Ancient Pumping Technology Powers Modern Sewage System in St. Clair Shores and Roseville
The Macomb County Public Works Department is embracing a piece of ancient engineering to keep residents in St. Clair Shores and parts of Roseville flushing smoothly and preventing basement flooding and foul odors for years to come. Their secret? The Archimedes screw, a pumping technology that dates back over 2,500 years.
Replacing Aging Giants at Bon Heur Pump Station
At the heart of this project is the Bon Heur Pump Station, located along Harper Avenue between 10 and 11 Mile Roads. Here, four enormous Archimedes screws—also known as giant screws—have been operating for 45 years, lifting sewage over 30 feet upward between pipes as part of the local wastewater system.
Recognizing that the facility’s 45-year-old screws and their motors were nearing the end of their useful lives, the Public Works Department initiated a major upgrade. “It’s mostly been the motors wearing out,” said Operations Manager Vince Astorino during a recent tour. “We’re getting ahead of it before they stop working properly.”
Old Technology, Timeless Reliability
Though the Archimedes screw is ancient technology, it remains highly effective. Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller noted, “Even though this is sort of old technology, it works perfectly. They’re very cool. They look like giant screws.”
The technology is often credited to Archimedes of Syracuse, a 3rd-century BC Greek mathematician and inventor. However, evidence suggests that screw pumps were used centuries earlier in Egypt and Assyria, possibly as far back as the 7th century BC as irrigation tools. Known alternatively as the water screw, Egyptian screw, or hydrodynamic screw, this design moves water or sewage by turning a helical surface inside a pipe.
Project Scope and Funding
The $8.7 million project to replace the screws and update related equipment is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), utilizing part of the $40 million allocated to Macomb County’s Public Works from the county’s nearly $170 million ARPA share. Miller emphasized that this funding approach means water and sewer rates will not need to be increased due to this upgrade.
In addition to the screws and motors, the project includes replacing slide gates, electrical control systems, a standby generator, and a jib crane. New additions include an upstream flow meter, epoxy lining of the discharge chamber’s concrete surfaces, and an odor control system designed to eliminate unpleasant smells emanating from the facility.
Engineering and Installation Details
Each screw weighs more than eight tons and varies in size from approximately 6.5 feet to nearly 11 feet wide. Installed vertically at an angle, the screws move sewage from a north-south pipe under Harper Avenue to an east-west line that carries it south to the Great Lakes Water Authority treatment plant in Detroit.
The upgrade also boosts pumping capacity from 40,000 to 50,000 gallons per minute. The new emergency generator will be more powerful, supporting continuous operation.
To maintain uninterrupted service, the screws are being replaced one at a time, ensuring that three pumps remain operational throughout the process. The first pump was removed in September, with the new replacement scheduled for arrival shortly.
Project Progress and Timeline
Preliminary work on the project began about a year ago, with on-site construction starting roughly six months ago. Officials anticipate that the upgrades will be completed within a year.
This blend of ancient innovation and modern engineering highlights how time-tested technology can continue to meet contemporary infrastructure needs, ensuring residents in the St. Clair Shores and Roseville areas experience reliable, odor-free sewage service for years ahead.
