EVANSVILLE Junie Wright, who lives on in the 1800 block of Young Avenue, said she's gotten used to the smell of the sewage from the septic tanks in her neighborhood.

"I'm in the lowest part of the area, so we smell everybody's," she said at a meeting held Tuesday at the Helfrich Middle School cafeteria to address such issues.

About 90 city residents attended the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility-sponsored meeting about a new plan to give septic-tank users access to sewer lines.

Two neighborhoods were the focus of attention Tuesday: Cave, which is southwest of Diamond and St. Joseph avenues, and Mt. Auburn, which is east of St. Joseph Avenue at Mesker Park Drive.

After planning since 2010, these areas were designated as priorities among the 29 neighborhoods that have failing septic tanks some of which are 70 years old as they may cause an array of health issues.

Although final costs have yet to be determined, adding the 160 affected homes to city sewer lines could cost just over $1 million, director Allen Mounts said. Bonds for the project would be retired mostly through utility user fees, and homes in the target area will have to pay for the conversion.

Wright said she looks forward to a stench-free area, but she said "I don't look forward to paying the tap in."

Homeowners have the choice between utility or customer connection options.

Under the utility option, officials there select a pit location and install a grinder and connection lines to the main line. It covers that cost, the cost for electricity for the grinder, the costs to maintain the grinder, which has a life span of about 15 years.

The user is responsible for a $1,200 tap fee, installing a lateral from the house to the grinder and collapsing the septic tank.

Here is the original post:
City looks at extending sewer service for some septic tank users

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May 18, 2012 at 12:14 am by Mr HomeBuilder
Category: Sewer and Septic - Install