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HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) An alarming amount of pollution in Long Island waterways has prompted officials to call for major changes.

As CBS 2s Carolyn Gusoff reported Wednesday, Suffolk County officials said nitrogen pollution is ruining bays and rivers and killing sea grasses and marshes, and making Long Island more vulnerable in storms.

Scientists said the reason is nitrogen from household sewage. County executive Steve Bellone said the top priority of his administration is to stop the pollution.

The surface water effects are clear. Weve had harmful algae blooms, red tide, brown tide, closed beaches, dead rivers like the Forge River. Every surface water body in our region is listed as an impaired water body, Bellone said. We have 360,000 unsewered homes. We have more unsewered homes than the entire state of New Jersey.

Bellone has launched a plan to reverse the crisis, installing public sewers where there currently are none. The first phase of the plan is to install sewer systems under about 12,000 homes near the Forge River, the Connetquot River and the Carlls River in Deer Park and North Babylon; Oakdale; and Mastic and Shirley.

Seventy-five percent of Suffolk County homes currently use septic tanks. Environmentalists said that is antiquated.

In a civilized society in a dense community we treat our sewage before we dump it into the bay, said Adrienne Esposito of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

Original post:
Suffolk County Exec Announces Plan To Install Sewers In Effort To Protect Water Supply

The city has updated its southern boundary extension proposal in order to provide more properties with city sewer services all at once.

Under the new proposal, Campbell River is committing to provide sewer service to all 535 properties south to McGimpsey Road (estimated population of 1,235) in both the phase one and phase two sewer areas at the same time.

Originally, the city proposed to deal with phase two properties at a later date due to not enough grant funding.

The change was prompted by comments made by Area D residents at a February open house held at Ocean Grove Elementary and other feedback.

After hearing the feedback from the open house and reviewing the financing options, council recognized that a marginal increase in city debt would allow us to provide sewer service to the entire area, said Coun. Andy Adams, who holds the financial portfolio.

The option presented will provide some certainty to the residents in the proposed boundary extension area that sewer services will be provided, and provides clarity for both the Strathcona Regional District and the city in moving forward with capital planning for infrastructure.

The proposal, however, is contingent upon the Strathcona Regional District agreeing to transfer a grant worth $3.4 million and on senior governments agreeing to extend the grant beyond 2015 when its set to expire.

If 51 per cent of the affected residents vote during an upcoming referendum in favour of joining the city each property owner is expected to pay $9,300 either in one lump sum or over the course of 20 years, likely starting in 2015.

Residents would have up to five years to connect to the citys sewer system and also pay the $1,800 connection fee.

There would also be a third cost to connect their home to the sewer line.

Read the rest here:
City sweetens the sewer deal offered to Area D

Boynton residents who rely on the towns wastewater collection and treatment lagoons could be left high and dry if town officials fail to bring the sewage system into compliance.

The town is operating the system pursuant to two consent orders issued by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. The state environmental agency also has issued two notices of violation which, along with the two consent orders, resulted from unpermitted discharges and other problems.

Skylar McElhaney, an ODEQ spokeswoman, said the town has been out of compliance with the consent orders for some time. The agency has allowed the town to continue providing services in the hope proposed improvements would be completed.

ODEQs goal was to get the first phase of the towns proposed multiphase project under way, McElhaney said. Once that occurred, ODEQ could then enter into a new consent order to incorporate all the outstanding issues and establish a new schedule for completion of all phases of the project.

Ongoing legal and financial problems, much of which was highlighted in an investigative report published in February by the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspectors Office, dashed that plan. Because of what investigators described as poor record keeping and inadequate oversight by trustees, the town was unable to provide a clean financial audit needed to secure funding for improvements to the towns wastewater collection and lagoon treatment system.

Ernie Moore, executive director for Eastern Oklahoma Development District, said he began working with town officials about a year ago in an effort to help secure funding needed for the proposed improvements. Cooperation, however, was lacking.

