise.
C. Existing Facilities
The existing facilities in the study area consists of approximately 2370 on-site septic systems and 217 holding tank (pump and haul) systems serving both residential and commercial properties. Additionally, there are 11 community on-site systems that currently serve approximately 160 residential units. This brings the total numbers of existing septic facilities to 2598. There are no municipally owned community treatment facilities within the study area. The physical condition and age of the existing facilities vary widely. A total of 662 (25.5%) of the systems have been installed in the last 10 years, while approximately 450 systems (17.3%) predate the Benzie County Environmental Health Regulation which was first passed in 1968. The remainder of these septic systems, 1486 (57.2%), range in age from 11 to 39 years of age.
The great majority of septic systems installed since 1968 are septic/drainfield installations generally ranging in size from 800 gallon septic tanks with a 450 square foot drainfield to 1600 gallon septic tanks with a 900 square foot drainfield. Since 1990 pressure distribution systems have been routinely constructed at sites that require pumping septic tank effluent to a more elevated location to meet isolation or soil requirements of the county Environmental Health Regulations. There are currently about 175 of these systems operating in the study area. Pre-1968 systems were typically installed as a 500 septic tank and a 500 gallon drywell. In addition to these systems, there are eight advanced treatment systems within the study area. These systems where permitted in areas that did not meet the conventional Environmental Regulation, but did meet the Benzie County Alternative Treatment System Regulations. These systems were designed to reduce Total Inorganic Nitrogen and Phosphorous discharges from the household effluent stream.
Seasonal residents compose 22.1% (573) of the total housing units in the study area. This issue, along with the very nature of living in a resort community tends to reduce overall effluent volumes. It is estimated that 250 gallons of septic tank waste is discharged into the environment each day of household occupancy. Daily, over 649,500 gallons of effluent could potentially be discharged into the soil if there is full occupancy. The waste that is generated is typical of household septage, although since there are a large number of holding tank systems, this component is very similar to residential sewage concentrations. County wide, the ratio of holding tank waste to septic tank waste is three to two. Since the study area has a higher percentage of holding tanks compared with septic tanks, the study area ratio closer to two to one.
Currently, the Betsie Lake Utility Authority (BLUA) Sewage Treatment Plant receives septic tank and holding tank effluents that are pumped in the study area. Act 381 of Public Acts of 2004 require all septic tank and holding tank wastes generated with 15 radial miles of a treatment plant that accepts that waste to be disposed of in a treatment facility and not be land disposed. All of the study area falls within that 15 mile radius. Since the adoption of Act 381 in 2004 and the opening of the BLUA facility, there has been a reduction in pumping frequency in both septic and holding tank systems. It is believe that the increased cost of pumping, approximately 100%, has discouraged that pumping
D. Need for the Project
The study area is served by the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department. A review of permit information indicates that there have been 23 septic system hydraulic failures in the two townships in the last five years (2002-2006). Although this number is not unusually large in and of itself, it does account for nearly a third of all failures in Benzie County over that time period. The main causes of failure were increase in water useage, system submergence in a seasonal high water table and lack of system maintenance. The average age of system failure was 22.5 years. It should be noted that in the study area, sand and loamy sand predominate. Experience indicates that the hydraulic failure of systems in this area of the county is minimized by these course soils. A substantial concern deals with the functional failure of on-site systems that are located near bodies of water. Ground and surface water receives a great portion of the impact, and that is not reflected in this failure information.
The Benzie County Environmental Health Regulation has a section that requires upgrading of substandard septic systems at the time of change of ownership. During the past five years, a total of 41 compliance failures were found at the change of ownership inspection process that is carried out by the Health Department. Reasons for findings of non-conformance include inadequate isolation distance from the groundwater, inadequate system size and improper isolation from surface water or wells. The two townships that comprise the study area consistently have the highest rate of non-compliance of the counties 12 townships. This is caused by the fact that the study area has more lakefront homes as well as a higher percentage of soils that have high seasonal water tables. ( United State Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. Web Soils Survey See: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov
Attachment xii. Also see: BenzieCo_Soils_WW_Class.pdf )
A concern has arisen over the last 20 years in that many summer residents have converted their summer homes into year round residences. Most summer home conversions include increased amenities such as dishwashers, laundry facilities, hot tubs and garbage disposals. This conversion has increased septic waste loading in the existing on-site systems and created a greater concern for the water resources that brought the resident to the area in the first place. Homeowners throughout the study area have been searching for methods of on-site septic treatment that protect the water resource and are affordable.
Benzie County, as a whole, was the second fastest growing county in Michigan from 1990 to 2000 with a 31.1% growth rate. The county continues to grow at the rapid pace of 10.3% from 2000 to 2005 according to Northwest Michigan Council of Government estimates. Specifically, from 1990 to 2000, Benzonia Township increased 18% and Lake Township increased 25%. Those two townships continued there growth from 2000 to 2005 at 5.6% and 9.4% respectively. The fact that the study area has rather widespread growth and really no specific areas of growth concentration makes this a complicating factor in considering sewer projects. In reviewing the topography of the study area, there are also obvious physical limiting geographical factors.
The proposed initial service area addresses those residential areas with the highest number of holding tanks and limiting conditions.
The Platte Lake Improvement Association (PLIA) filed suit in the 1990's against the MDEQ based on phosphorous discharges from the Platte River Fish Hatchery. This hatchery is approximately ten miles upstream from Platte Lake. A settlement agreement reached in 2000 required the MDEQ to reduce the discharge of phosphorous into the Platte River. Each year, the 350 members of the PLIA receive a report that informs them of the phosphorous loading that has occurred in the previous year. A great emphasis on the importance of phosphorous and its impacts on inland lakes make Platte Lake residents especially sensitive to the need to minimize phosphorous sources. Although exact nutrient budgets are not known for phosphorous inputs from on-site septic systems on Platte Lake, phosphorous reduction in any new septic systems will need to be strongly considered.
Finally, a recent concern has arisen in the last two years in the study area. With the 100% ($125 to $250) increase in costs of pumping septic and holding tank systems, there has been an increase in reports of individuals failing to pump there septic and holding tanks. The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department staff has indicated that there has been an increase in complaints of holding tanks over flowing to the ground surface. The fact that there are over 200 holding tank systems in the study area makes policing each and every on a difficult task. It is foreseen that this problem will increase as costs continue to increase. This will likely increase the concern for public health in the study area.
Respondents to the public participation survey have reported, even with extreme water use conservation, costs exceeding $350 per pump out every 5-6 weeks.
©2007 NWMOWTF