Northville Township

Live. Work. Play.

The Friends of the Rouge is another nonprofit organization in the Rouge River Watershed that supports improvement in water quality. They provide various events and educational opportunities throughout the year. Please click here to visit their website to learn more and get involved in protecting our environment.

All rain water that falls on your yard eventually ends up in the Johnson Creek/Rouge River and finally the Lake Erie. Keeping your yard free of contaminants helps prevent pollution. The tip cards to the right identify simple steps you can take to help improve the local water quality.

To follow the rain water from your home – click here to be directed to our maps.

Septic Maintenance Webinar  - FREE!

Sponsored by the Alliance of Rouge Communities

Mon, Nov 4, 2019 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM EST

Please join the webinar from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
​https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/585412933

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/585412933

Rouge Rescue 2019
Northville Township partnered with the Friends of the Rouge to construct a Rain Garden at Moraine Elementary School. Rain gardens are a beautiful storm water quality and quantity control garden. They accept storm water with the intent to be infiltrated or absorbed by the plants instead of running off to our creeks, and rivers. Thank you to the various groups that planted the garden as well as to the wonderful volunteers at Moraine that will keep it maintained and watered this summer!






Many opportunities are available to volunteer or become educated in the environment, specifically as it relates to storm water quality and improvement. 


therouge.org/rain-garden-plantings-2019

Northville Township is a member of the Alliance of Rouge Communities. This nonprofit group was established out of numerous communities in the watershed to help improve water quality in our creeks, rivers and the lakes. Please click here to visit their website for upcoming events.

Wayne County's Department of Environment is responsible for the enforcement of the state laws for soil erosion. You may report problems or concerns to the DOE at (734) 326-3936.

What Is Suspicious?

Any discharge that changes the color, texture, smell of the water or the natural surroundings.

Report suspicious discharges and Dumping to the Township Engineer at (248) 662-0497, or contact Wayne County's 24 hour hotline at (888) 223-2363 or The MDEQ at (800) 662-9278 (non-emergency) or (800) 292-4706 (emergency). If in doubt, call!

Please click on the following link to see how Fats, Oils and Grease can be handled properly. 

 FOG Brochure

Catch basins – what are they? Catch basins serve to remove rain water from streets and yards and are part of the storm sewer system which transports water directly to our local creeks and rivers. This year Northville Township would like to assist you girl scout or boy scout troop earn their badges! By participating in a decaling project you will be promoting environmental stewardship.

If you have a group that would like to learn more and participate in a decal project – contact Department of Public Service at (248) 348-5830.

Human waste can be transported to the Johnson Creek and Rouge River from failing or unmaintained septic systems. This is a PUBLIC HEALTH and SAFETY ISSUE. Failure of residents to properly maintain and correct their systems may result in the extension of sanitary sewers. Please contact the Health Department to have an inspection of your septic field performed. Identifying and correcting these items now may save you thousands later. (Health Department’s phone number is: (734) 727-7448).


Signs of a Failing Septic System
-Odors, surfacing sewage, wet spots or lush vegetation on or near the drain field.
-Plumbing or septic tank backups.
-Slow-draining fixtures.
-Gurgling sounds in the plumbing system.

If you are new to the Township and need more information on septic system maintenance, contact the engineer at (248)662-0497 or Wayne County at (734) 727-7448).

Brine instead of Rock Salt to Protect Water Quality!
Salt keeps our communities safe, by reducing both the number of vehicle accidents as well as slip and fall accidents. Unfortunately, salt doesn’t just disappear when all the snow melts; it is washed into our lakes, rivers, and streams and has an almost immediate effect on water quality. As a homeowner, consider reducing salt use by applying brine, not rock salt, before a snow storm and shoveling frequently to keep snow from accumulating. This is the best way to save your back, your knees, and the Rouge River!

Brine, a mixture of salt and water, has become a great alternative to traditional rock salt. The transition to using brine for a homeowner has minimal costs. The brine can be pre-mixed in large quantities and stored in your basement or garage. By spraying brine, you have more control over your application, so you don’t apply over the same area twice and it won’t bounce off the driveway the way rock salt can. Brine starts working much faster than rock salt due to the increased contact area with the snow. The best method is to apply the brine before a snow storm begins. Not all communities have transitioned to the use of brine on roads because there is a significant startup cost for additional equipment and storage.

HOME RECIPE FOR BRINE
What you need:
1 ½ gallons hot water
3-4 cups rock or table salt
Bucket
Sprayer

Directions: Combine salt and hot water (which helps dissolve the salt) in bucket until all salt is dissolved completely (so salt chunks don’t clog sprayer). Pour mixed brine into a sprayer and apply to sidewalk and driveway prior to a snowfall. Each gallon should cover 1,000 square feet of surface (about 200 feet of sidewalk).

The Township has an ordinance that requires detention pond maintenance for developments both residential and commercial. Each year township staff inspects 20% of the sedimentation and detention ponds located in our community. The goal is to maintain the functionality of the systems which improves storm water quality and reduces the quantity during storm events. 

The following actions will assist our residents in the maintenance of these systems:

Sweep Your Streets – Removing sediment (dirt) and debris from the streets keeps it out of the ponds.

Clean your storm catch basins – Sumps in the catch basins fill with debris. Cleaning them keeps the debris out of the pond!

Maintain the outlet stone – Ensure the stone is clean and free of vegetation and sediment.

Clean the pond inlets – remove any sediment that makes its way to the pond at the inlet (storm sewer end section)