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What Homeowners need to Know
OVERVIEW
OF THE PROBLEM
The Sellersburg Regions frequent rainfall brings an underground,
out-of-sight problem into clear view. As little as an inch of rain can
cause raw sewage to overflow into our rivers and streams. Melting snow can
cause the same effect.
During dry weather, the sewage
collection system, which transports wastewater from thousands of homes to
the wastewater treatment plant, operates effectively.
However, when it rains or snow
melts, extra storm water gets into the sewage collection system through
direct connections or through leaky, cracked pipes. This extra volume of
water overloads the sewage collection system pipes and raw sewage overflows
at several locations before it reaches the treatment plant. Untreated
sewage streams into waterways and overflows from manholes.
And the effects of wet weather
can last for days. On rain events the Town advises all residents to stay
out of streams through out the town. Educating your children is important.
Sewage overflows present a public
health risk. While exposure to bacteria, such as giardiasis or cryptosporidiosis, are not
considered fatal for a healthy adult, they can be deadly for those with
weaker immune systems, the elderly and small children. While the public
water systems do an excellent job of purifying water before sending it to
homes, source protection is the cheapest and most effective way to ensure
drinking water quality.
Water is an important resource
for the economic development of the Sellersburg Area and sewage overflows
hinder growth. Because these overflows violate the Clean Water Act,
regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and
Indiana Department of Environmental Management, could stop the
municipalities from adding new connections to the existing sewer system
until the overflow problem is fixed. This restriction could limit the
construction of new businesses and homes in Sellersburg, like in the late
80's.
Fixing the problem is going to
require a substantial long-term investment. Today’s Town Council has
already started the funding process by requiring new construction to pay
more in tap in rates in order to provide capital for future expansion. Even
though this is estimated not to help offset the cost of construction at the
present time, it does provide funding for the future expansion projects.
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