Residents updated on sewer repairs

Tag : sand grinder
CAMBRIDGE TWP., Mich. -
Homeowners in a sewer system around Wamplers, Iron, Sand and Evanslakes are being reassured there are no health or environmentalhazards from sewer equipment in their front lawns.

Owners of 1,268 homes and businesses connected to the sewer systembuilt in the late 1990s have been invited to a meeting at 10 a.m.Saturday at the Judson-Collins Camp at Wamplers Lake to listen toan explanation of an upcoming repair project. Plastic grinder pumpstations buried in front lawns have begun cracking and buckling.The Lenawee County Drain Commission plans to begin installing sealsmade of stainless steel bands and rubber that are warrantied for 50years.

Drain Commissioner Stephen May said the meeting is to demonstrateto sewer customers how the repairs will be made and let them knowwhere they rank on a priority list for work that will take placeover several years.

Inspections of every grinder pump station in the system werecompleted last week, May said. The condition of each was rated on aone-to-five scale, he said, and homeowners can check how theirs arerated.

While some of the stations have cracked, there is little chancethat sewage is leaking out and creating a problem, said PaulNelson, environmental health director for the Lenawee County HealthDepartment.

Ground water pressure makes it more likely water is leaking intothe stations that have cracked rather than allowing sewage toescape, May said.

“Everybody we’ve talked to has said there is verylittle likelihood that you’re going to have any significantsewage leaking out,” May said.

Grinder pump stations located the required minimum 50 feet from awell are not a health concern, said Nelson.

“If it is outside the 50 feet, even if it’s leaking,we’re not going to worry about it,” he said. Therewould be little difference between sewage leaking from the pumpstations and what goes into a septic system drain field, he said.The tanks are also located too far from the lakes to pose anypollution hazard, Nelson said.

Some wells may need testing, however.

Nelson said the health department allowed some grinder pumps within50 feet of wells if there was no other location for them in crampedlake residential areas. Nelson said he would like to test any wellsthat have grinder pumps closer than 50 feet that are cracked andpotentially leaking sewage.

May said the problem that has developed is damage to some grinderpumps when dirt and sand seep into the tanks. There is also a riskof tree roots growing into the stations after cracks occur, hesaid.

An expandable seal used on joints in concrete sewer pipes hasturned out to be a reliable and inexpensive fix, May said. Theycost about $200 each.

Cracks in the pump stations are occurring a few inches above aconcrete base they are attached to, he said. A seal was installedin one of the stations three months ago and is working well, hesaid. Engineers from three different firms have agreed the sealsare a good solution, he said.

The drain commission filed a lawsuit last year in U.S. DistrictCourt against the manufacturer of the grinder pump stations. InApril, a judge dismissed the complaint against New York-basedEnvironment-One, but May said a motion asking the judge toreconsider the decision is pending.

Regardless of the outcome, he plans to begin installing seals inthe pump stations this summer. At least several dozen and as manyas 100 could be installed this year, he said.