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Plymouth
gets good news
on sewer project
South Bend Tribune
- 2/12
The
news was upbeat when city leaders heard an update Monday night
about how Plymouth is tackling the federally mandated storm sewer
system program.
Eric
Welling, representing Commonwealth Engineering, the firm hired
to assist the city with its compliance in the pollution prevention
program, said earlier work done by the city will save time and
money by eliminating duplication of efforts.
Welling
said information collected by Donnie Davidson, waste water and
sewer department superintendent, and his crews in connection with
the long-term combined sewer overflow program will add to the
documentation of evidence that Plymouth may be ahead of the curve
in pollution prevention.
The
city is in phase two of its storm-water program contract with
Commonwealth, which calls for certain actions to take place by
August of this year.
Davidson
must show the areas within the city where runoff affects the Yellow
River, Welling explained. Maps must be developed to show a baseline,
or starting point, for pollution levels, so future tracking of
differences in those levels can be accomplished. For example,
runoff can occur during heavy rain events when water runs off
large parking lots. Areas where the runoff occurs will be included
in the maps.
The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program originally targeted
larger cities across the nation, Welling and Davidson told the
Board of Public Works & Safety. The unfunded mandate has,
however, "finally trickled down to cities our size,"
Davidson said. Noncompliance with the regulation can result in
fines of up to $25,000 per day.
Davidson
said the city must develop and document erosion controls; no small
task considering that the controls are required for each acre
of the affected area. Additionally, under the program, the city
will be responsible for reviewing plans presented by any new developments
one acre or more in size.
The
additional work load is a change from the previous regulations
that required the state to assist with and review erosion controls
for developments comprising five acres or more.
"We
are not alone, though," Davidson said.
"One
hundred twenty-five communities, 30-some counties, some universities
... are being pulled into this program ... based on population
density," Welling said.
Plymouth's
continuing work to complete its sewer separation program presents
a challenge, too, Davidson explained. As the sewers designed to
collect rainwater runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial waste
water in the same pipe are separated, the process adds to the
river's potential contamination.
Plymouth
does have the advantage of working with Commonwealth, Davidson
noted. Don Larson, a Commonwealth representative who continues
to work with the city, serves on the state committee expected
to formally adopt the storm-water program today.
The
state also plans to develop a guidance document that outlines
just how communities should comply with the program's rules. A
first draft of the guidance document is expected in April or May,
Welling said.
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