MSC News

MSC News National Headlines Sports Top Headlines CBS US News CBS Technology

Printer Friendly

Email to a Friend

Hiawatha Homes to Receive Sewer Letters

By Greg Bebermeyer

02/21/2013

( KNZA )-Letters will be sent to Hiawatha property owners having known sewer inflow and infiltration issues, giving them 60 days to make corrections.

City commissioners Tuesday evening directed Public Works Director Dave Grimm to send out the letters.

The commission made the decision following a discussion with Assistant City Attorney Hillary Boye on a resolution that would have provided limited financial assistance for private sewer repairs. Commissioners voiced concerns about the precedent that could set.

Grimm told commissioners that 84 private-sector defects were identified through an engineering study and smoke testing of the city’s sanitary sewer system.

Hiawatha is under a mandate from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to reduce rain and groundwater from entering the sewer system, and the city has developed a multi-phase plan to address the issue.

The engineering study shows a majority of the city’s inflow and infiltration issues are on private property.

Meanwhile, Grimm says the city continues its inspections of homes, businesses and buildings looking for illegal connections to the city’s sanitary sewer system such as sump pumps, roof drains and foundation drains. The city began the inspections in April 2011 and Grimm said they have about 400 properties yet to inspect.

You will need to be logged in to leave a comment.

Please Login

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited.

Click here to review our Terms of Use.