This is the first of a two-part series on addressing Cape Cod's worsening water pollution. Read the second part here.

Pat Uhlman lives across the street from Shubael Pond in Barnstable. The round pond is ringed by trees and most days crystal clear.

WBUR produced this series in collaboration with Scientific American.

"Its so beautiful," she said. "I get up in the morning, I open my drapes, and if the sun is already up, the pond is glistening."

But a couple of years ago, the glistening pond turned a milky green. It was a cyanobacteria bloom, known more commonly as "toxic algae." Toxic algal blooms can make people sick if they ingest the water and are especially dangerous for dogs and small children. Concerned, Uhlman paddled her kayak into the pond to see how far the algae had spread.

"I kayaked around and I was leaving a trail you could see where the kayak had cut through the slime," she said. "You feel almost scared, like, 'What is going on?' And that it's never going to clear up and that the pond is dying."

Uhlmans pond did clear up that fall, but algal blooms are an ongoing problem on the Cape. Even the more common, nontoxic growths are destructive, creating low-oxygen dead zones that kill fish and native plants. Now, 90% of Cape Cod's coastal bays and more than a third of its ponds have "unacceptable" water quality, according to the nonprofit Association to Preserve Cape Cod's annual State of the Waters report.

"We've seen a significant deterioration of our bays to the point where they're designated as impaired, where we don't have shellfish, we don't have finfish," said Barnstable town manager Mark Ells.

The pollution comes primarily from septic systems, which leach nitrogen and phosphorus basically fertilizer in the Cape's groundwater. The state has tough new regulations that are forcing communities on the Cape to clean up the water. And towns are now grappling with the cleanup's enormous price tag: in Barnstable alone, cleanup will cost more than a billion dollars.

It's a critical moment for Cape Cod. The Cape has more than 550 miles of coastline, at least 890 freshwater ponds and 53 small saltwater bays bordering the ocean. That water is the Cape's raison d'tre: residents and visitors use it for swimming, boating and fishing, and it formsthe backbone of the region's $1.4 billion tourism industry. Now Cape Cod communities are scrambling for solutions before their ecosystems, economies and property values collapse.

"Most of our own personal financial wellbeing is intimately tied to the Cape continuing to be an attractive place to live. And so, as individuals we're all at an enormous risk," said Andrew Gottlieb, executive director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod.

"People like Cape Cod and want to come to Cape Cod, and to a certain extent, they're loving it to death."

In the 1950s, Cape Cod was sleepy and semi-rural, with about 50,000 full-time residents. But the Cape's population boomed in the second half of the 20th century. Now there are about 230,000 year-round residents, and more than 5 million visitors during the summer.

All those people bring money, crowds and epic traffic jams. They also create something that most people don't think about: wastewater. About 85% of Cape Cod properties use septic systems to manage household waste, and experts say the technology is not up to the job.

"We rely on 19th century technology to get rid of our wastewater," said Gottlieb, who lives in Mashpee. "We all basically have a hole in the backyard and our wastewater flows into it."

The main component of a septic system is a large underground tank. Water from a home's sinks, washing machine and toilets flows into the tank and sits there. The solids sink to the bottom and the liquid percolates out into the ground. That nutrient-rich liquid flows quickly through the Cape's sandy soil to bays and ponds where it feeds the growth of invasive weeds and toxic algae. The process is amped up by climate change.

"What do you need to grow plants? Heat and water and nutrients. We've added the nutrients and we're turning up the heat," Gottlieb said. "So those two things have come together and are really causing problems."

Septic systems usually work fine in rural areas, where houses are spread out. In much of Cape Cod, that's no longer the case.

"We have a large population living here," said Ells. Barnstable is the Cape's commercial center and largest town, with about 50,000 year-round residents. The town's population triples in the summer.

Most experts agree that best way to stop wastewater pollution in a big, densely packed town like Barnstable is to stop using septic tanks where possible and switch to sewage pipes and that's what the town is doing. It has begun a massive expansion of the sewer system, extending service to 12,000 properties, building pump stations and upgrading its treatment plant.The project will take 30 years and cost an estimated $1.4 billion.

The price tags are high for smaller Cape Cod communities as well. The town of Orleans, for example, is building a new treatment plant for about $34 million and expanding sewer lines for millions of dollars more. Mashpee is spending $54 million on the first phase of its "clean water plan" to build a new treatment plant and wastewater collection system. It's unclear how much the full system will cost.

And there's another cost: seemingly non-stop construction on the Cape's already over-trafficked roads.

"A lot of people would say cost is the challenge, and it is a challenge," said Ells. "But the fact that construction is very disruptive is an enormous challenge as well."

Most Cape Cod towns only do roadwork in the shoulder seasons, to avoid disrupting summer tourist traffic. That means projects take longer to finish. Pat Uhlmans neighborhood by Shubael Pond will get hooked up to Barnstable's sewer, but not for a couple decades. Uhlman says thats too long to keep polluting the water.

"If we don't start cleaning it up now, you might not even want to walk down by that pond by then," she said.

A lot of Uhlmans neighbors feel the same way. So instead of waiting decades for the sewer line, theyre getting new improved septic systems now. The systems are designed to remove nitrogen before it gets into the groundwater.

"This is really just a waste treatment system that's actually in the ground, in your house," said Zenas Crocker, executive director of the nonprofit Barnstable Clean Water Coalition. "This system is so successful that in the data that we're seeing now, it will remove between 95 and 97% of nitrogen going into the groundwater."

Crockers group has installed more than a dozen systems in Uhlmans neighborhood as part of a pilot project to measure exactly how well the so-called "innovative/alternative" septic systems work. The systems installed in Uhlman's neighborhood are designed to work in conjunction with existing septic tanks, and they look pretty low tech. There's a cement tank the size of a minivan with two compartments, one filled with wood chips and the other with limestone rocks. Water flows from an existing septic tank into this one, where the rocks and wood chips create ideal conditions for bacteria that consume nitrogen, converting it to a harmless gas before it gets into the groundwater.

There are some drawbacks. There are many designs for advanced septic systems; some are unproven or may lose effectiveness over time. They also don't remove phosphorous or other contaminants like PFAS.

And these systems are expensive.Upgrading an existing system like the installations in Uhlman's neighborhood costs roughly $30,000. And completely replacing a traditional septic system for a single-family home with a nitrogen-filtering system could cost $35,000 or more, about twice as much as a traditional system. The Barnstable Clean Water Coalition raised money to install the systems by Shubael Pond at no cost to homeowners, but that's not an option for the whole Cape. Many residents have expressed concern about the cost and feasibility of the new regulations.

All Cape Cod communities with affected waterways have to clean up their wastewater under the new state regulations. Many communities are experimenting with low-cost solutions to curb nitrogen pollution, like oyster bed and cranberry bog restoration, which help filter nutrients out of groundwater; restrictions on using lawn fertilizer; and even urine diversion or "pee-cycling." But most experts believe that some combination of improved septic tanks and sewer systems will provide the bulk of the solution.

Brian Baumgaertel, director of Barnstable County's Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center, said sewers are the gold standard for removing contaminants but aren't right for every community.

"Here on Cape Cod, we have areas that are dense where sewering would make sense because it's economical," he said. "And then we have vast swaths of Cape Cod that are so sparse in population or even moderate density where the cost of running sewering pipe down the road in all of those neighborhoods is incredibly cost-prohibitive."

Both improved septic tanks and sewer systems come with big price tags. Theres government money to subsidize both. But some costs will still fall on homeowners probably in the range of tens of thousands of dollars.

"This is a really expensive process," said Uhlman. "But the Cape economy is still people coming here in the summer. If they can't swim in our ponds, they can't swim in our ocean, they can't boat, there's not going to be any reason for them to come here."

----

The documentary short was supported by the Pulitzer Center.

See more here:
Cape Cod needs to clean up its water. The solutions could cost billions - WBUR News

Septic Pumping

We make pumping your septic tank and easy, painless, efficient procedure. Septic tank pumping services are available year round. Call 585.359.9330 to set up your appointment.

Need a new septic system? We have been designing and installing septic systems in the Greater Rochester Area since 1961.

We have been trained and certified through the Onsite Training Network (OTN), SUNY Delhi, and NYSDEC sponsored Inspection of Existing Onsite Residential Wastewater Treatment Systems training course.

We are here for you for all your emergency septic needs. Call us at 585.359.9330.

A properly maintained septic system and a healthy, clean environment in your yard and property is just a phone call away! At Barefoot Septic & Sewer, Inc. we make pumping your septic tank an easy, painless, efficient procedure.

We have been designing and installing septic systems in the Greater Rochester Area since 1961. We have the equipment and expertise needed to trouble-shoot your system and advise you of the necessary repairs.

A septic inspection is required when selling a home with a septic system. We have developed a septic inspection procedure that is clear and thorough and is sure to satisfy all parties involved in the real estate transfer process.

Barefoot Septic & Sewer offers services such as: Sewer and drain cleaning, pump station service, site work ( basement excavation, Water line installation, sewer line installation) and more.

24-Hour Emergency Service Call 585.359.9330

Barefoot Septic & Sewer, Inc. was established in 1961 and incorporated in 1991. For over half a century, we have been developing personnel and equipment to meet our customers needs promptly, efficiently, and at responsible prices. We are prepared to meet all of your septic system needs including installation, repair, maintenance, and septic inspections.

Barefoot Septic & Sewer, Inc. proudly serves ALL of Monroe County and the Rochester, NY area (including Ogden, Pittsford, Riga, Rush, Spencerport, Wheatland, Webster) and ALL of Livingston County (including Avon, Caledonia, Consesus, Dansville, Geneseo, Groveland, Leicester, Lima, Livonia, Mt. Morris, Nunda, Ossian, Portage, Sparta, Springwater, West Sparta, York) as well as eastern Genesee County, Western Ontario County, northeastern Wyoming County, southeastern Orleans County, and western Wayne County... and many more! Call 585.359.9330 to set up your appointment.

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If your home is not connected to the public sewer system, all the wastewater your home generates is treated by an Individual wastewater treatment system, commonly called a septic system.

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Barefoot Septic & Sewer | Installation, Pumping and Service in ...

