Dear EarthTalk: what's better for the local ecology, sewers or septic tanks?

Dear EarthTalk: What's better for the local ecology, sewers or septic tanks?--T.H., Darien, CT

When homeowners don't take care of their septic systems properly, though, they can become a nuisance for the surrounding ecosystem. Wastewater that is not properly treated can contaminate surface and groundwater and threaten public health. According to UMNE, improperly treated sewage can be the culprit behind the spread of hepatitis, dysentery and other diseases resulting from pathogens in drinking water, while also compromising the purity of lakes and streams. Additionally, flies and mosquitoes that are attracted to and breed in wet areas where sewage reaches the surface can also spread disease.CONTACT: Septic System Owner's Guide, www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/dd6583.html.>There are pros and cons to each in regard to the environment. Both types of systems are designed to handle and treat so-called "blackwater" (wastewater from toilets) and "graywater" coming from our sinks, showers, dishwashers and laundry machines. On-site septic and community-wide sewer systems work in similar ways, utilizing micro-organisms to filter out bacteria, viruses and other disease-causing pathogens before releasing the cleansed water back into the environment.Septic systems have their proponents, though, who say that a professionally designed, installed and maintained system should hold up in even the biggest of storms. The University of Minnesota Extension (UMNE), which publishes the useful online "Septic System Owner's Guide," says vigilance is key: "The only way to guarantee effective treatment is to have a trained professional ensure adequate unsaturated and suitable soil exists below the soil treatment area to allow for complete wastewater treatment."You probably won't have much choice as to whether that home you're thinking of buying is on sewer or septic. Most likely it's a done deal, unless the neighborhood is presently all on septic but is considering a petition to the town to switch to sewers (in which case you can usually agree to hook up or stay put).In general, most people prefer to be on a shared sewer system if they have a choice, as the burden of keeping the system running smoothly falls on the local government, which presumably has the money and expertise to ensure that wastewater is properly treated across the region. Also, in a shared sewer system, wastewater is whisked away to a centralized treatment facility; anyone who has ever experienced a septic system backup on their property can appreciate what a benefit off-site wastewater treatment can be.Improperly treated sewage can also lead to increased nitrates in local water supplies, which is dangerous for infants, pregnant women and those with already compromised immune systems. In and around lakes and streams, this influx in nitrates can lead to plant growth out of whack with the local ecosystem's ability to handle it, resulting in oxygen-free "dead zones" devoid of marine and riparian life altogether.

CONTACT: Septic System Owner's Guide, www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/dd6583.html.

Give Solitude land permit

I read in the Deseret News regarding Solitude Mountain Resort's request to open Solitude Canyon (Jan. 21). I had to laugh when "Save the Canyons" executive director, Carl Fisher, cited watershed issues as the most important reason to keep the canyon closed. As a more than 15-year resident of the canyon, I felt amused because a few skiers are unlikely to have an impact on the already most-polluted area of the canyon. Silver Fork, at the bottom of the Silver Fork Canyon drainage, has been polluted for decades. I personally know of two septic tanks that haven't been pumped for at least a decade. There are dozens of cabins with no indoor plumbing and outhouses with no concrete liners. No wonder there is a fly epidemic every summer.

Let's give Solitude a land-use permit and let them help clean up the environment. Someone with deeper pockets than mine needs to get the ball rolling.Brighton

Brighton

Meadow Springs Corporation Introduces a Safe and Natural Way to Maintain Septic Tanks

Meadow Springs Corporation, the scientific pioneer of "Green" septic tank maintenance, today announced the launch of its flagship product, Meadow Springs. Meadow Springs is the first non-toxic, easy-to-use and effective septic tank maintenance product on the market. The product is made with natural active dry yeast, which Meadow Springs Corporation named Eco-Yeast™. This is opposed to many popular sector products which utilize bacteria. Eco-Yeast™ naturally energizes the existing bacteria in septic tanks, leading to the breakdown of solid waste, which helps septic tanks run smoothly.

