TIVERTON Residents in three areas of Tiverton Riverside (557 households), the Robert Gray neighborhood (77 households), and Bay Street (123 households) will vote soon on whether or not to bring sewers to their neighborhoods. Im in favor of it, said Dr. Gus Stratton of Riverside Drive. Its better for the environment long term. Its only going to enhance property values, Dr. Stratton said. And if you want to modify your property by putting on an addition, it would be easier to do that kind of planning. I think its a no-brainer. But youd be surprised how many people are opposed to it. Dr. Strattons home is on the Sakonnet River. When Im standing on my dock I see all kinds of stuff floating by, he said. Dr. Stratton said he has a fairly new septic system, put in about 2005-2006, that he has to clean about once or twice a year. South a few blocks on Riverside Drive lives Sharon Silvia who rents from an owner who lives next door. I would love for the area to be sewered, she said. Were right by the water so if were hooked up to the town sewer, it really enhances the value of the house. And maintenance-wise its really beneficial. Ms. Silvia said some of the homes along Riverside Drive just have holding tanks. I know theres a lot of controversy because a lot of people have put in new systems. Paul White lives on Old Colony Terrace on the hillside above the river in the Robert Gray neighborhood, I support it 100 percent, he said. Even though we have a septic system about 10 years old, I think its absolutely necessary. I would hope they prioritize Main Road, because thats the only way youll get commercial development. I would vote yes. I support the wastewater district idea, said Richard Fanning, who lives down the street from Mr. White. He said he knows no one whoe opposed to it. Another Old Colony Road resident, Dave Lithway, said, I dont understand how theyre going to handle the vote, and how the neighbors will decide. I cant understand how theyll sewer if they get a no vote. But does he support sewers? Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely. I have a good septic thats approved but I live at the bottom of the hill and see what rolls down. Over in the Bay Street area, Al Trecida on Hooper Street said, my opinion is its probably good, but if my system is good and up to date and working, they ought to let me keep it. Door-to-door visits by the Times encountered nobody who said theyd vote no. If a majority of the homeowners in a neighborhood votes yes, sewers will be built. If a majority votes no, the provisions of the Cesspool Act of 2007 and other legal mandates relating to septic systems will apply. Inspections will take place, violations will be noted, and appropriate enforcement action will be taken, Mr.Kendrick said. Who can vote Under the new law, only residents who own their homes will get chance to vote. This was not the original intent when the proposed new system was discussed at neighborhood meetings by the towns existing Wastewater Management Commission, and as it was passed by the town council. The change came in the form of an amendment to the legislation that was inserted by the state Senate. The town-approved definition of a voter was originally defined to mean a resident and registered voter within the area. The Senate amendment changed the definition to resident and property owner within the area. Thus, absentee owners not residing in the neighborhood are precluded from voting, as are renters, family members, trustees, and corporate owners (such as banks holding mortgages). The requirement that a district voter be a registered voter in town was also eliminated.

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Some Tiverton voters welcome sewers

In what may be the nations most extensive study of its kind, a survey of 118 test wells scattered around Minnesota has found that about a third of them contain measurable levels of antibiotics, detergents, or other consumer chemicals known as contaminants of emerging concern.

The chemicals, apparently coming from landfills, septic systems and sewage treatment systems, have been found in surface waters in recent years, and some scientists have looked at their effects on fish and other animals. But this new survey, published online this week by the U.S. Geological Survey, is the most extensive evidence yet that the chemicals are also making their way into both shallow and deep aquifers in Minnesota.

Groundwater is the source of drinking water for three-fourths of Minnesotans.

The study, conducted between late 2009 and mid-2012 by the USGS and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, found no chemicals in excess of drinking water quality standards.

But for four of the most common chemicals it found the antibiotic azithromycin, the antihistamine diphenhydramine, the flame-retardant tributyl phosphate and the animal antibiotic lincomycin neither the state nor the federal government maintains any health-based water quality standards.