Who doesnt love discussing the topic of alternative waste management?From septic tanks to sewer systems, the manner in which you dispose of human waste and water from your toilets, showers, dishwashers, washing machines, and floor drains is sometimes a matter of choice and other times a matter of home location.

Regardless of which system you currently have, understanding how both waste management options function and the way in which they impact your home is must-know information for any homeowner.

If youve already been doing your research, are you still wondering which option is better for you?

Truth be told, both options have their pros and cons depending on the location of your home. The following are a few differences between the two options and examples of why some homeowners prefer one option over the other.

Septic Tanks Septic systems are considered a bit more environmentally friendly since they dont require chemicals to clean the water.

Waste water is typically filtered through the ground, shedding bacteria through this natural filtration system. However, septic tanks must be pumped out every 3 to 5 years, and at times more often, depending on the size of the tank and the amount of waste water being produced within the home.

This expense can add up, but it is a necessity, and having it done professionally is vital to the longevity and proper upkeep of the septic system.

Sewer System Sewer systems require less regular maintenance by the homeowner and are typically less sensitive to non-human waste that is commonly flushed down sewer pipes.

Even when maintenance is required, a majority of the time, it is covered by your local municipality and can be dealt with by a simple phone call to your local public works department.

However, sewer systems are not free, so homeowners will pay for their sewer service just like they pay for water and electricity.

The most important thing to understand when discussing septic tanks versus sewer systems is that if trouble arises with a septic tank, the homeowner is usually on their own to address the situation.

From overflow to simple malfunction, a septic tank on the fritz is the sole responsibility of the homeowner to deal with and correct.

Making the switch from septic to sewer is definitely possible but must be approached properly in order to avoid unnecessary headaches.

If you are thinking about switching from septic to sewer, the first thing to do is contact your local municipality to see if a sewer line runs close enough to your home/property to make the switch possible.

Once it is confirmed that it is possible, the next step is to obtain the necessary building permits to avoid any local violations and potential fines associated with unauthorized construction projects.

At his point, you need to contact a licensed plumbing and excavation expert to facilitate the installation of sewer piping that will connect your tank to the nearest sewer line.

Following these steps may seem difficult and overwhelming, but if you plan and approach the installation process appropriately, connecting your home to the public sewer system is a relatively simple procedure typically taking only a few days to complete.

Working with reliable plumbing and excavation professionals will ensure all the labor-intensive work is handled, including running the new line and taking care of the draining and disabling of your old septic tank.

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As previously stated, the first order of business is to obtain all of the necessary permits to begin the job. This will include any tie-in fees that your municipality charges to connect to the existing sewer line, but a professional plumbing and excavation expert can help you identify what type of connecting pipe is needed and what initial costs are required.

Here is a more in-depth breakdown of whats required to connect to the citys sewer line:

Cleanouts are typically required every 90 feet of pipe and there are additional steps required, depending on where your home is located, such as placing stone around the pipe throughout the installation.

In addition to our expert sewer pipe repair services in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio areas, we can help homeowners proceed as quickly and cost effectively as possible when switching from a septic to sewer system.

As long-standing plumbing and excavation experts, we can help you get the ball rolling. Always standing behind our work, we work hard to provide a seamless, expertly run process.

Lets get in touch today:

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Septic to Sewer: How to Connect Sewer Line to City - Invisible Excavations

Septic to Sewer Conversions | Port St. Lucie

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Solid Waste Update: New waste and recycling service began the week of Sept. 5; learn your new collection day.

Please remember to place all of your carts at least 3-feet apart from each other and anything that may block the collection truck. Make sure the handles face your house.

Government Departments Utility Systems

Avoid flushing certain items to prevent clogs and protect the sewer system.

The City uses a low-pressure wastewater disposal system that helps move wastewater from your home to the City's sewer collection system and then on to a wastewater treatment facility. Watch the video to learn about your home's sewer system, how it works and how to keep it working properly.

Through Port St. Lucies Septic to Sewer ConversionProgram, our goal is to connect homes and businesses currently on septic systems to the citys wastewater collection and treatment system.

The reduction and elimination of septic systems is one way we can proactively improve the health of our local waterways, inclusive of the North Fork of the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon.

Connect to Protect our community's...

More than 8,800 residents have made the connection from septic to sewer since 1999. On average, Port St. Lucie has completed 350 conversions annually. From application to installation completion, theentire process takes 40 to 46 weeks with minimal interruptions to your sewer service.

Schedule an in-person appointment, or request the paperwork be mailed to you, by calling the Connection Support Office in City Hall at 772-873-6400 or emailutility@cityofpsl.com.

Note: All property owner signatures will need to be notarized if youre choosing to take advantage of the interest free, 10-year payback program. Learn More

Septic systems have limited life spans and frequently fail, impacting the environment and the community's water quality. When you Connect to Protect, youll have the satisfaction of knowing you are part of the solution to reduce pollution and help protect our waterways.

Effective January 1, 2022, the cost to convert an existing septic systems is $5,937, or 120 monthly (interest free) payments of $49.48.Customers are also responsible for paying a $90 sewer deposit and document recording fees of $32.50 with their application. Take the first step by calling one of the Citys friendly and knowledgeable Utility Connection Support Specialists at 772-873-6400.

More than 50 wastewater technicians and support staff are solely dedicated to keeping our sewer system working properly. The health and safety of your family is the City's top priority. Some of the biggest challenges staff faces is maintaining our wastewater system. You can help by keeping fats, oils and grease (FOG), wipes, plastics, needles and garbage, etc. out of our sewer system.

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Sewage collection system of pipes and tunnels designed to also collect surface runoff

A combined sewer is a type of gravity sewer with a system of pipes, tunnels, pump stations etc. to transport sewage and urban runoff together to a sewage treatment plant or disposal site. This means that during rain events, the sewage gets diluted, resulting in higher flowrates at the treatment site. Uncontaminated stormwater simply dilutes sewage, but runoff may dissolve or suspend virtually anything it contacts on roofs, streets, and storage yards.[1]:296 As rainfall travels over roofs and the ground, it may pick up various contaminants including soil particles and other sediment, heavy metals, organic compounds, animal waste, and oil and grease. Combined sewers may also receive dry weather drainage from landscape irrigation, construction dewatering, and washing buildings and sidewalks.

Combined sewers can cause serious water pollution problems during combined sewer overflow (CSO) events when combined sewage and surface runoff flows exceed the capacity of the sewage treatment plant, or of the maximum flow rate of the system which transmits the combined sources. In instances where exceptionally high surface runoff occurs (such as large rainstorms), the load on individual tributary branches of the sewer system may cause a back-up to a point where raw sewage flows out of input sources such as toilets, causing inhabited buildings to be flooded with a toxic sewage-runoff mixture, incurring massive financial burdens for cleanup and repair. When combined sewer systems experience these higher than normal throughputs, relief systems cause discharges containing human and industrial waste to flow into rivers, streams, or other bodies of water. Such events frequently cause both negative environmental and lifestyle consequences, including beach closures, contaminated shellfish unsafe for consumption, and contamination of drinking water sources, rendering them temporarily unsafe for drinking and requiring boiling before uses such as bathing or washing dishes.[2]

Mitigation of combined sewer overflows include sewer separation, CSO storage, expanding sewage treatment capacity, retention basins, screening and disinfection facilities, reducing stormwater flows, green infrastructure and real-time decision support systems.

This type of gravity sewer design is less often used nowadays when constructing new sewer systems. Modern-day sewer designs exclude surface runoff by building sanitary sewers instead, but many older cities and towns continue to operate previously constructed combined sewer systems.[3]

The earliest sewers were designed to carry street runoff away from inhabited areas and into surface waterways without treatment. Before the 19th century it was commonplace to empty human waste receptacles, e.g., chamber pots, into town and city streets and slaughter animals in open street "shambles". The use of draft animals such as horses and herding of livestock through city streets meant that most contained large amounts of excrement. Before the development of macadam as a paving material in the 19th century, paving systems were mostly porous, so that precipitation could soak away and not run off, and urban rooftop rainwater was often saved in rainwater tanks. Open sewers, consisting of gutters and urban streambeds, were common worldwide before the 20th century.

In the majority of developed countries, large efforts were made during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to cover the formerly open sewers, converting them to closed systems with cast iron, steel, or concrete pipes, masonry, and concrete arches, while streets and footpaths were increasingly covered with impermeable paving systems. Most sewage collection systems of the 19th and early to mid-20th century used single-pipe systems that collect both sewage and urban runoff from streets and roofs (to the extent that relatively clean rooftop rainwater was not saved in butts and cisterns for drinking and washing.) This type of collection system is referred to as a "combined sewer system". The rationale for combining the two was that it would be cheaper to build just a single system.[4]:8 Most cities at that time did not have sewage treatment plants, so there was no perceived public health advantage in constructing a separate "surface water sewerage" (UK terminology) or "storm sewer" (US terminology) system.[2]:pp. 23 Moreover, before the automobile era, runoff was likely to be typically highly contaminated with animal waste. Further, until the mid-late 19th century the frequent use of shambles contributed more waste. The widespread replacement of horses with automotive propulsion, paving of city streets and surfaces, construction of municipal slaughterhouses, and provision of mains water in the 20th century changed the nature and volume of urban runoff to be initially cleaner, include water that formerly soaked away and previously saved rooftop rainwater after combined sewers were already widely adopted.