"Meadow Springs is a simple, safe and cost-effective way for septic tank owners to guard against potentially thousands of dollars of repair bills," said Bill Hanes, Director of Consumer Sales for Meadow Springs Corporation. "As well as being an effective product, it's also all-natural, so there is no additional bacteria that can affect children in the home, or the environment around the home."In 2008, Meadow Springs Corporation executives commissioned Iowa State University scientists to test Meadow Springs' effectiveness. The study, performed at the University's Department of Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering Agriculture Waste Management Laboratory, determined that septic tanks treated with Meadow Springs incurred a volatile solids decrease of almost 70 percent when compared to untreated septic tanks. This decrease in volatile solids allowed the septic tanks to run more smoothly and effectively. Now, after two years of testing, Meadow Springs is available for consumers.Meadow Springs is available in three sizes -- 10 ounce, 20 ounce and 60 ounce; the latter two being re-sealable for additional treatments. Meadow Springs is available at retailers including Ace Hardware, True Value and Ingles as well as online at www.meadowspringscorp.com .Media Contact: Joshua Levitt PR for Meadow Springs (949) 852-8604 jlevitt@mckinleyreserve.com

Media Contact: Joshua Levitt PR for Meadow Springs (949) 852-8604 jlevitt@mckinleyreserve.com

Bode's Precast moves to new plant

Bode's Precast Inc. moved recently to a new, eight-acre facility at 1861 E. Pole Road, where they installed a new batch plant and other equipment used to manufacture concrete products.

The plant will produce environmentally-friendly concrete by using recycled products, reclaimed water and either fly ash or slag. These factors will help Bode's Precast earn LEED points from the United States Green Building Council.In 1970, Bode's Precast started up as a ready-mix facility on River Road in Lynden. Bode's Precast is managed by Ron Heeringa and his two sons, Rick and Ray Heeringa.The new mixing facility will provide professional-grade concrete, which can be used in all of the plant's products. Products manufactured by Bode's Precast include: Redi-Rock retaining wall blocks, septic tanks, water storage tanks, bunker silos, wall panels, benches, planters and stepping stones. Bode's also has boom trucks to haul its own products, and the trucks can be rented by the hour to move or lift equipment.

For more information, call Bode's Precast at (360) 354-3912 or visit www. bodesprecast.com.

Groups win round in fight over Magothy River island in Md. Court of

In a victory for environmental groups, an appeals court has revived the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Inc.'s challenge to a variance permitting pier and septic-tank construction on a privately owned Magothy River island.

The Anne Arundel County Circuit Court agreed, prompting the groups to seek review by the Court of Special Appeals.The appeals court cited the "substantial amounts of time, as well as money" the groups have spent protecting the river's vegetation and oyster reefs. It also noted that the state Department of Natural Resources has issued permits to the groups allowing them to inspect and retrieve oysters and reefs in the river.The Magothy River Association's attorney, Ann Fligsten, hailed Friday's decision as giving standing to the many environmental groups that do not own property but have spent time and money in pursuing their cause."On remand the board must determine whether these investments of time and money and the permits the appellants hold are sufficient to satisfy ... the test for aggrievement," Judge Christopher B. Kehoe wrote for the court. "[O]wnership is not required to establish aggrievement."MRA President Paul Spadaro testified that his group had spent more than $126,000 and expended more than 31,000 volunteer hours in protecting the river's water quality between 1992 and the 2007 board hearing. CBF staff similarly testified to the money and time that group had spent on environmental protection.The Anne Arundel County Board of Appeals had rejected the challenge, which the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is mounting with the Magothy River Association Inc. The board said the groups lacked standing to challenge because they owned no land near Big Dobbins Island and thus would not be "aggrieved" by the planned construction.The Clickners' attorneys did not return telephone messages Friday seeking comment on whether they plan to seek review by the Court of Appeals. The Clickners were represented by Harry C. Blumenthal and Eileen E. Powers of Blumenthal, Delavan & Williams PA in Annapolis.CBF staff attorney Amy McDonnell said the appellate decision "clearly shows the board that they were misinterpreting the law" on standing.But the board, in a 4-3 vote, said property ownership, not just active involvement, was necessary for standing.The Clickners' counsel told the board that that the groups lacked standing because neither one owned property within a half-mile of the island.The island sits within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, a state designation for parts of the bay where development is restricted for environmental reasons.The 3-0 decision is a setback for David and Diana Clickner, who own the island and hope to build a home there. As part of the construction, the Clickners requested the variance to build a pier, septic tank, driveway, well and stormwater drain."The grassroots local people who have an investment in the water quality ... have an interest that's just as important as someone who has a property interest in the river," said Fligsten, a solo practitioner in Arnold. "This is a great day."The groups are seeking "to preserve the most endangered part of the shoreline," she added. "The law [on standing] is there for a reason and it needs to be followed."Issue: Did the county board of appeals err in denying standing to environmental groups because they did not own property near the Magothy River?An administrative hearing officer conditionally granted the Clickners' variance request on Dec. 18, 2006. CBF and MRA appealed to the board.WHAT THE COURT HELDCBF and MRA countered that a member of both groups, Mark McInnes, owned property closer in. The board rejected McInnes' testimony because he was not a party to the case.Critical areaHolding: Yes; on remand, the board should consider the substantial time and expense the groups have devoted to protecting the river, with licenses from the state, in deciding the standing issue.But the Court of Special Appeals said a group's standing does not depend on being an aggrieved property owner. Rather, a group can have standing based on the extent of its efforts to prevent environmental harm, the intermediate appellate court said in remanding the case to the board.Case: Chesapeake Bay Foundation Inc. et al. v. David Clickner et ux., CSA No. 01525, Sept. Term 2008. Reported. Opinion by Kehoe, J. Filed April 30, 2010.CBF claims the approved pier would kill about 1,600 square feet of flourishing bay grasses. The other construction would produce harmful runoff, further damaging bay grasses and oyster reefs, according to CBF.

