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Summer
1999 Newsletter
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Contents |
Decentralized
Wastewater Treatmentby Glenn D. Cooley, PE
Wastewater treatment in communities can be handled
by one of two broad based methods:
At least those were the established methods. In fact, communities usually progress from on site systems to a centralized system of sanitary sewers and sewage treatment plant. Centralized sewage systems are publically owned and operated while on site systems are owned and operated by individual landowners. The transition from on site to centralized wastewater systems is usually caused by increased population densities with accompanying on site system failures. Small lots, poor soils or a high water table are the common causes of on site system problems. The most investigated solution to the on site system failures is the central sewage plant and its accompanying network of sanitary sewers. This is often a very expensive solution for the rural Villages and Towns in our area. However, there is a hybrid system that can be considered. This alternate is "decentralized treatment". The process has several variants with the single non-variant being that each home or business still has its own septic tank. The next treatment step can be an on site sand filter with treated water being discharged to a common effluent sewer. This effluent sewer can be smaller than the normal 8" sewer since it carries only water. The wastewater collected can then be disinfected and discharged to a stream. An alternative to the on site sand filter is to convey the septic tank effluent from all or several properties to a larger sand filter (or absorption field if good soils can be found) before disinfection and discharge. In using this type of treatment system it is still important to have a centralized management process. The local government unit would oversee installation, operation and maintenance ( even going so far as scheduling individual septic tank pump outs as part of a user fee). This can be a modular type of system where only those community areas with sewage problems are served. Costs can be kept down since existing septic tanks can often be reused, effluent sewers are smaller and there is no sophisticated treatment equipment to operate and maintain.
By: Theodore Hopkins, Town of Hume Supervisor The Town has received several inquiries this past year on the Genesee River Project between the County Rt. 4 bridge and the approximate southern boundary of the Hamlet of Fillmore. The river has continuously eroded away the west bank thereby causing an increasingly sharp bend in the river. As the bend deepened, it became apparent, to both the Town and County, that sometime in the future the location of the river would make it difficult for the water to flow under the County Rt. 4 bridge. With the request and support of community members, talks between the County, Town, Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Army Corps of Engineers were held. It was agreed that the least expensive possible solution was to make a Relief Channel. The Town hired E&M Engineers to design the project. A proposed channel 50 ft. wide at the base and 128 ft. wide at the top and approximately 1 ft. above the present river bed was the final result of the engineering. At the time of this writing, (mid - November), the Town and County have done as much as possible on the project until the final permits are obtained. The cost of the project is being shared by both the County and Town. 85% of the contracted engineering cost is being paid by the County with the Town paying the remaining 15%. The cost of construction is being split b County, a Town. The Town is purchasing most of the land required to make the channel. The estimated total Town cost is approximately $25,000.00. Although there is no guarantee that anything done to the river will work indefinitely, the Town Board felt this investment of taxpayer funds was warranted to protect public utilities and a significant part of the Town tax base.
By: Al Vanderpoel, P.E. Building a pedestrian trail is fairly easy. Gravel is placed on an earth base, and an asphalt surface is laid down over the gravel. Drainage ditches and cross pipes are located to take care of the water problems. Signs are installed to warn the users of hazards, and basically that's all there is to it. The problem is that you have to get to the point where construction can begin. And while the construction phase is easily the most expensive part of building a trail, it is not the most time consuming part. The initial planning must study several aspects to insure that laws are not being broken, and that the proper permits are obtained. The first steps in planning involve the archeological/historical determination, the natural diversity inventory search, the wetland determination and the floodplain/floodway considerations. These are all relatively simple matters if nothing of significance is encountered. However, it is very possible that a more in depth study will be required. For instance, a wetland expert may be required to make a ground search and delineate wetlands. Permits, bridging or mitigation might well be the result of encountering a wetland in the path of the trail. Ownership verification will also be needed, including utility right-of-ways. A "one-call" inquiry is an easy way to determine if utility easements are in the path of the trail , but like ownership, the easements must be legally dealt with on a case-by-case basis. To avoid trespass problems, the ownership must be clear and free before construction begins. Adjacent neighbors who might oppose a trail in their back yard must be dealt with in addition to the acquisition problems. Permits for any number of activities must also be obtained as required. The most likely permits would be for work in a stream, such as a bridge. Also, some culverts will require permits. Each of these will typically require a soil erosion and sedimentation control plan to be prepared along with the permit, and any special permit requirements will need to be followed through. And finally, plans and specifications are necessary, so that bids can be obtained from contractors. The contractors will need to know quantities and standards so they can accurately determine costs. Without plans, the contractors would not be able to bid on an equal basis with other contractors. A detailed field survey is necessary prior to preparation of the plans in order to be able to calculate the quantities for bid. With all this complete, construction can begin. In retrospect, that is the easy part. As consulting engineers, we can help you through the planning stage, and keep the time spent here to a minimum. Two years of efficient planning could easily stretch to five years if the sequence of work is not correct. All this must be done, and until the boxes are checked "complete", construction cannot begin.
BY: Scott Livingstone, Earth Dimensions, Inc. The much anticipated expiration of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide 26 (Headwaters and Isolated Waters Discharges) permit is scheduled for September 15, 1999. In lieu of the NWP 26, the Corps will be issuing a series of activity - specific Nationwide permits, including one for commercial development and one for residential subdivisions. Preliminarily, it appears that the overall general conditions will not change (i.e. a acre threshold before mitigation is required). We have found, as consultants, the most frequently asked questions have been: 1. How will the September 15th deadline affect my existing NWP 26? All Nationwide 26 permits will expire on September 15th. In most cases the permits stipulate that if site work has begun prior to the expiration date, the applicant has one year to complete the work before having to re-apply. However, each permit should be read carefully prior to proceeding with construction. 2. What is my best course of action in dealing with these policy changes? We have been recommending that our clients with existing permits at least have the site grading completed prior to September 15th as long as it is certain the project will be moving ahead. Remember, once you begin to fill wetlands, you have committed yourself to any mitigation conditions set forth in the permit. If project plans are not secured, it may be advantageous to let the permit expire and re- apply when you are closer to construction. By letting the permit expire, the risks include regulation changes which may change the conditions of any permits issued and delays associated with the re-application process. The applicants needs to weigh the risks of either course of action prior to making a decision. We recommend consulting the Corps of Engineers or your friendly wetland consultant as September 15th approaches for details regarding the anticipated changes. Earth Dimensions can be reached at (716) 655-1717.
1999 Parks Grants From New York State Governor George E. Pataki recently announced the availability of grant applications for various parks projects. These grants are available under the 1996 Clean Water / Clean Air Bond Act and the Environmental Protection Fund. Money is available for parks development, park land acquisition and historic preservation. Information on applications can be obtained from the Allegany Region Office in the State Park at (716) 354-9101 or on the Parks web site at: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/grants/factsheet.html. Applications are due August 18, 1999. Funds are also available for recreational trails from the Recreational Trails Program funded by the Federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). Again, information can be obtained from the Regional Parks Office. Applications are due July 30, 1999. |