Flooding disables key sewer facility in Cadillac, officials urge residents to limit water use

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CADILLAC, Mich. — Floodwaters have knocked out critical equipment at a sanitary sewer lift station serving the west side of Cadillac, leaving officials urging residents to significantly reduce water usage until repairs can be made.

According to local authorities, rising floodwaters overtook the lift station located near Division and Lesson streets, disabling both the transformer and pumps essential for moving sewage to the treatment facility. The outage affects all properties connected to the municipal sanitary sewer system west of the facility, including those served by the Lake Mitchell Sewer Authority.

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Officials emphasized that all water entering household drains — including water from private wells — flows into the sanitary sewer system if the property is connected, adding to the strain on the already compromised infrastructure.

Crews worked overnight to protect the facility by placing sandbags and building sand berms. A portable industrial generator was also brought in, but floodwaters ultimately breached those defenses and rendered the station inoperable.

Emergency response efforts are now focused on pumping out floodwater, securing replacement pumps, and reconnecting power through a generator. Officials say those steps will take an undetermined amount of time.

In the meantime, residents in the affected areas are being asked to reduce sanitary sewer use as much as possible, ideally stopping nonessential water use altogether, due to the temporary inability to transport sewage for treatment.

The county emergency manager has been notified, and requests for assistance have been made. Authorities say updates will be provided as more information becomes available.