Dec. 10 2025 Sanitary Sewer Overflow Notification

On the afternoon of Dec. 9, 2025, the City of Ann Arbor received a report of a basement sewer backup in the Water Hill neighborhood. City crews were dispatched and during their investigation, staff identified a separate issue in the vicinity: a nearby utility cover was found to be surcharging, allowing sewage to rise to the surface and escape from beneath the cover.

At this time, there is no indication the surcharge at the utility cover caused the basement backup that was originally reported. The two events were observed concurrently, but current information suggests they are not directly connected. Approximately 120 gallons of sewage flowed from the surcharged cover into the street gutter and ultimately into the nearest storm drain.

City staff applied lime to all affected surfaces to neutralize potential bacteria and will continue to review system data and field conditions to verify the causes of each issue.

In accordance with regulatory protocols, City of Ann Arbor staff contacted the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to inform them of this incident.

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Media Contact: 

Jennifer Lawson, Water Resources Manager, jlawson@a2gov.org  | 734.794.6430 x43735