What’s a muffin top?  A new recipe from the Food Channel?  Definitely not.  To learn about the muffin top, you first need to know a little about how the Clark Lake sewer system operates.  And why is this a news story?  Thank a resident who noticed major equipment mobilized at the Eagle Point sewer system yesterday (Thurs 2/9).  She asked this website to investigate.

The lift station receives the output from your grinder pump.  From there, the lift station pumps the effluent to its ultimate destination—the sewage treatment plant in Leoni Township.  That service costs Clark Lakers $274 per quarter.

What the neighbor witnessed was a massive tanker vacuuming the holding tank at the lift station.  If the lift station pumps the effluent to Leoni, why would it be necessary to pump out the tank?  The tank holds a nasty combination of what goes down the drain—gray water (shower and bath), output from toilets, and ground up remains from sink disposers.  Because grease is part of the mix, and is lighter than water, it forms a thick layer of crud over the top of the liquid.  Thus, the name “muffin top.”  If not dealt with, it could stop up the mechanics of the lift station, and halt the flow sewage on its journey out of here.

As part of their maintenance, the Township contractor, JK, arranges for the tank to be vacuumed.  They then wash out the tank and freshen it up, so it once again awaits to do its rightful duty.

This kind of work is reminiscent of another TV show, Mike Rowe’s Dirty Jobs.  This is certainly qualifies as one of those.  It was highly noticeable that the pure air of Clark Lake was temporarily replaced during the period the tank was open yesterday.  Thanks are due to the crew who repair or replace grinder pumps, attend to the lift stations, and otherwise require a very long, hot shower after a day’s work.

For a smile, go back to April 1, 2022 when this story appeared on this website.  Before clicking , please note carefully the date it was posted.