When constructed, combined sewer systems were typically sized to carry three[2]:pp. 24 to 160 times the average dry weather sewage flows.[5]:136 It is generally infeasible to treat the volume of mixed sewage and surface runoff flowing in a combined sewer during peak runoff events caused by snowmelt or convective precipitation. As cities built sewage treatment plants, those plants were typically built to treat only the volume of sewage flowing during dry weather. Relief structures were installed in the collection system to bypass untreated sewage mixed with surface runoff during wet weather, protecting sewage treatment plants from damage caused if peak flows reached the headworks.[6]

These relief structures, called "storm-water regulators" (in American English - or "combined sewer overflows" in British English) are constructed in combined sewer systems to divert flows in excess of the peak design flow of the sewage treatment plant.[6] Combined sewers are built with control sections establishing stage-discharge or pressure differential-discharge relationships which may be either predicted or calibrated to divert flows in excess of sewage treatment plant capacity. A leaping weir may be used as a regulating device allowing typical dry-weather sewage flow rates to fall into an interceptor sewer to the sewage treatment plant, but causing a major portion of higher flow rates to leap over the interceptor into the diversion outfall. Alternatively, an orifice may be sized to accept the sewage treatment plant design capacity and cause excess flow to accumulate above the orifice until it overtops a side-overflow weir to the diversion outfall.[5]:112114

CSO statistics may be confusing because the term may describe either the number of events or the number of relief structure locations at which such events may occur. A CSO event, as the term is used in American English, occurs when mixed sewage and stormwater are bypassed from a combined sewer system control section into a river, stream, lake, or ocean through a designed diversion outfall, but without treatment. Overflow frequency and duration varies both from system to system, and from outfall to outfall, within a single combined sewer system. Some CSO outfalls discharge infrequently, while others activate every time it rains.[2]:pp. 23,24

The storm water component contributes pollutants to CSO; but a major faction of pollution is the first foul flush of accumulated biofilm and sanitary solids scoured from the dry weather wetted perimeter of combined sewers during peak flow turbulence.[7] Each storm is different in the quantity and type of pollutants it contributes. For example, storms that occur in late summer, when it has not rained for a while, have the most pollutants. Pollutants like oil, grease, fecal coliform from pet and wildlife waste, and pesticides get flushed into the sewer system. In cold weather areas, pollutants from cars, people and animals also accumulate on hard surfaces and grass during the winter and then are flushed into the sewer systems during heavy spring rains.

CSO discharges during heavy storms can cause serious water pollution problems. The discharges contain human and industrial waste, and can cause beach closings, restrictions on shellfish consumption and contamination of drinking water sources.[2]

CSOs differ from sanitary sewer overflows in that the latter are caused by sewer system obstructions, damage, or flows in excess of sewer capacity (rather than treatment plant capacity.)[2]:Ch.4 Sanitary sewer overflows may occur at any low spot in the sewer system rather than at the CSO relief structures. Absence of a diversion outfall often causes sanitary sewer overflows to flood residential structures and/or flow over traveled road surfaces before reaching natural drainage channels. Sanitary sewer overflows may cause greater health risks and environmental damage than CSOs if they occur during dry weather when there is no precipitation runoff to dilute and flush away sewage pollutants.

About 860 communities in the US have combined sewer systems, serving about 40million people.[8] Pollutants from CSO discharges can include bacteria and other pathogens, toxic chemicals, and debris. These pollutants have also been linked with antimicrobial resistance, posing serious public health concerns.[9] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a policy in 1994 requiring municipalities to make improvements to reduce or eliminate CSO-related pollution problems.[10] The policy is implemented through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The policy defined water quality parameters for the safety of an ecosystem; it allowed for action that are site specific to control CSOs in most practical way for community; it made sure the CSO control is not beyond a communitys budget; and allowed water quality parameters to be flexible, based upon the site specific conditions. The CSO Control Policy required all publicly owned treatment works to have "nine minimum controls" in place by January 1, 1997, in order to decrease the effects of sewage overflow by making small improvements in existing processes.[11] In 2000 Congress amended the Clean Water Act to require the municipalities to comply with the EPA policy.[12]

Mitigation of combined sewer overflows include sewer separation, CSO storage, expanding sewage treatment capacity, retention basins, screening and disinfection facilities, reducing stormwater flows, green infrastructure and real-time decision support systems. For example, cities with combined sewer overflows employ one or more engineering approaches to reduce discharges of untreated sewage, including:

The United Kingdom Environment Agency identified unsatisfactory intermittent discharges and issued an Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive requiring action to limit pollution from combined sewer overflows.[14] In 2009, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment adopted a Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent including national standards to (1) remove floating material from combined sewer overflows, (2) prevent combined sewer overflows during dry weather, and (3) prevent development or redevelopment from increasing the frequency of combined sewer overflows.[15]

Rehabilitation of combined sewer systems to mitigate CSOs require extensive monitoring networks which are becoming more prevalent with decreasing sensor and communication costs.[16] These monitoring networks can identify bottlenecks causing the main CSO problem, or aid in the calibration of hydrodynamic or hydrological models to enable cost effective CSO mitigation.

Municipalities in the US have been undertaking projects to mitigate CSO since the 1990s. For example, prior to 1990, the quantity of untreated combined sewage discharged annually to lakes, rivers, and streams in southeast Michigan was estimated at more than 30billion US gallons (110,000,000m3) per year. In 2005, with nearly $1billion of a planned $2.4billion CSO investment put into operation, untreated discharges have been reduced by more than 20billion US gallons (76,000,000m3) per year. This investment that has yielded an 85 percent reduction in CSO has included numerous sewer separation, CSO storage and treatment facilities, and wastewater treatment plant improvements constructed by local and regional governments.[17]

Many other areas in the US are undertaking similar projects (see, for example, in the Puget Sound of Washington).[18] Cities like Pittsburgh, Seattle, Philadelphia, and New York are focusing on these projects partly because they are under federal consent decrees to solve their CSO issues. Both up-front penalties and stipulated penalties are utilized by EPA and state agencies to enforce CSO-mitigating initiatives and the efficiency of their schedules. Municipalities' sewage departments, engineering and design firms, and environmental organizations offer different approaches to potential solutions.

Some US cities have undertaken sewer separation projects building a second piping system for all or part of the community. In many of these projects, cities have been able to separate only portions of their combined systems. High costs or physical limitations may preclude building a completely separate system.[19] In 2011, Washington, D.C., separated its sewers in four small neighborhoods at a cost of $11million. (The project cost also included improvements to the drinking water piping system.)[20][21]

Another solution is to build a CSO storage facility, such as a tunnel that can store flow from many sewer connections. Because a tunnel can share capacity among several outfalls, it can reduce the total volume of storage that must be provided for a specific number of outfalls. Storage tunnels store combined sewage but do not treat it. When the storm is over, the flows are pumped out of the tunnel and sent to a wastewater treatment plant.[17] One of the main concerns with CSO storage is the length of time it is stored before it is released. Without careful management of this storage period, the water in the CSO storage facility runs the risk of going septic.[clarification needed][citation needed]

Washington, D.C., is building underground storage capacity as its primary strategy to address CSOs. In 2011, the city began construction on a system of four deep storage tunnels, adjacent to the Anacostia River, that will reduce overflows to the river by 98percent, and 96percent system-wide. The system will comprise over 18 miles (29km) of tunnels with a storage capacity of 157million US gallons (590,000m3).[22] The first segment of the tunnel system, 7 miles (11km) in length, went online in 2018. The remaining segments of the storage system are scheduled for completion in 2023.[23] (The city's overall "Clean Rivers" project, projected to cost $2.6 billion, includes other components, such as reducing stormwater flows.)[24] The South Boston CSO Storage Tunnel is a similar project, completed in 2011.

Indianapolis, Indiana, is building underground storage capacity in the form of a 28-mile (45km) 18-foot (5.5m) diameter deep rock tunnel system which will connect the two existing wastewater treatment plants, and provide collection of discharge water from the various CSO sites located along the White River, Eagle Creek, Fall Creek, Pogue's Run, and Pleasant Run.[25] Citizens Energy Group is managing the efforts to construct the first phases of the work, which includes a 250-foot (76m) deep Deep Rock Tunnel Connector between the Belmont Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Southport Wastewater Treatment Plant. Additional tunnels will branch under the existing watercourses located in Indianapolis. The planned cost for the project will total $1.9 billion dollars.[26]

Fort Wayne, Indiana, is constructing a 4.5-mile (7.2km), 14-foot (4.3m) diameter, $180M tunnel under the 3RPORT[27] (Three Rivers Protection and Overflow Reduction Tunnel) to address the myriad CSOs which outfall into the St. Mary's, St. Joseph, and Maumee Rivers. The 3RPORT is approximately 160 feet (49m) below grade, and is anticipated to enter service in 2023.

Some cities have expanded their basic sewage treatment capacity to handle some or all of the CSO volume. In 2002 litigation forced the city of Toledo, Ohio, to double its treatment capacity and build a storage basin in order to eliminate most overflows. The city also agreed to study ways to reduce stormwater flows into the sewer system. (See Reducing stormwater flows.)[28]

Retention treatment basins or large concrete tanks that store and treat combined sewage are another solution. These underground structures can range in storage and treatment capacity from 2million US gallons (7,600m3) to 120million US gallons (450,000m3) of combined sewage. While each facility is unique, a typical facility operation is as follows. Flows from the overloaded sewers are pumped into a basin that is divided into compartments. The first flush compartment captures and stores flows with the highest level of pollutants from the first part of a storm. These pollutants include motor oil, sediment, road salt, and lawn chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) that are picked up by the stormwater as it runs off roads and lawns. The flows from this compartment are stored and sent to the wastewater treatment plant when there is capacity in the interceptor sewer after the storm. The second compartment is a treatment or flow-through compartment. The flows are disinfected by injecting sodium hypochlorite, or bleach, as they enter this compartment. It then takes about 2030minutes for the flows to move to the end of the compartment. During this time, bacteria are killed and large solid materials settle out. At the end of the compartment, any remaining sanitary trash is skimmed off the top and the treated flows are discharged into the river or lake.[17]

The City of Detroit, Michigan, utilizes a system of nine CSO retention basins and screening/disinfection facilities that are owned and operated by the Great Lakes Water Authority. These basins are located at original combined sewer outfalls located along the Detroit River and Rouge River within metropolitan Detroit. These facilities are generally designed to contain two inches of stormwater runoff, with the ability to disinfect overflows during extreme wet-weather rainfall events.

