Do you qualify for a $300 sewer credit?
The Board of Municipal Utilities authorized an extension and expansion of the Foundation Drain Sump Disconnection (FDSD) program. Through 12/31/12, the Board authorized $36,000 for 120 residents/properties located in the formerly combined sewer areas of Avon Lake, who have sumps that pump foundation drain water to the sanitary sewer. Each resident/property owner will receive either a $300 sewer credit or a $100 sewer credit and a basin pump for permanently preventing their foundation drain water from entering the sanitary sewer. Visit our website (www.avonlakewater.org) for more information and call us at 440-933-6226 to see if you qualify. All who take part in the program will be required to complete an acknowledgement form.
More Information About the Program
Program Time Frame: July 1, 2011 – December 31, 2012
Program Area: Formerly Combined Sewer Areas of Avon Lake
Program Incentive: $300 sewer credit OR Zoeller Z105 Drain Pump with Basin and $100 sewer credit
Background
Connection of sumps pumping “clean water” (defined as stormwater or groundwater) to the sanitary sewer is in violation of Avon Lake Municipal Utilities’ (ALMU’s) regulations and is subject to a $200/day fine if not removed within 30 days’ notice. This is the case because the sanitary sewer is not designed to transport clean water and can become overloaded when doing so. This can lead to backups in residents’ basements, additional costs for treatment, and environmental impacts such as sanitary sewer overflows.
Like many other cities, Avon Lake has certain areas where there used to be combined sewers. A combined sewer transports sanitary sewage to the water pollution control center (WPCC) for treatment during dry periods. During wet periods, a mixture of stormwater and sanitary sewage travels through that same pipe; and the mixture passes through a regulator and discharges directly into a receiving water body (e.g., Lake Erie). Homes in formerly combined sewer areas often have a combined sump that collects both sanitary sewage and clean water and discharges it into the sanitary sewer.
In May 2011, the Board of Municipal Utilities clarified ALMU’s regulations to state that any foundation drain that uses a sump pump must be disconnected from the sanitary sewer, and failure to do so will result in the above-stated fine.
In order to incentivize and hasten disconnection of foundations drains from sump pumps discharging to the sanitary sewer, ALMU has developed this disconnection pilot program. The program rules and requirements are presented below.
Program Rules
1. This project is currently being completed in the formerly combined sewer areas of Avon Lake in order to reduce the immediate stormwater inflow experienced in the sanitary sewer after strong rain events. Participants’ homes must be within that project area.
2. Residents must allow ALMU representatives to inspect the basement to determine if clean water is entering the sanitary sewer and, if that is the case, after completion of the work to assure the clean water has been permanently removed from the sanitary sewer.
3. Once it is determined that clean water must be removed, a resident must sign an acknowledgement that he/she will complete the repairs within a 90 day timeframe and which incentive he/she wants.
4. If the resident chooses the Zoeller pump and sewer credit, the pump will be available for pickup at ALMU’s administrative office 5 business days after ALMU receives the request.
5. If a resident is unresponsive to ALMU’s first and second attempt to schedule the pre-inspection and/or does not respond prior to ALMU issuing a fine for non-compliance, the resident will be disqualified from being eligible to receive the incentive.
6. If a resident elects to discharge clean water outside his/her residence, rather than into the storm sewer, the resident must not discharge the water in a manner that causes an undue burden on neighboring properties.
7. ALMU’s incentives and assistance with the foundation drain disconnection program in no way implies an acceptance of liability for the work that is undertaken or the consequences therefrom.
8. The resident accepts and/or retains ownership, operation, maintenance, and replacement responsibility for anything that may be installed under this program.
9. The incentive is eligible for residents in the project area who complete the work between July 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012 and submit the re-inspection request by January 31, 2013.
10. After completion of the work is confirmed through ALMU inspection, ALMU will place the $100 or $300 sewer credit on the resident’s account.
11. ALMU shall have sole authority to determine eligibility for program participation, prioritization of requests and compliance with all requirements of the program and ALMU regulations.