The Anne Arundel County Circuit Court agreed, prompting the groups to seek review by the Court of Special Appeals.

Meadow Springs Corporation Showcases Flagship Product at 2010 National Hardware Show

Meadow Springs Corporation, the scientific pioneer of "Green" septic tank maintenance, today announced it would showcase its flagship product, Meadow Springs, at the 2010 National Hardware show, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, May 4-6. Meadow Springs can be found at booth number 1917 in the Central Hall. In addition to having a presence at the National Hardware Show, the company has announced that two of the country's largest hardware retailers, Ace Hardware and True Value, have authorized Meadow Springs for a national rollout.

Meadow Springs is a non-toxic, easy-to-use and effective septic tank maintenance product that is powerful yet eco-friendly. The product is made with natural active dry yeast, which Meadow Springs Corporation named Eco-Yeast™. In addition to a warning-label-free package, retailers will also appreciate the eco-friendly themed eye-catching packaging, which is showcased in Meadow Springs Corporations easy-to-merchandise six-pack tray.While Meadow Springs is a completely safe product, requiring no warning labels, the product is equally as effective as traditional sector products. To validate that claim, Meadow Springs Corporation executives turned to Iowa State University scientists to test the products' effectiveness. The study, performed in 2008 at the University's Department of Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering Agriculture Waste Management Laboratory, determined that septic tanks treated with Meadow Springs incurred a volatile solids decrease of almost 70 percent when compared to untreated septic tanks. This decrease in volatile solids allowed the septic tanks to run more smoothly and effectively.Meadow Springs is a safe, effective and easy-to-use alternative for consumers looking to maintain their septic tanks without additional bacteria. Meadow Springs combines the company's Eco-Yeast™ with other natural enzymes to safely and effectively energize existing septic tank bacteria and break down solid waste. The result is a smooth-running septic tank with no harsh chemicals. For more information on Meadow Springs, visit www.meadowspringscorp.com .Media Contact: Joshua Levitt PR for Meadow Springs McKinley Reserve Media Group (949) 852-8604 joshua.levitt@mkrmg.comMeadow Springs is available in three sizes -- 10 ounce, 20 ounce and 60 ounce; the latter two being re-sealable for additional treatments. Meadow Springs is available at retailers including Ace Hardware and True Value, as well as online at www.meadowspringscorp.com .About Meadow Springs

Media Contact: Joshua Levitt PR for Meadow Springs McKinley Reserve Media Group (949) 852-8604 joshua.levitt@mkrmg.com

County awards $4 million in sewer line installations

Spokane County has awarded contracts totaling about $4 million for two sewer-line projects in the Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake areas intended to eliminate septic tanks.

The project entails installing sewer line and 167 sewer hookup stubs in an area bounded on the west by Barker Road, on the north by Mission Avenue, and on the south by Boone Avenue and a railroad right of way. The project extends east into Liberty Lake, and its eastern boundary is roughly Glenbrook Road, but includes lengths of Baldwin Avenue, Nora Avenue, and Augusta Court there. It also includes portions of Grady, Hodges, and Aladdin roads, as well as Maxwell Avenue and Cavalier, Caulfield, Colonial, and Myers courts, Schwab says. The cities of Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake are paying for repaving the streets there once the sewer lines are installed, he says.Owens Construction soon will begin work on a similar project in Spokane Valley, just northwest of the Knife River project. That project will entail installing 218 new sewer stubs and associated sewer pipe. The project includes portions of Indiana Avenue west of Flora Road to the Spokane River; Indiana between Greenacres and Barker Road; Long Road between Mission and Indiana avenues; Riverway Avenue between Barker Road and Montgomery Avenue; Montgomery between Flora and Long; Greenacres Road between Indiana and Mission; and portions of McKee Road and Baldwin Avenue west of Barker Road.Work on the project awarded to Knife River likely will begin today, May 20, says Tim Schwab, a plans and contracts engineer for the county.The county has awarded the Post Falls office of Bismarck, N.D.-based Knife River Corp. a $2.4 million contract to install sewer lines and individual stubs for lots in an area that encompasses parts of the cities of Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake. Separately, the county has awarded a $1.7 million contract for similar work in Spokane Valley near Evergreen Road to Owens Construction Inc., of Coeur d'Alene.

