The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1941-06-11
Drain Plan
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Urdln ran
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area affords little natural drain
age.
Undoubtedly ranking as the
largest single coordinated sew
age system in the world the plan
ties drainage facilities of major
portions of the three counties
into one huge network concen-
trating on the Detroit Disposal
plant located on the west side of
the city.
ENORMOUS COSTS
Preliminary cost estimates of
the plan list a minimum expend-
iture of $4,700,000 to construct
only the outline structure of
mains and interceptors.
Not only does the situation in
volve a health menace of a mag
nitude which has alarmed Fed
eral authorities, but its solution
also holds the key to the con-
tinued expansion and operation
of the innumerable industrial
defense plants locating in War
rem Township, to the continued
unprecedented population
growth of the area and to the
present large-scale recreational
plans.
Surveys of the problem have
drawn, with the simple facts of
the situation, dismal picture
of stagnant pollution flooding
natural streams and spreading
sluggishly down the shoreline
past the drinking water intakes
of Metropolitan Detroit which
returns the processed water to
homes in the largest portion of
the area.
MENACES FUTURE
Left unchecked, the Stream
Control Commission declares the
problem will in less than three
years time be beyond control
as a result of the accelerated
rate of growth.
In view of the urgency OF
solution to the problem such as
is offered by the master drain
plan. surprising opposition to the
plan has developed. Aside from
the financial arrangements to
construct the required mains
there are other obstacles still to
be hurdled.
The fact that the plan ignores
and county boundar-
les develops the question of To-
cal control over the facilities.
With the plan, all communities
served would become part Of the
Detroit operated system.
ABSORBING STUDY
Consideration of the plan adj
vanced by the Stream Control
Commission and now being
worked out in detail by special
Committee representing all COM
munities in the area, presents an
absorbing study.
The ramifications of the en-
cheering problem alone offer
material for deep consider
alton. the financial structure
to maintain such system touch
es all residents of the area and
is dependent on q direct-charge
system made necessary by the
fact the plan goes beyond gov
ornamental unit boundaries. And
the possibilities. both adverse
and favorable, which might re-
suit from construction of the
network offers another broad
field for. conjecture and inter-
probation.
THREAT TO DEFENSE
How q failure to solve this
problem would virtually halt all
defense plan production in the
vital Warren Township indus
trial area with wide repercus-
sions can be easily traced. The
staggering possibilities Of this
avenue of consideration alone
have caused major concern in
Federal circles since the tre-
mendous investment in the two
huge arsenals alone would be
sunk without recovery.
The Huron-Clinton Parkway
plan which is under proposal Is
directly dependent on solution
of this situation. The plan which
would form a major recreational
section of the area is definitely
blocked by the pollution now
coursing through the natural
streams.
In later articles. these various
considerations Of the project
will be dealt with specifically
in a series which forms the first
complete presentation of the far
reaching plan.
ERT COVvEY ON THE MASTER-DRAlN
PLAN WILL APPEAR IN NEXT
WEDNESDAYS EDITION OF THE
DAILY MONITORo