Screening and disinfection facilities treat CSO without ever storing it. Called "flow-through" facilities, they use fine screens to remove solids and sanitary trash from the combined sewage. Flows are injected with sodium hypochlorite for disinfection and mixed as they travel through a series of fine screens to remove debris. The fine screens have openings that range in size from 4 to 6mm, or a little less than a quarter inch. The flow is sent through the facility at a rate that provides enough time for the sodium hypochlorite to kill bacteria. All of the materials removed by the screens are then sent to the sewage treatment plant through the interceptor sewer.[29]

Communities may implement low impact development techniques to reduce flows of stormwater into the collection system. This includes:

CSO mitigating initiatives that are solely composed of sewer system reconstruction are referred to as gray infrastructure, while techniques like permeable pavement and rainwater harvesting are referred to as green infrastructure. Conflict often occurs between a municipality's sewage authority and its environmentally active organizations between gray and green infrastructural plans.[citation needed]

The 2004 EPA Report to Congress on CSO's provides a review of available technologies to mitigate CSO impacts.[2]:Ch. 8

Recent technological advances in sensing and control have enabled the implementation of real-time decision support systems (RT-DSS) for CSO mitigation. Through the use of internet of things technology and cloud computing, CSO events can now be mitigated by dynamically adjusting setpoints for movable gates, pump stations, and other actuated assets in sewers and storm water management systems. Similar technology, called adaptive traffic control is used to control the flow of vehicles through traffic lights. RT-DSS systems take advantage of storm temporal and spatial variability as well as varying concentration times due to diverse land uses across the sewershed to coordinate and optimize control assets. By maximizing storage and conveyance RT-DSS are able to minimize overflows using existing infrastructure. Successful implementations of RT-DSS have been carried out throughout the United States [30][31][32] and Europe.[33]

Real-time control (RTC) can be either heuristic or model based. Model-based control is theoretically more optimal,[34] but due to the ease of implementation, heuristic control is more commonly applied. Generating sufficient evidence that RTC is a suitable option for CSO mitigation remains problematic, although new performance methods might make this possible.[35]

There is in the UK a legal difference between a storm sewer and a surface water sewer. There is no right of connection to a storm-water overflow sewer under section 106 of the Water Industry Act.[36]

These are normally the pipe line that discharges to a watercourse, downstream of a combined sewer overflow. It takes the excess flow from a combined sewer. A surface water sewer conveys rainwater; legally there is a right of connection for rainwater to this public sewer. A public storm water sewer can discharge to a public surface water, but not the other way around, without a legal change in sewer status by the water company.

Combined sewer systems were common when urban sewerage systems were first developed, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[3]

The image of the sewer recurs in European culture as they were often used as hiding places or routes of escape by the scorned or the hunted, including partisans and resistance fighters in World WarII. Fighting erupted in the sewers during the Battle of Stalingrad. The only survivors from the Warsaw Uprising and Warsaw Ghetto made their final escape through city sewers. Some have commented that the engravings of imaginary prisons by Piranesi were inspired by the Cloaca Maxima, one of the world's earliest sewers.

The theme of traveling through, hiding, or even residing in combined sewers is a common plot device in media. Famous examples of sewer dwelling are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Stephen King's It, Les Misrables, The Third Man, Ladyhawke, Mimic, The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, and Jet Set Radio Future. The Todd Strasser novel Y2K-9: the Dog Who Saved the World is centered on a dog thwarting terroristic threats to electronically sabotage American sewage treatment plants.

A well-known urban legend, the sewer alligator, is that of giant alligators or crocodiles residing in combined sewers, especially of major metropolitan areas. Two public sculptures in New York depict an alligator dragging a hapless victim into a manhole.[38]

Alligators have been known to get into combined storm sewers in the southeastern United States. Closed-circuit television by a sewer repair company captured an alligator in a combined storm sewer on tape.[39]

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Combined sewer - Wikipedia

Sewer Line Repair Cost

The average cost to repair a main sewer line is $3,818 with most homeowners spending between $2,250 and $5,750. A full sewer line replacement ranges from $8,000 to $30,000, or $50 to $200 per linear foot, depending on the length and width of sewer pipe needed.

Finding sewage pipe leaks in a residential area costs an average of $480 (for up to 40 feet) if the leaks can only be found by digging, and $641 for a commercial area. Sewer pipe repair includes the initial cost of pipe-locating services to detect sewage and water leaks, breaks, and stoppages in the pipes. Depending on the complexity of the damages, a full replacement may be needed.

Sewage backing up into your home, driveway, or yard can cause an unbearable smell which can lead to water damage. The sludge creates a biohazard if it's not taken care of right away by a sewer service. To quickly diagnosis the problem, schedule an in-pipe video camera inspection.

Sewer line replacement costs $50 to $200 per foot on average. Small pipe replacements start at $3,000 to $6,000, or $5,000 to $13,000 on more than 50 feet of sewer pipe. If there are multiple leaks under the foundation and the sewer system must be replaced, costs go up to $30,000.

Other options include the trenchless pipe bursting method for $60 to $300 per foot or cured-in-place pipe lining (CIPP) for $75 to $250 per foot. The total cost for replacing the sewer line in a residential area depends on many factors that are specific to your home.

If the city must become involved because there are more complicated damages that may affect other homes or the citys pipes, they will charge a baseline of $3,000 or more. This fee includes excavation, re-compaction, and repairs to the street, but does not include capacity fees and other fees based on the type of sewer repair required. The capacity fee is a one-time charge for connecting to the citys sewer and water system.

Depending on where you live, the local sanitation district may demand strict requirements on the repairs, which may cost you more. Additional costs required at street level (for commercial repair) can be for the manhole lining, paved utility hole frame and cover, asphalt pavement restoration, and traffic management.

A new sewer lining costs between $26 and $107 per foot with most spending $1,040 to $4,280 for up to 40 feet, which includes excavation and backfill. Pricing depends on the location of the pipes, and whether it's PVC, cast iron, lead, or Orangeburg pipes being replaced.

Orangeburg pipes disintegrate, as they are made from wood pulp. A professional will be able to determine if trenchless lining is best for fixing Orangeburg pipes. Trenchless piping costs $75 to $250 per linear foot and will line the old pipes, so they dont need to be dug up.

The integrity of a cast-iron pipe is compromised when sewer repairs are made. A full replacement is the best way to go with this type. Flanged cast-iron drain pipe will cost $23 to $75 per linear foot for 4 to 12 pipe, with a minimum replacement charge of $3,000 for labor, fittings, valves, and accessories. A backhoe is needed to lift the heavy pieces in and out, and digging and backfill are not included in this price.

Only certain parts of sewer lines need to be replaced. Clay, Orangeburg, or cast iron are used in pipes for older homes. As new technology comes out in the sewer line industry, better materials are being used to make pipes. Some sewer line contractors will offer money to take the old pipes, as the material can be reused. The preferred pipes for drain lines in a home are ABS pipes made from rubber-based resins, which range in price from $1.87 to $5.35 per foot for 10 sections.

The main sewer line and lateral sewer replacement from house to street costs between $3,000 and $7,000 on average. Costs depend on the trenching and removal of existing pipes, and the size of pipe you need to match the main line. A lateral sewer refers to the part of a sewer pipe on a homeowners property. If the plumber recommends replacing the sewer line from the house to the main in the street, the city may need to be involved.

The average cost to replace or repair a sewer line in a basement is $3,000 to $5,000, or between $60 and $200 per foot. A full replacement can be as high as $7,000 to $20,000 or more. The main reason for replacing or repairing a pipe in the basement is if there is a wastewater backup.

Outside repairs and replacements require digging trenches and excavation, and so do basements. The cement needs to be busted up to get to the pipes. Get proposals that show precisely where all the leaks are before signing anything, so you know how many repair points are required.

Make sure the plumber does a static testa hydrostatic pressure testonce the replacement work is done to make sure all the leaks have been repaired. If you have floors down, youll have to pay to redo those as well.

The cost to replace a sewer line under a slab costs $3,000 to $5,000 for smaller jobs and $15,000 to $20,000 total for larger jobs. Trenching under a slab can cost an extra $150 to $200 per foot.

To avoid breaking up the slab, a trenchless sewer line can be installed instead and costs $6,000 to $12,000. The way it works is that new lining is installed inside the old pipes, and the exterior pipes can continue breaking down while the new interior epoxy lining/pipes do their job.

Sewer trap replacement costs a minimum of $1,500. The highest cost is for excavation, replacement, connection, and backfill work. An in-pipe camera inspection can quickly determine if this is the issue, and then that section of pipe can be replaced with the new section that holds the sewer house trap.

Backups in the sewer line may be a sign of a clog but could also mean the sewer trap is clogged. You wont know until a professional can access it through your yard or homes sewer pit and take a look. A sewer trap is an integral part of the sewer system because it keeps gases from entering the house through the pipes.

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The average cost of sewer pipe repair is $1,500 to $4,500 if the problem is ten feet of pipe or less. A video camera inspection to locate the problem costs $169 to $460, while digging to locate a leak costs about $480 for a residential area and $641 for commercial.

Once the issue is discovered, the repair costs can range from $50 to $450 per linear foot. The price also depends on how much work is required to fix the problem and how difficult it is to access that portion of the pipe.

There is also the possible cost of landscape repairs if pipes must be dug up. Repairs are usually carried out these days by lining older pipes with new pipetrenchless replacement, but sometimes digging up pipes and replacing them with a conventional pipe is the only option.

Broken or cracked sewer pipe repair costs $50 to $450 per linear foot depending on the extent of the damage. Pipes usually break at the joints, which are often caused by freeze-thaw cycles in your area. When a sewer line is cracked or broken, the area is excavated and new jointed pipes are installed.

The ground around the broken sewer pipe needs to be excavated before any repairs can be addressed. You will also be charged for putting the soil back on top of the pipe and the cost of hauling away hazardous material. Excavation ranges from $33 to $68 per cubic yard, and backfill is from $11 to $19 per cubic yard. Both prices depend on how hard the soil is. On average, $255 is the cost to haul away the broken pipe material.

Removing tree roots in a sewer line costs $200 to $600 to kill them off or $50 to $450 per foot using alternative methods. Tree roots growing into a sewer line is a common problem. If there is a crack in your pipes, then its releasing oxygen and moisture into the surrounding soil which a tree root is going to start naturally growing toward.

If the root is relatively small, you can flush two pounds of sodium chloride or copper sulfate down your toilet, which will dry it out. Sodium chloride is $5.98, and copper sulfate runs $5.60 at your local hardware store. If youre looking to save money, you can dig them up yourself.

