Sanitary Sewer Service

Many Bath Charter Township residents are connected to the public sanitary sewer services provided by the Southern Clinton County Municipal Utilities Authority (SCCMUA). Quarterly billing for these services is conducted by Bath Township. Homes are billed by a flat rate based on a single “residential equivalent unit” or REU. The current REU rate is $114.14 per quarter (as of January 1, 2023).

The billing and payment cycle for sewer is as follows:

• January – March: Billed/Mailed on December 15; Due January 15.
• April – June: Billed/Mailed on March 15; Due April 15.
• July – September: Billed/Mailed on June 15; Due July 15.
• October – December: Billed/Mailed on September 15; Due October 15.

Sewer accounts paid after the due date are charged a 10-percent fee. For example, a late $114.14 sewer charge is assessed a $11.41 per REU penalty. Please note that failure to receive a sewer bill does not waive penalty charges. Any unpaid sewer charges from the September 15 of the prior year through the June 15 of the current year will appear on the winter tax bill.

Sewer Automatic Payment Authorization Form

Download this form to authorize Bath Charter Township to automatically withdraw your sewer payments from your bank account.

Other sewer bill payment options include:

• Mailing a check to the Township Offices
• Paying in-person at the Township Offices
• Using the Township’s 24-hour drop box
• Paying online with a credit or debit card
• Paying online with an electronic check
• Phone payment using a credit or debit card

Click here for more information and charges for online and phone payments.

Go Paperless: Quarterly Sewer E-Billing Authorization

Click above to sign up for E-Sewer Bill Mailings, or paperless bills.

Many Bath Charter Township residents are connected to municipal sanitary sewer services. Sanitary sewage generated in the Township is treated at the Clean Water Plant, which is operated by the Southern Clinton County Municipal Utilities Authority (SCCMUA). SCCMUA is a Michigan Municipal Corporation, which owns, operates and maintains a 5.0 MGD Wastewater Treatment facility in Clinton County.  SCCMUA was formed in the mid-1970s and serves the Townships of Bath, DeWitt and Watertown, as well as the City of DeWitt.

Construction of the Clean Water Plan started in September 1978 with the plant going into operation in October 1980. The Clean Water Plant cost approximately $11,000,000 to construct and is capable of treating up to 5,000,000 gallons of sanitary sewage a day.

SCCMUA discharges into the Looking Glass River in Clinton County and maintains a current National Pollutant Discharge Eliminating System (NPDES) permit.  Its capacity is shared by the four municipalities it serves.  SCCMUA is governed by a ten (10) member Board of Commissioners comprised as follows:  2 representatives from Bath Township, 2 representatives from Watertown Township, 1 representative from the City of DeWitt and 5 representatives from DeWitt Township. It currently employs fifteen full time employees and one part time employee .  SCCMUA also operates and maintains (contractually) the wastewater collection systems – lift stations (51), manholes, force main (over 30 miles), sewer collection pipes (greater than 135 miles of various line size) for the municipalities.

If you have a sewer problem or back-up, immediately notify SCCMUA at (517) 669-8311 or call 9-1-1 Emergency Dispatch after hours and state that you are reporting a sewer emergency.  Backed up sewer lines, line breaks, sewage odors and overflowing manholes are considered an emergency.

If a problem within the sewer system is found, SCCMUA is the agency responsible for determining the cause, coordinating claims, and keeping customers informed.

If the problem is in the sewer lateral, the homeowner or business is responsible for correcting the problem. The owner of the property is responsible for maintaining and cleaning the sewer lateral from the building (or home) to the sewer main, including the connection on the sewer main. Locating the lateral is also the responsibility of the property owner. SCCMUA has SOME records showing the location of these lateral lines. Several plumbers also have special locating equipment, which will be helpful.

If the problem is in the sewer lateral, you will need to call a plumber or sewer/drain cleaning service. Check the Yellow Pages. SCCMUA cannot make a recommendation. It may be in your best interest to obtain several estimates.

REMEMBER TO CALL SCCMUA FIRST before calling a plumber. They will check the sewer main and inform you of their findings. If the problem is not in the main line sewer, you will be advised to contact a plumber or sewer/drain cleaning service.