We never could get enough cooperation to help them get anything set up, Moore said. Until the town, as a whole, decides to govern themselves in a responsible manner ... we wont be able to help we have pretty much exhausted all the avenues we had to help them.

State Auditor and Inspector Gary A. Jones said the town of Boynton has some obvious problems. He predicted those problems would continue until someone steps in and takes control.

That leadership wont come from former Mayor James Holt, who resigned March 7. Holt, in his letter of resignation, expressed a level of frustration with other town officials and residents.

As to the lack of interest of the people and the city council of the town of Boynton, I am unable to remain on the city council any longer, Holt wrote. No one has shown enough interest to even run for city council, and when someone does no one shows up to vote.

Read more here:
Boynton's sewage system in danger

Sunday, March 16, 2014 10:50 PM EDT

By KASSONDRA GRANATA STAFF WRITER

SOUTHINGTON To clear up confusion within the town, Town Manager Garry Brumback and Town Engineer Keith Hayden have released updated information on the towns recent sewer rate changes.

The intent of this whole process is to fix a broken billing system, Brumback said about the sewer rate changes. Nobody wants to raise anyones bills, we are trying to be as fair as possible.

Hayden said the system relies on water used during the winter months to calculate bills that estimate customers full-year sewer use.

This approach resulted in unfair, biased billing that was consistently unable to keep pace with the costs of the sewer system and triggered frequent, dramatic rate increases every couple of years, Hayden said in the release.

According to Hayden, the new rate structure will provide an equitable solution to satisfy the revenue requirements and more evenly distribute associated costs among ratepayers, based on actual use, rather than unfairly burdening a select few. The rate change will capture an additional 16 percent of the required revenue, which is currently not being collected.

Residents who use private wells and private septic systems and currently pay no sewer bill will see no change, Hayden said. The annual bills for 2013-2014 that residents will receive in April, May and June of this year will be based on the old system.

Beginning the new fiscal year, residents on public water and sewer will receive quarterly bills with two parts a fixed rate and a variable rate. The fixed rate will be assessed based on three separate categories: residential, commercial or industrial. The variable rate will be assessed on actual water usage.

Hayden said that in order to close the current funding shortage, the average rate will increase by 10 percent. For residential, the annual fixed rate is $180 per household billed at $45 per quarter. The variable rate was reduced from $4.33 to $3 per 100 cubic feet. The commercial annual fixed rate is $250 per establishment and will be billed at $62.50 per quarter. The variable rate was reduced from $4.33 to $4.20 per 100 cubic feet. For industrial, the annual fixed rate is $250 per establishment, with $62.50 billed per quarter. The variable rate was reduced from $4.33 to $3.30 per 100 cubic feet.

Read more from the original source:
Southington clarifies sewer rate changes

When Cynthia Miller went house shopping in 1997, she knew one thing: She didnt want to live in La Crosse.

Her grandmother lived on 19th Street on the South Side, and while Miller liked the neighborhoods, the houses were older and the taxes high -- more than $2,000 a year.

We wanted to be able to have a nice house and still be able to do things, Miller said. If we would have bought a $60,000 house in La Crosse, our taxes would have been almost as much as the house payment.

Its a common refrain about the city: Property taxes are high.

And they are.

The city has one of the highest property tax rates in the state, running 35 to 60 percent higher than in some surrounding communities. On a median priced home -- valued at $154,000 -- that can add up to an extra $1,700 a year in property taxes.

But a new report (and online calculator)shows it can be just as expensive -- if not more so -- to live in suburban and rural communities, where hidden costs from septic systems and wells to trash collection and higher insurance rates -- offset much of the tax savings. For those commuting every day to work, fuel bills can burn through the rest.

You need to look at the whole picture, said Karl Green, an associate professor with UW Extension and the author of the study.