The chemicals come from a variety of consumer and industrial products prescription and over-the-counter medicines, lotions, detergents, plastic-making ingredients and more.

Our use of these chemicals in our everyday lives is releasing them into our environment. Our question as a society is, What do we think about that?

Our use of these chemicals in our everyday lives is releasing them at low levels into our environment, said Mindy Erickson, groundwater specialist for the USGS. Our question as a society is, What do we think about that?

Erickson said the groundwater study, which will continue, was prompted several years ago by scientists finding the chemicals in rivers and lakes in Minnesota, sometimes bodies of water that were otherwise considered pristine.

The 118 wells tested are among those the MPCA monitors regularly, and they were chosen because of their assumed vulnerability to this kind of contamination, said Sharon Kroening, research scientist at the MPCA. Some were in the Twin Cities area, some near St. Cloud and others in north central, northwestern and southeast Minnesota.

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Chemicals spreading in state groundwater

Ten percent of all water samples taken from American beaches last summer exceeded the protective benchmark for swimmer safety established by the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a report released Wednesday.

Authors of the Natural Resources Defense Council's 24th annual guide to water quality at vacation beaches pointed to stormwater runoff as a particular long-term problem. But in the shorter term, they urge the EPA to finalize the proposed Clean Water Protection Rule, which would reaffirm that discharges of upstream water can be regulated under the Clean Water Act of 1972. [Editor's note:This paragraph originally identified the Natural Resource Defense Council incorrectly.]

The rule restores protections that long existed in the Clean Water Act but that have been thrown into legal limbo by ... Supreme Court decisions in 2001 and 2006, says Jon Devine, a senior attorney for the NRDC.

Specifically, the rule would clarify what kinds of water bodies fall under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. It was proposed in March by the EPA and US Army Corps of Engineers.

The study was based on sampling conducted during the summer of 2013 at nearly 3,500 coastal and Great Lakes beaches in the United States. About 1 in 10 samples contained excessive levels of microscopic pathogens, industrial and agricultural chemicals, or sewage, the NRDC analysis reveals.

The report cites the Clean Water Protection Rule as the greatest opportunity to address discharge of pollutants into upstream waters that eventually flow into Americas beaches.

But in the longer term, the report stressed the importance of stormwater runoff, which washes over roads, buildings, parking lots, and lawns, where it picks up oil and grease, pesticides, and pollutants on its way to storm drains that empty into nearby waterways.

The most important long-term action to protect beachgoers is to adopt policies that address the sources of beach water pollution, particularly stormwater runoff, the report says.

The level of pollution in stormwater tends to correlate directly to the amount of concrete and pavement in the surrounding area. Sidewalks, roads, buildings, and parking lots all deflect rather than absorb rainwater, routing the water and any pollutants in its path into the nearest waterway.

While coastal counties represent just 17 percent of US land mass, they house more than half of the nations population, the NRDC reports. As more people move to coveted beach communities, the more built-up those areas become, which can lead to more asphalt and fewer wetlands.

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1 in 10 beach water samples is contaminated, report finds

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) -

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District posted a public advisory Wednesday at Edgewater Beach. The advisory was posted as a result of a combined sewer overflow (CSO) event at Edgewater, which discharged raw sewage into Lake Erie during Tuesday's heavy rain event.

Visitors particularly children, the elderly and those in ill health are advised to avoid contact with the water and debris.

"Last night's overflow at Edgewater is yet another example of why we need to continue to be aggressive in investing in our sewer infrastructure, particularly if want to continue to capitalize on the good work of the Cleveland Metroparks and those who are developing along the lakefront," said Julius Ciaccia, Sewer District Executive Director.

"Otherwise, to ignore the problems, like combined sewer overflows, stormwater run-off, failing septic systems, and illicit connections of sanitary sewage to storm sewers, that plague our local waterways would be irresponsible, and would squander the past investments made to keep our Great Lake great."

Since 1972, the Sewer District has reduced the volume of CSO by half from 9 billion gallons to 4.5 billion gallons and continues efforts to reduce CSO from entering local waterways.