If none of these efforts work, the pipes could be dug up, along with the roots, and replaced at the cost of $50 to $200 per foot, but CIPP (pipe lining) is a cheaper alternative in this case, as there is not as much landscaping damage, difficult excavation, and cleanup to pay for.

Tree roots in a sewer line are occasionally covered by insurance. You are only covered for this if you have exceptional insurance that covers everything or you have a rider that includes sewer backup.

A sinking or collapsed drain pipe repair costs $60 to $300 per foot if pipe bursting is used to fix it. When part of a pipe sinks lower than the rest of the sewer line, it collects water and debris, eventually causing the water pressure to slow down. That section of pipe must be removed and replaced.

If the damage is extensive enough, the whole sewer line may need to be replaced. Clay or terracotta pipes in older homes cannot be salvaged as they become very fragile over time. As the earth shifts, it creates cracks in the piping and ruins its overall structure, so a full replacement is necessary for a cost of $8,000 to $30,000, depending on the width of sewer pipe and the amount of excavation needed.

The earth shifting can also cause other problems, like a sewer line sagwhen a pipe retains water even after the stopping of normal water flow. Only affected sections of piping would need to be replaced.

A main sewer line clog costs $150 to $800 on average. A professional can use a snake, which ranges from $150 to $500, or hydro jetting at $250 to $800 for more significant blockages. Prices depend on the severity of the clog, accessibility, and labor.

Any other signs like slow drainage or bad smells are usually from secondary drain lines, not the main sewer line, but these should be fixed quickly too.

Sewer drain repair costs about $160 per linear foot. While drains are installed just a few inches below the surface, they are usually under a slab, so trenchless sewer repair is preferred. The price already has the cost of labor factored into it, but a plumber may charge an additional baseline price of $43 to $150 an hour for any extra work.

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The cost of digging and replacing a sewer line is $50 to $450 per foot, or $3,000 to $6,000 on average, but could cost up to $30,000 if the whole sewage system needs to be replaced. Repairing a 10- to 15-foot section of sewer pipe costs a minimum of $1,500, or $2,500 for cast-iron pipe. This method is tedious, as the sewer contractor must avoid damaging the sewer pipes or underground utility lines.

Other additional factors which affect the price are:

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Trenchless sewer line replacement costs $80 to $255 per foot, while repairs for 20 feet of pipe from the house to the street runs about $3,200. Overall, most homeowners pay $6,000 to $12,000 for trenchless sewer line repairs because of the additional costs of shutting off the service, sewer cleaning, inspection, pipe bends, and the number of vertical holes to be made in the pipes.

Your project could cost double if any city property is involved. Trenchless sewer repairs are a way to avoid major landscaping disruption, but it does require some excavation. Pipes dont need to be dug up if they are still structurally stable. Small, vertical holes are made along the pipe line where leaks have been identified, and the repairs are made through the holes.

Another trenchless technology is cured-in-place pipe lining (CIPP), which costs $75 to $250 per foot, or about $3,000 to $4,000 for a small section of leaking pipe. For pipe lining 30 feet of drain lines in and out of a house, expect to spend around $4,875 total. Pricing includes the additional costs of shutting off the service, sewer cleaning, inspection, pipe bends, and the number of vertical holes to be made in the pipes.

CIPP is an excellent option for fixing structurally sound sewer lines instead of having to dig them up. CIPP can be used for all shapes of sewer pipe lining to avoid digging up existing pipes. They can be used on clay, fiberglass, PVC, iron steel, metal, and concrete. However, if your pipes are shallow and youre only digging up the lawn and not shrubbery or a driveway, it might be cheaper to dig them up and replace them.

Pipe bursting costs $60 to $300 per foot, or from $3,500 to $20,000 on average. As another trenchless method for replacing a sewage pipe, a tool is used to expand the old pipe until it crumbles, then those pieces are pushed farther into the soil to expand the area.

The benefit of pipe bursting is to use the old pipe as a guide for making room for the new pipe. The expanded diameter allows for easy replacement and installation. The plumber can pull a polyethylene pipe through the inside of the cracked section and then seal the two pipe ends that were cut open to gain access. This method keeps excavation to a minimum.

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Several factors go into why a sewer line is backed up or decaying, but when the repairs or replacement is done, there will be several issues that still need to be addressed. When its time to clean up the mess caused by seepage, flooding, or excavation, the cost can be high.

The cost for cleanup and restoration after sewer water damage is $2,000 to $10,000, or about $5,000 on average. The extent of the damage will largely determine the amount of debris that needs to be removedpipes, drywall, flooring, woodwork, etc. Hauling material away will cost a minimum of $550 and upwards of $2,000. The harder it is to access your property and the more debris there is to haul off, expect to pay more. You may be charged per day and not a flat rate if the crew you hired to fix the sewer line has to rent the dumpster.

A sewer camera inspection costs $125 to $500 and ensures that the technician finds out precisely what is wrong with the pipes and where. Youll be able to discuss the scope of repairs that need to be made or if a full replacement is warranted. If you suspect an older home you are interested in buying has plumbing issues, its best to get an inspection during your option period so you can negotiate with the seller on getting repairs paid for.

Make sure not to plant anything with big or fibrous roots near the sewer line. If you go with trenchless technology, then the cost to replace missing parts of the yard will cost way less than if you go with a traditional trench and sewer line.

Repaving a driveway costs from $8.50 to $8.90 per square foot, and the cost varies by how thick the concrete or asphalt needs to be. If you are building a new home, avoid paving your driveway over the septic tank, as heavy cars could crush it. Find out where the sewer main is as well, so you can prevent future issues by avoiding building near those areas.

Having to demolish structures on your property because of the sewer line is a significant project. These buildings will need to be rebuilt from the ground up.

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Cleaning out a sewer line will cost around $300 and will take care of most clogs. If a hydro jet clear-out is needed, it will cost about $225 to $575. A slow drain might mean there is a severe problem deeper within the pipes that should be taken care of immediately.

Several signs could mean a pipe is broken. If you are smelling sewer gas, have any wastewater backups, any debris coming up in the bathtub or basement, or hear percolating toilet noises, then you have a sewer pipe problem.

Check with your city to see if a permit is required to work on your sewer line, because if any damage is made to the connecting city line, you may be responsible for repairs. Even for small repairs, a permit may be required. Always comply with local permit lawsso you have your bases covered and avoid any mishaps.

Epoxy pipe lining costs $75 to $250 per foot. The epoxy coats the inside of the existing pipes so that cracks and corrosion are plugged up and coated over.

For any size crack on a sewer line, a repair should be made immediately to avoid bigger problems. Replacement will be needed if the pipe isnt structurally sound enough to repair. A professional will be able to say whether a repair or replacement is required.

Hire a plumber to repair a backflow preventer, which is crucial to keeping sewer water from coming into drinking water piping.

A sewer sleeve is another name for CIPP, or cured-in-place pipe lining replacement. It costs $75 to $250 per foot.

Descaling a sewer pipe costs about $300 and involves clearing out the inside of debris without disturbing the pipe.

Most sewer lines last 30 to 100 years. Orangeburg and clay sewer pipes last 30 to 60 years, while PVC, cast iron, and lead sewer lines last 50 to 100 years. Life expectancy depends on maintenance, soil conditions, and nearby tree roots.

A hydro jet sewer line costs about $225 to $575, but if the pipe is hard to get to or if the clog is severe, then it may cost more.

The average cost to replace the main sewer stack pipe is $3,000 $6,000. The term stack refers to a section of piping that delivers waste to the public septic system and vents septic gases outsidethe main sewer line.

Sewer line insurance costs $8 to $12 per month. Sewer line insurance protects your home against any damages from a sewer line in disrepair. It also covers repairs that need to be made to the sewer lines.

Roto-Rooter costs $225 to $500 to snake a drain, which is a lot higher than most, and most locations will charge a flat rate instead of hourly. They offer the convenience of being available 24/hours a day.

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On average, a sewer line replacement needs at least three laborers and five days to complete. There are very few repairs you can do on a sewer line without the help of a professional sewer company. This project requires several different types of wrenches, levels, pipe cutters, and sewer snakes. All these tools together will add up to around $3,150.

Most professionals will give you a free estimate and will talk you through the steps they need to take to get your pipes running correctly. Dont delay on getting professional advice for any suspicious leaks, smells, or backed-up water.

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2022 Sewer Line Replacement & Repair Costs | Main & Drain Pipe - HomeGuide

It is the responsibility of the BMC to ensure that manual scavenging does not take place. Pic: MS Gopal, Mumbai Paused

March 10 2022, is the date that Priya, 16, and her mother Laxmi, 39, will remember for the rest of their lives. On that date, Priyas father Annadurai, 50, lost his life while working in Mumbais Kandivali area. He was one of three men employed for manual scavenging, a practice that removes human excreta by hand from sewers or septic tanks. This work was supposed to pay each of them Rs 500.

Annadurai was a sanitation worker under private contractors. He was hired for work at Kandivali along with his three friends Rauf Syed, Krishnamurti and Ganpati. With no safety gear or machinery of any sort, they had to clean the septic tank of a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) toilet.

Annadurai first stepped inside the tank to clean it, but couldnt tolerate the smell and fell unconscious. Rauf and Ganpati met with the same fate in an attempt to rescue him; the three died due to asphyxiation.

The practice is rooted in the Hindu caste system, whereupon dominant caste groups force members of the Scheduled Castes (SC) to perform such acts. A total of 58,098 people were identified as manual scavengers late last year. Caste-related data was available only for 43,797 of them out of which 42,594 (97.25%) belonged to SC communities, 421 belonged to the Scheduled Tribes, and 431 to Other Backward Classes.

Manual scavenging was banned in 1993 and is a punishable offence under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. The cleaning of septic tanks falls under BMCs Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) and the de-silting and cleaning of sewers are the responsibility of BMCs Sewerage Operations Department (SOD).

Non-profit organisations manage BMC toilets. I dont know if they hire private contractors who further hire manual labour, but BMC uses de-sludging machines for septic tank cleaning. The cases (of manual scavenging) that you may have heard were not hired by BMC, but private contractors, says SWMD Chief Engineer Bharat Torne.

