[ back ]
No quick solution seen for failing septic systems
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - May 28, 2009)
No quick solution seen for failing septic systems
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Chardon city officials have no answer for residents along Canfield Road and North Street, where septic systems appear to be failing.
City Council's water and sewer committee met last week to discuss the possibility of bringing sanitary sewers to the area but learned that they are not in the foreseeable future for that part of the city.
"I don't see any way we can give assurance it will be done soon," Councilman Philip King said.
The situation with failing septic systems was brought to Chardon's attention by the Geauga County Health Department, City Manager David Lelko said. Health officials asked whether the city was planning to extend sewers to the area in the near future, he said. If that was the case, residents could avoid the cost of installing new septic systems.
Gayland Moore, the city's director of public service, said existing sewer lines serve the Bridgewater development just to the west, including a pump station. Plans are under way for a sanitary and storm-sewer project along Downing Drive this year, he said.
He said the question of when the sewers may be extended to the Canfield Road area will become more relevant when a developer of property south of Center Street (Route 44) and Mentor Road decides to begin building. Once that development gets under way, he said, the developer and city are expected to extend a line to the Bridgewater development to tie into the city's sewers.
The city will then have to decide whether to upgrade the system to handle the flow or "bite the bullet" and install a north-side trunk line, which would serve the Canfield Road area.
He said such plans may be as much as five years away. Although the developer wants to get plans ready, Mr. Moore said, the developer also wants to wait until market conditions improve before moving ahead.
Mr. Moore said it is likely that all homes in the area may be in need of new septic systems because they were all built at about the same time.
Councilman Jefferey Campbell Jr. said residents actually could be better off. While new septic systems may cost in the neighborhood of $20,000, the assessment for sanitary sewers could be even higher based on the number of homes that would be responsible for the assessment.
Mr. Lelko said the property at Center Street and Mentor Road likely will dictate which action the city takes, depending on the type of development and the volume of flow.
Mr. King said the only hope for tackling the sewer project sooner than the estimated five years would be to secure part of the federal stimulus package.
[ back ]