The Sewer District has $3 billion plan Project Clean Lake - which will further reduce overflows from 4.5 billion gallons to 500 million gallons by 2035 through the construction of large-scale storage tunnels, green infrastructure, and wastewater treatment plant upgrades.

As part of Project Clean Lake, the Sewer District is currently constructing the Euclid Creek Tunnel, which will hold 60 million gallons of raw sewage, redirecting it to the Easterly Wastewater Treatment Plant, improving water quality near Euclid Beach and Villa Angela Beach.

The Mill Creek Tunnel, which was completed in 2012, can hold 75 million gallons of raw sewage, and redirects untreated wastewater to the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant instead of local waterways.

Throughout the mid-1970s, the combined sewer outfall at Edgewater Beach discharged raw sewage into Lake Erie approximately 40 to 50 times per year.

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WARNING: Swimming advisory at Edgewater Beach

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City asks: Clean septic tanks often

EPHRATA A SeaTac companys president doesnt believe the state should have a say in at least two of the Grant County Fairgrounds septic systems.

Ken Morse, the president of Lifecycle Asset Engineering, told the commissioners Tuesday morning he doesnt believe the septic systems at the fairgrounds rise to the level of state regulations. He also offered a system to treat the sewage before its put into the drain field.

Fairgrounds Manager Jerry Gingrich explained someone suggested talking to the company after hearing about the state Department of Healths requirements to either connect to the citys sewer system or change the septic systems.

The Department of Health has jurisdiction on any septic system handling between 3,500 gallons per day and 100,000 gallons per day.

In a report prepared by Morse and Chief Engineer Mary Shustov, he suggested the pumps on two of the systems were aging and showing inaccurate data. They pointed out the septic system serving the busiest restroom handles about 25,000 gallons per day.

They suggested building holding tanks for the restroom, which could be pumped during fair or put on a timer to distribute the waste into the drain field over a longer course of time.

Morse said the county health district should have jurisdiction over the septic systems, and already issued permits after they were built.

Morse also suggested a product the company sells to treat waste called SludgeHammer. He believes the product could treat the waste before it goes into the drain field.

The company did not list what its services would cost the county.

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Company tells Grant County: DOE is wrong about fairgrounds septic system

Residents near a proposed Lower Keys sewer treatment plant have banded together to fight a plan to pump treated sewage water down a shallow injection well, citing concern with the plan's possible environmental impacts.

The group, Dig Deep Cudjoe, has lobbied the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority to dig deeper injection wells at the treatment plant for the Cudjoe Regional Wastewater Treatment System, which is currently under construction on Blimp Road on Cudjoe Key.

Group representatives met with aqueduct authority representatives on Thursday to voice their concerns.

The aqueduct authority is planning to dig four "shallow wells," which would only pump the treated effluent to roughly 120 feet. Dig Deep wants the FKAA to dig "deep injection wells," which would push the water 2,000 feet below the surface.

Shallow injection wells can be constructed at a cost of about $200,000 each, as opposed to roughly $6 million for a deep well, according to aqueduct authority officials.

Dig Deep is concerned the treated effluent will be pumped into porous limestone and will bleed into the groundwater table and into the nearshore waters, impacting fish, crab, lobster and seagrass habitats. The group wants the effluent pumped into deeper "confined geological strata," said Jan Edelstein, a founder of the group.

"It (the treated sewage) is not going to stay there," Edelstein said. "It's going to move around."

Much of Dig Deep's concerns stem from nitrogen and phosphorus making its way to nearshore waters, which can cause harmful algal blooms killing fish, sponges and other marine life.

Dig Deep is concerned about the long-term damage to the nearshore waters, where flats and commercial fishermen make their living. They depend on good water quality and healthy seagrass and other marine life habitat, Edelstein said.

"The treated effluent may be safe enough to play on, but it's not safe enough for marine life to play in," Edelstein said, responding to aqueduct authority claims that the treated wastewater is safe and is already used for yard irrigation.