However, the Commissioner of the Social Welfare Department Dr Prashant Narnaware stresses that it is the responsibility of a local corporation, in this case, the BMC, to see to it that manual scavenging should not occur in the first place. Municipal Corporations need to see to it that they give the contract to such people who do not promote any kind of manual scavenging. It is their responsibility, he says.

Read more: Despite law prohibiting manual scavenging, practice rampant in the city

BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal and Additional Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar, under whose jurisdiction SWM falls, remained unavailable for comment. Speaking about septic tank cleaning at residential buildings, SWMDs former Chief Engineer (who did not wish to be named) says, BMC uses machines for septic tank cleaning (of residential buildings) in suburbs and partly within the city. Most buildings that have septic tanks are in the suburbs, buildings within city limits are largely sewer connected. He adds that many societies hire private contractors to cut costs and this leads to cases of manual scavenging.

Meanwhile, SODs Executive Engineer Sudhir Kenia says it is only in exceptional circumstances that a man is asked to enter the sewer. They are trained divers and theyre sent with a proper body suit and safety gear, he says.

We have enough machines across Mumbai to clean the lines under SOD. We are following the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers Act while cleaning sewers. There have not been any deaths while cleaning sewers under SOD in the last 10 years. The cases that exist have happened in private places or elsewhere, says Kenia.

Laxmi is a recovering TB patient and cleans utensils at a restaurant and in households in the area. We didnt know there is a law against such practices until now, she says. When asked how life has been since the incident, Priya says, We are surviving because my mother works. I have completed my 10th this year but havent been able to continue studies, because the fees are high.

If Annadurai was alive, his daughter wouldve been able to study further right now. I dont want her to work, I want her to study. She is my only child, she is my life now. Anyhow, I will ensure that she can study ahead, says Laxmi.

The family called themselves Harijan, a term sometimes used to describe Scheduled Caste communities. It is unfortunate that people do not know this practice has been outlawed. It is our job to publicise it, we cannot allow our fellow human beings to be involved in any kind of degrading work. That is very wrong, says Dr Narnaware.

Among the four friends, only Krishnamurthi returned home alive. The contractor was arrested and soon released on bail. Krishnamurthi was also arrested for being an accomplice, because he had taken the three to the contractor as the middleman. He too got bail soon after his arrest.

The safety gear was going to arrive but the three decided to get inside before that, Krishnamurthi claims. Raufs nephew Yusuf vehemently opposed this statement. All the victims were interviewed together in Mankhurd, where they reside. This was for the first time that Yusuf and Annadurais family realised that the other man whose arrest they had heard of, was none other than Krishnamurthi. The contractor should have first ensured the safety gear and then sent the labourers there, Yusuf tells Krishnamurthi.

The families claim that apart from a few people from various NGOs, no official has come to speak to them. We knew he was a cleaner but had no idea about the extent of his work. After his death, we were told we would be getting some kind of compensation but nothing like that has happened, says Syed Abdul Hameed, Raufs brother who does embroidery work.

The compensation for death due to manual scavenging is Rs 10 lakh, which the state government is liable to pay. Official figures claim that 971 people died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks from 1993 to 2022 across the country, out of which Rs 10 lakh compensation has been given to the families of 703 victims. 136 victims received less than Rs 10 lakh.

In Maharashtra, the data claims a total of 43 people died from 1993 to 2022 out of which families of 16 victims received Rs 10 lakh as compensation while two families received less than Rs 10 lakh.

We have circulated guidelines and a GR (Government Resolution) which states that the concerned agency, under whose jurisdiction the death happens, will be held responsible for compensation. For urban areas, these agencies are municipal corporations, for rural areas these are zilla parishads and for semi-urban areas they are Collectors, says Dr Narnaware.

He added that the municipal corporations see a grey area when it comes to compensation but as far as his department is concerned, the law is clear and the onus is on the civic bodies. Municipal corporations back out when housing societies in urban areas and semi-urban areas call people on their own to clean their gutters and death occurs while doing so. In such cases even the housing societies are unwilling to pay compensation, as it is a big amount, he says.

He adds that a proposal was submitted to the government a few months ago asking for a special head in the urban development department and rural development department where the money would be deposited. This money would be used to provide immediate compensation in any manual scavenging related death, without seeing if the death occurred in private premises or a government premise, he says.

Last year, the Bombay High Courtaskedthe Maharashtra government to ensure that manual scavenging is not carried out anywhere in the state and to completely eradicate it from the society. The court also questioned the State about the survey identifying deaths of manual scavengers in the state since 1999.

Dr Narnaware says Maharashtra has appointed the All India Institute of Local Self Government to do the survey and suggest guidelines on rehabilitation and issued a budget of Rs 2 crore for the same. The survey is still on and the report has not yet been submitted to us. We are taking a bi-monthly update from them and have asked them to expedite it, he says.

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Manual scavenging: Families of those who died cleaning septic tanks await justice - Citizen Matters, Mumbai

LVJUSD Board Contenders

LIVERMORE The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) Board of Trustees has three seats on the ballot this November in its at-large election.

Incumbents Craig Bueno, Emily Prusso and Anne White are seeking reelection, and six other Livermore residents have thrown their hats into the ring as well.

In addition to choosing new trustees, voters will have to decide on Measure G, a $450 million General Obligation Facility Bond measure to fund repairs and upgrades to classrooms and school facilities. The current board voted on Aug. 9 to place this improvement bond on the ballot and most board candidates are hopeful to see the measure pass.

Current Board President Craig Bueno is seeking a third term to continue to meet his goals of improving facilities, funding athletics and the arts, and increasing partnerships to support expanded opportunities for Livermore students.

During his eight years on the board, Bueno voted to: implement a solar program netting the district $800,000 annually; establish a coordinated Federal grant and funding effort; install technology packages in all classrooms; complete transformational facilities projects on many school sites; and upgrade HVAC systems, roofing, drainage, parking and lighting.

If reelected, it will remain my focus to complete the full scope of school facilities projects that weve begun, Bueno said. This effort will transform the educational experience for our Livermore students for years to come. We are also working diligently to expand opportunities in the professional trades in the form of apprenticeship training programs. Providing these direct pathways to our graduating seniors would give them an opportunity to earn a true living wage and gain a lifelong skill.

Given the chance at another four years, Bueno said he wants to continue his work to create equity in education by increasing funding for special education and state-funded average daily attendance. He said the projects that would be funded by Measure G would create the gold standard in Livermore, with students as the beneficiaries.

Bueno is a former firefighter, with a long history of public service. He has experience in government funding and a passion for pursuing excellence in education.

Trustee Emily Prusso is also seeking reelection. With one term under her belt, she said she wants to continue to combat the achievement gaps in the district that served as her original inspiration to run for the board.

Like most of the State of California, a majority of our students are not meeting standards in math, and many of them are not meeting standards in language arts, Prusso said. I want to be part of a solution in closing the gaps with our student achievement in all areas, but especially math and language arts.

Prusso said she would accomplish that goal by simplifying programs, focusing on educational basics and building a strong foundation in reading, math and science. In addition, she would develop a culture that embraces life skills and critical thinking. She said the districts teachers, administration and staff are a talented group she would like to utilize to make this happen.

She is also in support of Measure G.

Many people may not be aware that we do not receive funding from the state for facilities, Prusso said. Communities are responsible for the school facilities in their districts, and therefore, it is necessary at times to ask the taxpayers to support our schools.

She noted this bond, along with the measure passed in 2016, is an attempt to catch up on a year-long lull in facility upgrades. As a mother of four children and current district parent, she sees the need for modernization and new classrooms and believes whole-heartedly in student-centered education.

Incumbent Anne White is looking to continue her 32-year run on the board. First elected in 1990, White served on the board far longer than any of her fellow trustees. She said public schools are the backbone of our society, and her historical knowledge of the district will be helpful to the new superintendent.

My goals for the district are improved achievement for all students, narrowing the achievement gap and working toward students and staff who are healthy, mentally and physically, White said. The district has been working to improve achievement for as long as I can remember, with little change We must analyze what we are doing, continue what is working and stop doing what isnt working.

In the event Measure G is not passed by voters this year, White predicts the district would reconfigure the proposal and try again. She said no bond at all would lead to facilities falling behind the times in updates and maintenance.

Whites two sons graduated from Granada High School, and she has been an active volunteer in the district for years. She also participated in multiple California School Board Association committees.

Steve Drouin has lived in Livermore since 2009. The California State University, Stanislaus. college professor has decided its time to run for the board of trustees.

I am running for school board because democracy is a team sport, and I want to serve the students of the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, Drouin said. I feel that my experiences as a father of two school- aged children, husband of a Livermore special education teacher, high school teacher of nine years and current university associate professor and researcher, have given me a wealth of knowledge and skill to collaborate to address the challenges facing the Livermore education community.

Drouin said he wants to support students and staff and expand and reinforce district resources, such as school libraries, technology, and professional learning experiences. He wants to address housing needs for teachers and administrators and retain qualified teachers. He said one thing he would change is the way the district communicates with families.

At times during the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself lacking access to critical and timely information, Drouin said. In other instances, I receive so much information that it is difficult to navigate. Such realities have led me to believe that the district needs to modernize how it connects and collaborates with parents.

As for Measure G, Drouin hopes it will pass so Livermore students can attend class in properly ventilated, state-of-the-art classrooms. Without it, he said the district will need to pay to upkeep decaying infrastructure.

Alexandria Izarraraz is a LVJUSD parent who has felt unseen and is running for the board to ensure parents voices are heard.

I want parents to feel heard and safe with their children being in our district, Izarraraz said. I am running because I cannot sit back and complain about things happening in our community or schools. I have to stand up and be a part of the change.

Izarraraz said the district is out of touch with parents and has failed to follow up with her or answer questions too often. She wants to change that. If elected, she hopes to help teachers feel heard and valued as well, and will encourage more parents to get involved in their childrens schools and district board meetings. She said all this will feed her main goal of providing the best possible education to Livermore students.

As for Measure G, Izarraraz isnt convinced its the right fit.

I believe the bond needs to be rewritten, she said. This bond will affect many members in our Livermore community. One main concern in our community is low-income housing. This bond will not help the issue, and as I said, it needs to be rewritten. We need to figure out which projects absolutely need to get done and see what our budgets look like.