Green said the study grew out of a 2009 report he did on the challenges an older housing stock presented the city of La Crosse. As he went around the county presenting his findings, Green asked people if they lived in the city, and if not, why.

The predominant response I got was taxes, he said. It started me thinking theres more to it than just that.

Continued here:
Study shows hidden costs erase tax savings in rural, suburban communities

Saturday, March 15, 2014 2:05 AM EDT

By KASSONDRA GRANATA STAFF WRITER

SOUTHINGTON To clear up confusion within the town, Town Manager Garry Brumback and Town Engineer Keith Hayden have released updated information on the towns recent sewer rate changes.

The intent of this whole process is to fix a broken billing system, Brumback said about the sewer rate changes. Nobody wants to raise anyones bills, we are trying to be as fair as possible.

Hayden said the system relies on water used during the winter months to calculate bills that estimate customers full-year sewer use.

This approach resulted in unfair, biased billing that was consistently unable to keep pace with the costs of the sewer system and triggered frequent, dramatic rate increases every couple of years, Hayden said in the release.

According to Hayden, the new rate structure will provide an equitable solution to satisfy the revenue requirements and more evenly distribute associated costs among ratepayers, based on actual use, rather than unfairly burdening a select few. The rate change will capture an additional 16 percent of the required revenue, which is currently not being collected.

Residents who use private wells and private septic systems and currently pay no sewer bill will see no change, Hayden said. The annual bills for 2013-2014 that residents will receive in April, May and June of this year will be based on the old system.

Beginning the new fiscal year, residents on public water and sewer will receive quarterly bills with two parts a fixed rate and a variable rate. The fixed rate will be assessed based on three separate categories: residential, commercial or industrial. The variable rate will be assessed on actual water usage.

Hayden said that in order to close the current funding shortage, the average rate will increase by 10 percent. For residential, the annual fixed rate is $180 per household billed at $45 per quarter. The variable rate was reduced from $4.33 to $3 per 100 cubic feet. The commercial annual fixed rate is $250 per establishment and will be billed at $62.50 per quarter. The variable rate was reduced from $4.33 to $4.20 per 100 cubic feet. For industrial, the annual fixed rate is $250 per establishment, with $62.50 billed per quarter. The variable rate was reduced from $4.33 to $3.30 per 100 cubic feet.

Read the rest here:
Southington elaborates on sewer rate changes

The cost to connect homes in the Lono Kona Subdvision to a county sewer line project is estimated to be just under $10,000 per single family equivalent unit.

Thats according to an estimate Hawaii Countys Department of Environmental Management has provided to the public prior to a hearing, set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the West Hawaii Civic Centers council chambers.

Funding for the project is split between a $4 million grant and a $2.4 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Subdivision residents in homes and condos on parts of Kalani, Ala Onaona, Alahou, Lamaokeola and Alakai streets will pick up the cost of repaying the loan. Environmental management officials estimated the cost per single-family equivalent to be $9,868. DEM Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd said the amount may vary a bit per home and condo, with a studio unit paying less than a multibedroom, multibathroom home.

She said she doesnt anticipate significant resistance to the project.

It was a project that was supported by the community, she added.

For many of the property owners in the area, particularly those with condo complexes or homes with ohana units, there is no land available to easily install septic systems to replace the large capacity cesspools currently being used. The Environmental Protection Agency ruled in 1999 that all large capacity cesspools essentially any cesspool serving more than one housing unit be closed by April 2005.

County officials reached a consent agreement with the EPA in November 2005 to close county owned cesspools by 2010. Cesspools were more common in Hawaii than any other state.

Operating under that mandate, Hawaii County took on two major large capacity cesspool closure projects in the last few years, including one in the private Queen Liliuokalani subdivision in which nearly 20 such cesspools were closed in 2010. The county owned those cesspools.