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Dig Deep fights for deeper wells

Since Tuesday, the Tri-Cities has received about 3.7 inches of rain, bringing this months total to 5.36 inches, said National Weather Service meteorologist Wayne Hoepner.

Although rainfall has kept Todd Chmeliks crews busy with jobs, their schedule grew busier after two storms rolled through Wednesday morning. Chmelik is the owner of Rapid Flush Sewer & Drain Cleaning, Pit Stop Portable Restrooms and Kendal Septic in Spring Lake. He said they arrived at work Wednesday morning to find damp carpet 3 inches from the walls.

Once the second storm hit, water quickly flowed into the building, bringing with it fish from the neighbors flooded pond.

We just all went to work, Chmelik said.

Crews pumped 3-4 inches of water from the office floor; about 5 inches filled parts of the shop.

Despite working to clean up the office, Chmelik said crews also stayed out past 8:30 p.m. working with clients.

The recent rainfall also caused water to rise in Barbara Carlson's basement. The Spring Lake woman said her husband normally keeps an eye on the water level to head off any potential flooding, but hes currently out of town.

Read the complete story in todays print or e-edition of the Grand Haven Tribune.

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Residents clean up a mess

Published: Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 11:00 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, June 20, 2014 at 12:21 a.m.

In 2012, Uniontown received a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which was to be paired with $2.5 million in municipal bonds to stop a decade-old problem of sewage seeping from its wastewater treatment system into nearby creeks and tributaries.

Repairs were made to the towns aged, cracked sewer lines, and its wastewater treatment plant was updated with new treatment technology and a new pump station.

The final step was the construction of a new sprayfield, where the treated wastewater would be sprayed and seep back into the ground.

But although the sprayfield is now complete, it sits unused.

The reason: The sprayfield was constructed before the soil was tested for permeability. The soil test was done only after local residents expressed concern, after construction was nearly complete on the site.

Tests proved that the soil was incompatible with a sprayfield.

John Stevens of Sentell Engineering, engineer on the project, said the hydrogeologic testing was not done because it was not required by the state.

We chose not to do a test because (ADEM) didnt require it, Stevens said. They told us that at that time the old sprayfield was very marginal at best. They said get another sprayfield the same size and well be in good shape. Thats just the way it is, and we took their word for it.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has since halted the use of the new sprayfield.

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Uniontown group hopes to be heard by state regulators on sewage problem

TERRE HAUTE An ordinance that would have raised fees for septic disposal at the citys wastewater treatment facility died in the City Council Thursday night.

The ordinance, which also would have changed local regulations to meet federal environmental guidelines, never made it to a vote because of a lack of a second.

Councilman Todd Nation, D-4th, made a motion that General Ordinance 3, 2014 be adopted. There was no second from any other members of the council so the ordinance died.

Under council rules, the ordinance must now be changed substantially before it can be reintroduced to the council. Otherwise, the ordinance could not return for another vote for a year.

Chou-il Lee, city attorney, said he will make those changes to the ordinance and bring it back in July. The ordinance is needed to meet requirements of the U.S. Clean Water Act, he said.

In addition to meeting new federal requirements, the ordinance would increase disposal fees for sludge disposal at the treatment plant. No one from the public spoke against the fee increases; however, one person in the septic business asked why sludge from other counties is subject to a higher fee than sludge from Vigo County.

Residents of Vigo County pay a tax for the sanitary sewer system while non-Vigo residents do not, Lee said. As a result, sludge from out-of-county is subject to a higher disposal fee.

The disposal fees have not changed since about 2009, said Mayor Duke Bennett, who attended the council meeting. The ordinance also includes costs savings for the city, he said.

Well just have to find out what the issue is from members of the council who did not support the measure, Bennett said.

It surprised me, Nation said after the meeting about his motion not receiving a second. After reading the ordinance and the Clean Water Act requirements, he felt passage was not an optional thing.

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Compliance with Clean Water Act dies