Deena Kaplanis is a parent in the district and a local small business owner. As a chiropractor, she said she has a trained ear to listen to people and shed like to put that skill to use on the LVJUSD board.

I care about people. I want to be involved and have a positive impact on our community, said Kaplanis. Im running for the school board because I know that any decisions made on the school board would directly affect my household I have a heart to have laser focus on student achievement in our district.

Kaplanis said she would like to be part of the board so she can close the achievement gap created by the pandemic and bring test scores up. She also wants to address student and staff mental health to ensure everyone in the district feels cared for. She hopes to be a facilitator on the board, communicating effectively with parents, students and other board members. She hopes to change some things, as well.

Something I think that needs to change within the district is I think there could be more of a connection with the community, she said. I think we should be more transparent with communication, and I think we need to increase the morale of teachers and staff within the community.

Kaplanis said she was not ready to offer an opinion on the bond but would like to look more into the history of why it was required for the districts facilities. She has been attending board meetings over the past two years and looks forward to continuing to engage with the district.

John Kupski wants to join the LVJUSD board because he believes the education system is in poor condition.

This has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 situation, with so many students falling behind in essential learning, Kupski said. Remote learning has been a disaster, with only 11% of students advancing, 23% remaining the same, which means 66% of children have fallen behind in their education.

He said if elected, he would like to, stop the sexualization of kids, eliminate Communist Revolutionary Training and improve academic achievement through true math, English, real civics, and wholesome artist endeavors.

Kupski said he feels returning curriculum to the control of parents, teachers and the board would be a step in the right direction. He is also opposed to Measure G, stating the states revenue surplus should be enough to keep school infrastructure maintained.

Kupski is a retired businessman who says he is committed to the protection of and proper education in the school system.

Kristina Mazaika currently works as the director of growth and development at The Quarry Lane private school in Dublin. She said she would like to be part of the local public school district, because she has a heart to serve.

When I saw the three open board positions, I knew that this was the time and place for me, Mazaika said. I bring a balanced perspective seeing issues from both sides as an insider, educator and parent, as well as an outsider, as a community member.

Mazaikas goal is to leverage what does work well in the system and pivot to making meaningful changes. She feels the key to curriculum equity in the classroom begins with a strong sense of community in the district office. From there, teachers and staff who feel valued will pass that feeling on to their students.

Mazaika acknowledged the need for funding of some kind to maintain and replace buildings and infrastructure. She said if the bond does not pass, it would be necessary to prioritize needs and use district funds to repair, maintain or replace nonfunctioning parts.

Mazaika has worked in education for all of her professional life. Though she is now in management, she spent 15 years as an elementary teacher, and has also worked as a readinginterventionist, instructional coach, and elementary school principal.

I bring a wealth of experience from both within the system and outside of it having raised two children, she said. Iam eager to serve knowing that when we parents, teachers, district staff, and community members work together, we will achieve the best we have to offer our Livermore students.

Hayden Sidun is a recent Granada High School graduate. He said his perspective as a student will bring a unique and much-needed voice to the board.

I am running because our students deserve a students perspective on the school board, Sidun said. I have lived the student experience in Livermore and know how the school boards decisions play out in classrooms. Experience matters, and the simple fact is that I am the only candidate with direct experience in Livermore public schools. It is imperative that we elect school board trustees who know Livermore schools and can make decisions based on experience, and I will be that trustee.

Sidun said if elected, he will have three priorities: expanding access to mental health services, revamping curriculum and collaborating with other local entities. By focusing on these topics, he hopes to improve student experience and education within the district. He also pledged to keep an open line of communication with the community.

He would also like to work on some areas he feels the board could do better in, such as consulting parent-teacher organizations, student bodies and the Livermore Education Association in decision-making processes. As for the bond, he said he will vote for it himself.

I think this bond measure is important, Sidun said. I agree with what it will do. Many of our schools are in dire need of a remodel, so if this bond measure fails, then we can expect to see the continued physical deterioration of our schools.

Sidun said despite his young age, he cares deeply about the community and its schools and will work to address and solve issues directly affecting Livermore students, staff and families.

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LIVERMORE Residents this election season must decide whether to extend sewer service beyond the citys urban growth boundary into the regions unincorporated wine country.

Measure P, the South Livermore Urban Growth Boundary Initiative, requires approval from a majority of voters in order to make changes to the South Livermore Valley Area Plan (SLVAP) in the citys general plan.

Measure P proponents believe the move is necessary to aid the Tri-Valleys quest to become a wine growing and resort destination by saving an area that winegrowers believe is in economic danger because the area lacks the infrastructure to support it.

The measure does not appear to have any organized opposition. No one filed any arguments against it with the Alameda County Registrar of Voters office to appear in ballot information booklets.

Encouraged by winegrowers such as Karl Wente and David Kent and organizations including the Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce and Tri-Valley Conservancy the Livermore City Council agreed unanimously in July to place the measure before voters.

Basically, the extension of city sewer service to the South Livermore Valley region provides a critical element of infrastructure necessary to support the economic viability and successful growth of the Valleys wine region, reducing the reliance on septic systems and their impacts to the groundwater basin, said Dawn Argula, the chambers chief executive officer and president.

Livermore officials have already begun studying the planned sewer lines effect on the environment and where and how it will be built. Part of the sewer lines expected $11.5 million price tag will be covered by $6.5 million in Alameda County funding. The rest is expected to come from federal and state infrastructure funds and groundwater management grants.

Homes and vineyards in the unincorporated area would be linked to Livermores sewer lines. Wastewater would be treated in the existing Livermore facility.

Other organizations supporting the measure include the Greenbelt Alliance, Innovation Tri-Valley, Visit Tri-Valley, the Friends of Livermore, the Friends of Open Space and Vineyards, and numerous vineyard owners.

A recent UC Davis study indicates that Livermore is at risk of losing two-thirds of its vineyards by the end of this decade unless winegrowers have an economic incentive to replant aging vineyards, Kent said. Extending the sewer line will make it possible to fully implement the permitted uses within the South Livermore Valley Area Plan, which envisioned a wine country resort and spa as well as destination restaurants.

The area currently utilizes septic systems, which pose the threat of groundwater contamination. Septic systems are also a hindrance in attracting larger winegrowing businesses that need sewers to compete with other winegrowing regions in California.

Many vintners are forced to haul wastewater associated with the winemaking process offsite at great expense, making it impossible for new medium (sized) or large winery operations to locate here, said Lori Souza, the TVCs board chair. The absence of a sanitary sewer makes the long-awaited resort hotel and spa and destination restaurants promised in the Area Plan impossible to permit. Even smaller successful wine operations are hesitant to locate here until these issues are addressed.

Dick Schneider, a co-author of the countys Measure D, which Alameda County voters approved in 2000 to protect agriculture and open space, watched closely as the measure was written. He said the South Livermore Valley wine region must survive.

The 3,000 acres of vineyards planted when the SLVAP was adopted in the early 1990s are now nearing the end of their life expectancy, Schneider said. To justify the cost of replanting those vineyards, several mid-sized wineries must be built to create the demand for local grapes. The 50 or so small wineries in the Livermore area only require about 600 acres of vineyards to supply their grapes. Without new wineries, most old vineyards will be pulled out.

Schneider said that equally important is that larger wineries cant be built without an economical way to dispose of their processed wastewater. Without bigger wineries, the vineyards will not be replanted because there wont be demand for the grapes. Agritourism is only one of the reasons for the sewer. He added that new wineries can no longer obtain permits from the Regional Water Quality Control Board to dispose of their processing waste into the local groundwater table. A sewer line to pump wastewater out of South Livermore to the water treatment plant is the only practicable way for new and old wineries to obtain required permits, he said.

If the South Livermore wine region fails, there is a real risk that other more intensive development will be proposed for the area, said Schneider. Thats why I support Measure P.

DUBLIN Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) has three seats on the ballot in Novembers general election.

Areas 2 and 5 are open for full terms. Voters will also choose a candidate to fill the Area 3 seat for a short two-year term.

Kristin Speck is running for an Area 2 seat unopposed.

We have a wonderful district, and I am excited to join the board and continue the great progress the district has made, Speck said. I would like to see continued focus on equity and inclusion and support the work that the district has already undertaken in this area.

Speck said facility improvements and growth will continue to be important topics as new schools are opened and old ones are renovated to accommodate the city.

Speck acknowledged the issues the district has faced this year with allegations the board violated the Brown Act, as well as a shortfall in the budget. She said she was concerned, but felt the district was on the right track now.

I would like to see us making decisions for the students and the taxpayers and not for political reasons, she said. I think that the texting showed that there were definitely political reasons behind the maps chosen for the trustee areas. I would like to see a board that could work together doing the right things for the students on both the west and the east sides of town.

In Area 5, incumbent Dan Cherrier is running for a third term. He initially joined the board in 2016 when he was elected at large for a two-year term. He then won the Area 5 seat in 2018 and hopes to continue to represent his constituents for the next four years and ensure projects underway are completed.

There is a lot that could still happen to derail the new high school project, Cherrier said. We havent even started phase two or phase three. And if left as it is now, it will be a small, satellite school and never reach its full potential.

He also expressed concerns that aging school infrastructure could be left without needed modernization, saying the board requires trustees who, can ask the tough questions and make the hard decisions and make sure that all our projects across the entire district happen within the available budget.

If reelected, Cherrier hopes to continue to upgrade school facilities, maintain good student test scores, retain the districts qualified and well-paid teaching staff, and improve board harmony.

He also addressed accusations made that he and other board members violated the rules for public meetings under the Brown Act.

We operate under the Brown Act, and we have our Rosenbergs Rules of Order, and we follow those, he said. This (the accusations) was solely done for political reasons before an upcoming election.

A DUSD investigation found there had been no misconduct.

Ive been involved in issues surrounding the district since 2004, so going on 18 years now, Cherrier said. Weve gone down quite a few bad choices over the times, especially not building things according to the specific plan, and I have taken it to be my mission to try to rectify the wrongs of the past.

Facing off against Cherrier for Area 5 is Sameer Hakim. The Independent was unable to reach Hakim for comment.