In 2010, South Kona Councilwoman Brenda Ford proposed extending sewer lines mauka of Alii Drive. She sent that project, and about two dozen more, to federal agencies to see if any funding existed for them. At the time, no agencies were interested, she said.

That same year, the EPA began a disciplinary proceeding against one condo complex owner, Jose Jazmin, for failing to replace his cesspool. Jazmin told West Hawaii Today in 2011 that he had attempted to get the county to extend sewer lines to the subdivision, without success. He also questioned why his buildings were being cited for cesspool violations, but his neighbors were not.

Read the original post:
Hearing set for Lono Kona sewer improvements

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Tom Raley

Tom Raley is a freelance writer living in central Arkansas. He has been writing for more than 20 years and his short stories and articles have appeared in more than 25 different publications including P.I. Magazine, Pulsar and Writer's Digest.

When calculating construction costs on a new home, you must consider the cost of your septic system. If there is no sewer system available in your area, you will need to install a septic system. These system, while simple in design, can be very costly to install.

The size of septic tank and the amount of field line your system will require will depend on two factors. The first of these is the percolation test. This test, performed by a licensed tester, will determine how quickly the soil on your property absorbs water. The second item is your estimated water usage. The estimated water usage for a home is calculated by the number of bedrooms in your home.

Your system will include a concrete septic tank plumbed to your home by 4" PVC pipe. The field lines are constructed of 4" perforated PVC pipe laid in a bed of gravel. Atop the bed of gravel is a geotextile material which will help prevent roots, dirt and other debris from filling the gravel or pipes. In some instances where the field lines cannot be located reasonably close to the septic tank, it will be necessary to pump the waste water from the tank into the lines. Other factors, such as unusual soil conditions or restricted space, can cause additional modifications to the system which can result in much higher costs.

The average home will require a 1,000 gallon septic tank and approximately 300' of field line. Prices for this system can vary widely depending on where you live and the current cost of materials. For a basic system you should expect to spend a minimum of $1,500 up to $4,000. In more expensive areas these costs can go up to $3,000 to $5,000. In the case of unusual conditions or access, the cost can go as high as $10,000 to $15,000. It is possible for these costs to go even higher, so be certain to get multiple bids when you are preparing to hire a contractor to perform this work.

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Cost of Septic System Installation | eHow

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LISBON - Columbiana County received notice another piece of the funding puzzle is officially in place for the Kensington sewer project, with plant construction expected to begin this year.

"Our plan is to be under construction this summer," said Troy Graft, assistant county sanitary engineer.

A news release issued this week by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown's office announced a $250,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission had been awarded to county commissioners, six months after the newspaper reported the application had received preliminary approval.

The $250,000 is part of the funding package being assembled by county Engineer Bert Dawson to fund construction of the Kensington sewage treatment plant, mandated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to address the problem of widespread malfunctioning septic systems in that area. It is the county's responsibility since Kensington is an unincorporated area.

The cost now is an estimated $2.5 million (previously $1.9 million) and commissioners have contributed $184,000 to the project from their annual allocation of federal Community Development Block Grant money, plus another $100,000 from the county's share of state casino tax money. Commissioners are seeking a $600,000 grant for the project through another CDBG program.

Graft said they also recently learned the Ohio Water Development Authority has a new grant program for sewer projects that serve income-eligible households and Kensington would likely qualify for between $500,000 and $750,000.

"(OWDA) told me the money's there and we qualify," he said.

Dawson is pleased with the amount of grant money obtained for the project because it reduces the amount the county will have to borrow, and the smaller the loans the less money residents and businesses served by the sewer plant will be charged in user fees to retire the construction debt.

"We try to get to at least 50 percent (grant). With the $250,000, we're close to 70 percent grant," he said.

The Kensington project will serve 77 households and three business, and there will be no tap fee, Graft said. As part of the additional CDBG grant money sought by commissioners is $100,000 to help households that qualify connect to the sewer line.

Originally posted here:
Sewage plant project expected to begin this year