The City of Mason continues to work with its neighboring communities to clean up our rivers, streams and lakes. Mason and 19 other communities are working on a watershed management plan and the resulting action plan to decrease the amount of pollutants that run off the streets and land during rain storms and snow melts.

Part of the watershed plan is to eliminate the discharge of water that is not normal rain, or ground water into the Sycamore Creek. All illicit discharges must be located and stopped. City crews began locating and identifying all the pipes that drain into the Sycamore this past summer. As the pipes were located, observations were made as to what was coming out of each pipe at the time. During the dry season, there should be very little water coming out of a storm sewer pipe. If there is water draining from a storm pipe, it should be clean and clear without any odor (personally, I would not taste it).

Our crews will be working on this illicit discharge program for years to come, but we are also asking residents to report any suspicious looking discharge. After a storm, the sewer pipes may run dirty water for 2 to 4 days. This is a normal. But, if it has not rained for several days and a storm pipe is seen discharging a lot of water, or if it does not look like clean water (in other words, it may be colored, have a look of gas and oil, strong odor, or evidence of sanitary waste), please contact the City of Mason so that we may investigate the problem.

The telephone numbers to call are as follows:
Mason Public Works: 676-1319 7:00 am to 3:30pm
Mason POTW Plant: 676-1166, ext. 202, weekdays 7:00 am to 3:30 pm; or
City Hall: 676-9155, weekdays 8:00 am to 5:00 pm;
After hours, contact 676-2458.

If suspicious looking storm water discharges are observed in either the Willow Creek, or the Rayner Creek drains, contact the Ingham County Drain Commission office.
 

Joe Dean, D.P.W. Director