The Area 3 seat is on the ballot for a two-year term following the death last year of Trustee Catherine Kuo. Her husband, William Kuo, was appointed by the board to fill her seat until this election. He is now running for the remaining two years of the term and said he fully embraces the role of trustee and hopes to continue to serve Dublin.

I am passionate about continuing the important work of serving students and providing exceptional education, Kuo said. This was my late wifes mission and I share these same goals, not only because I have two kids in school currently, but because I care deeply about all Dublin students.

Kuo noted that Area 3 is unique, as it straddles the line between east and west Dublin. If elected, he would like to ensure Emerald High School is completed and continue to provide safe and clean facilities for all students by completing projects that have been prioritized and funded. He also said hed like to promote consistency in district leadership.

Between 2017-2021, we have had three superintendents along with a high rate of senior staff turnovers, said Kuo. I feel strongly that establishing stability at that level of administration will go a long way to improve morale and provide a firmer basis from which to operate.For example, the budget shortfall that goes back to early 2016 might have been averted if there was more stability.

Kuo also addressed recent allegations the board had violated the rules for public meetings under the Brown Act.

As affirmed in the attorneys six-page report, no violation occurred, he stated. Further, from my own perspective, I am not overly concerned because there is nothing wrong with communicating with constituents who may have also contacted other board members. That is part of being a public servant you talk to people.

Facing off against Kuo is local real estate agent John Wu, who has lived in Dublin since 2010. Wu said he has raised his family here, made friends and become part of the community.

I believe we should give back to our community, Wu said. In the past few years, my wife and I have volunteered actively in the community my older son who graduated from Dublin High School joined the Navy to serve our country, and I, myself, have been in the real estate business and started my own brokerage, so Im willing to serve my community with my diverse and extensive knowledge of work and life experience.

Wu said if elected, he would promote unity amongst the board and the Dublin community, focus on equality and equity in education, and ensure all Dublin students have the best education to reach their full potential and be prepared for the future. Hed also like to see better budget control, improved transparency, and disclosure of all fiscal information in a timely manner.

I also want to ensure the rational use of our resources to share resources equitably to reduce a void or shortfall in our budget and provide a better educational environment to our students and all community members, he said.

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Candidates and Measures | Regional/CA News - Livermore Independent

MADISON (WKOW) -- When water goes down the drain, either in our homes or on our streets, it's really the start of a new journey; a trip that can be quite costly for taxpayers.

The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) says it treats about 36 million gallons of wastewater every day. That's enough water to fill the lower bowl at Camp Randall Stadium.

Before water reaches MMSD's stunning array of large outdoor tanks, solids - the kind that do not break down - must be removed.

Eric Dundee, MMSD's director of wastewater operations, says that often includes diapers, plastic bags, clothes and flushable wipes. Dundee, and other wastewater treatment professionals, say the wipes might be marketed as safe for flushing, but are actually a disaster for treatment plants.

The wipes don't break down quickly enough, and therefore must be filtered out at the plant with all the other junk that doesn't belong. As a rule of thumb, Dundee says the only things people should flush are toilet paper and their own waste.

While those items are commonplace, MMSD also has a display preserving the most bizarre items that have been fished out of the sewage system. The case includes car keys, a horseshoe, and a wide variety of toys.

Dundee, however, keeps his favorite souvenir in his own office. He's still not sure how a bowling ball got stuck in a pipe, but it happened.

"Somehow, somebody was able to open a manhole, and they must've had a bad day at the bowling league," Dundee said. "It made it all the way to one of our pump stations and got clogged in one of our pumps."

Crews had to remove the pump, then break the ball in half to dislodge it.

While bowling balls and horseshoes are rare, the more mundane items get stuck frequently enough to cause daily disruptions. After all, there are a lot of places where objects can get stuck in MMSD's network, which runs from Sun Prairie to Verona, and from Waunakee down to Stoughton.

All that water ends up at the district's plant south of the Beltline highway, south of the West Broadway exit.

"We have our staff responding to pump stations, and different issues in the treatment plant, every single day," Dundee said. "Because something has been flushed, or more than one thing has been flushed or gotten down the drain into some of our pumps or screens that shouldn't be there."

MMSD estimates annual responses and repairs caused by items that shouldn't have gotten in the sewage costs taxpayers an additional $500,000 each year.

"That includes cleaning pumps, that includes cleaning our equipment," Dundee said. "Staff time, actual damage."

While that's a drop in the bucket for an agency whose 2021 operations and maintenance budget was $45.4 million, Dundee said that money would be better served going to other projects, including long-term investments.

The costs of wayward waste go beyond dollars. When people flush away prescription drugs, it can pollute the water supply.

"Sometimes, people think, 'well I'm almost done with these [pills,] I'm not gonna use them anymore. Maybe I should just flush them down the toilet.' Absolutely not," Scott Laeser, water program director at Clean Wisconsin, said. "Those pharmaceuticals should go to a station specially meant to process and destroy them."

Laeser said it's even more vital to keep plastics, and other chemicals, out of the system for families who use a septic tank. Those tanks are only meant to treat bacteria, so they don't remove any of the other chemicals that can pollute groundwater.

About one third of Wisconsin families rely on private wells as their source of drinking water.

"[Septic tanks are] really the only thing that is standing between the water they use, and the groundwater that, of course, is so critical to so many Wisconsinites because that is our source of drinking water," Laeser said.

For MMSD, the challenges continue to grow. Over the last two-plus years, a new item has been contributing to clogged pipes.

"Disposable masks are becoming a pollution problem," Dundee said. "Some of them end up down the drain, and into our equipment."

One more reminder of the items the public is asked to keep out of toilets and sewer drains. It's all part of a never-ending quest to keep our wastewater...relatively clean.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has compiled its list of permanent drug drop boxes, where people can safely dispose of excess pills. Those boxes are also used in the effort to keep addictive opioids out of the wrong hands.

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Flush this, not that: The items constantly causing problems at Madison's wastewater treatment plant - WKOW

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Have you ever wondered what happens to the stuff we flush down the toilet or wash down the kitchen sink? Its called wastewater, or sewage, and its any water thats been used and consequently polluted by human activities.

Since we moved on from nomadic lifestyles and started living together in larger, permanent settlements and cities, weve needed ways to get rid of our collective sewage, because, well its stinky and gross!

Some of the earliest examples of sewage systems being used in our history can be dated as far back as ancient Mesopotamia.

Our ancestors used to rely on things like communal latrines and drains that simply flowed into open water to expel their sewage away from where they lived leaving Mother Nature to do the heavy lifting to dilute, dissipate and decompose any waste.

But simply dumping our raw sewage into rivers and seas isnt exactly a viable solution as our population continued to grow all over the world.

In 19th century London which had a population of about 3 million people there was an event known as The Great Stink when a long, hot summer caused the River Thames to dry up and exposed all of the nasty things that have been dumped into it over the years.

This not only included human excrement and garbage but all sorts of waste products and chemicals from factories and businesses, as well as a fair number of dead bodies.

The stench was said to be so horrible that it brought the city to a standstill as people vomited and fainted where they stood. Some even called the river evil and blamed it for the citys many sick and dying residents.

This, however, wasnt that far from the truth as the contaminated river was the main source of water for Londoners to wash and drink from.

Londons poor sewage system was not only channeled directly to the river but was also leaking into the citys other water supplies like underground wells becoming a breeding ground for all sorts of deadly waterborne diseases like dysentery, typhoid and cholera.

A lot of people died and the event served as a great reminder of how important it is to properly manage our sewage, and that we couldnt simply rely on Mother Nature alone to make our doo-doo disappear.

Nowadays, our modern sewage and sanitation system is a bit more complex but a lot safer, reliable and environmentally friendly.

Here in Malaysia, whenever we take a shower, use the sink or take a seat on the throne, all our wastewater or sewage will drain into septic tanks or flow through public sewer networks, and be sent to sewage treatment plants where its filtered and processed into clean water.

The clean water is then discharged into our rivers and further processed and reused for our everyday needs. Urban areas and townships across the country must treat their sewage before releasing it into riversgiving Mother Nature a helping hand and giving new life to what was once nothing more than dirty water.

In line with their tagline, New Life for Water, the national sewerage company, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn. Bhd., continues to ensure that the sewage systems comply with treated effluent quality standards stipulated by the Department Of Environment.

IWK provides sewerage services to a connected population equivalent (cPE) of over 29 million. IWK does this by operating and maintaining a total of 7,352 public sewage treatment plants and 22,000km of sewer lines.

With 28 years of experience under their belt, IWK has proven to manage the countrys sewage systems efficiently. However, despite it being such a vital utility service for us, there are still people who take our sewage system for granted.

According to IWKs latest Sustainability Report, although the government continues to subsidise the companys cost of operations by a total of 125% of a customers monthly bill, there are still commercial businesses and individuals who go years without paying their duesforcing the company to take legal action to try and collect overdue bills.

On an average three-year basis, connected customers pay RM8 to RM12 per month instead of the actual cost of RM17.26 per month. For Individual Septic Tank (IST) customers, they pay RM144 per service instead of the actual cost of RM263 per m3 per service.

But on the bright side, as of 2020, IWK managed to collect payments from 91% of its customers, and more people are now going online and using IWKs mobile app to pay their bills.

IWKs e-Bill service encourages customers to go paperless for a greener environment. Its also a convenient and easily accessible platform for customers to stay updated on their sewerage accounts.

You will receive your sewerage bills via email when you register for IWK e-Bill. Through the IWK mobile app, you can make payments, check your account balance and perform a range of other services at your fingertips.

Between 1 July and 15 December 2022, IWK will be giving away a brand new Proton Saga and other amazing prizes when you invite your friends and family to register for e-Bill and pay sewerage bills online.

Head on over to IWKs official website or download the Indah Water mobile app from Google Play, the Apple App Store or your devices app gallery to register for the IWK e-bill service.

After getting yourselves registered, get as many of your friends and family to sign up for the IWK e-bill service using your membership ID.

The more people you get to register using your ID, the better your chances are of winning the prizes! To be eligible for the contest, just be sure that you and the people that signed up using your ID dont have any outstanding IWK bills.

For more information, visit IWKs website or check out its Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok page.

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Heres Why Its Important To Pay Our Sewage Bills - The Rakyat Post