Sewage Enters Trench Used to Repair Detroit-Area Sinkhole
FRASER, Mich. (AP) — Officials say about 1.5 million gallons of sewage flowed into a trench used to repair a sewer line that collapsed and created a sinkhole north of Detroit.
The Macomb County Public Works Office says no one was in the trench at the time of the incident overnight Monday. There were no injuries.
The office said Wednesday about 9 feet of sewage initially filled the bottom of the trench but it later diminished to 6 feet. It says no sewage entered any local waters. It’s being pumped out and returned to the sanitary sewer system.
It says three vehicles at the bottom of the trench were completely submerged.
It’s not clear what caused the spill.
Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller calls it a “setback” in the work to repair the sinkhole.
Related News
From Archive
- Inside Sempra’s 72-mile pipeline with 18 major trenchless crossings
- Trump vetoes bill to finish $1.3 billion Colorado water pipeline
- PHMSA warns of heat risks in aging plastic gas distribution pipelines following deadly Pennsylvania explosion
- Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
- OSHA seeks $1.2 million fine after fatal trench collapse in Connecticut
- Worm-like robot burrows underground to cut power line installation costs
- First tunnel boring machines complete testing for Hudson Tunnel Project
- Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
- Construction jobs stumble into 2026 after weak year
- NWPX grows water infrastructure portfolio with Colorado precast facility

Comments