Schwab says Spokane County has just a few more projects remaining to complete its long-term effort to connect county residences to its sewer system, including one just south of the Owens Construction work.

PetGadgets.com Now Selling the POWERLOO

Amazing Product Flushes Away Major Hassle for Dog Owners

Co-developer, Curt Fournier states, “We are thrilled to be working with PetGadgets.com and believe the POWERLOO is a great fit with other unique products offered on the web site. We look forward to being part of this premier pet retail company.”Connecting to a sewer line or septic tank, the POWERLOO lets owners flush away dog waste immediately by depositing it directly into the sewer system. The in-ground design offers a low, attractive profile that blends with your landscape so the neighbors won't even know it's there.POWERLOO blends ecology and high performanceTo kick off the product launch, customers who purchase the POWERLOO from PetGadgets.com by August 15, 2010 will receive a $250 manufacturer’s rebate.Geoff Mott, President of PetGadgets.com says, “We're excited to bring this innovative product to pet owners and pet businesses. POWERLOO easily solves a multitude of problems in an ecologically responsible manner.”Fournier says, “We did our research and found that pet owners rate collecting and storing waste as the biggest disadvantage to dog ownership. We also discovered that pet waste contains pathogens that are harmful to pets and humans, making traditional methods of waste disposal unsanitary. Leaving waste on the ground for nature to handle or composting it does not remove pathogens and they are left to find there way into our water supplies.” According to the EPA and CDC, sending pet waste to municipal treatment centers through sewer systems is the best way to deal with harmful pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella and Giardia. Using the POWERLOO also removes the need to use non-biodegradable plastic bags to store the waste.FOUNTAIN HILLS, Ariz. -- Dog owners, rejoice! PetGadgets.com now offers for sale a product that makes disposing of pet waste easier than ever before and safe for the environment.The POWERLOO is made in the USA and comes in five color choices applied through a lasting powder-coating method. The POWERLOO can be used year-round in any climate, thanks to the optional cold-weather kit. The standard package starts at $997 and includes a manufacturer’s one year warranty and free shipping.

The POWERLOO is made in the USA and comes in five color choices applied through a lasting powder-coating method. The POWERLOO can be used year-round in any climate, thanks to the optional cold-weather kit. The standard package starts at $997 and includes a manufacturer’s one year warranty and free shipping.

Interlabial pad and Individual Packaging body for Individual Package of interlabial pad; Satoshi Mizutani and Yuki Noda, assignors to Uni-Charm Corporation, Ehime, Japan

Filed 2/18/2004. Issued 6/1/2010.

Patented recently is an interlabial pad, which can be discarded by flushing down a toilet and yet with which neither the functions and comfort during use of the interlabial nor the functions of a septic tank are damaged, is provided. The interlabial pad comprises: an absorbent body absorbing liquids; and a cover body covering the absorbent body in an enclosing manner and comprising a liquid permeable surface side sheet and a liquid impermeable back face side sheet. The cover body is arranged from a plurality of small sheet pieces and the small sheet pieces that are adjacent each other are mutually overlapped and form seam parts. The seam parts are set so as to become weakened in physicochemical strength upon permeation of water and separate into the plurality of small sheet pieces when the interlabial pad is discarded by being flushed down a toilet.

RADIUS organic biodegradable silk floss

RADIUS announces new RADIUS Organic Biodegradable Silk Floss, the first 100% biodegradable floss, Spun by hand, the natural silk is certified organic by the USDA and is grown sustainably and harvested humanely. According to the manufacturer, the new silk floss is 100% home compostable and septic tank safe, and it is grown sustainably and sourced in cooperation with the CORSEDA Farm Cooperative in Cauca, Colombia, which focuses on redirecting worthy sources of livelihood back to the native populations there. RADIUS floss is coated in natural, vegan candelilla wax and removes plaque effectively without trauma to the gums. It is available at Whole Foods and Vitamin Shoppe retail locations nationwide. For more information, visit www.radiustoothbrush.com.

Meadow Springs Receives Handyman Club Seal of Approval

Meadow Springs Corporation, the scientific pioneer of "Green" septic tank maintenance, today announced its flagship product, Meadow Springs, has received the Handyman Club of America "Member Tested and Recommended" Seal of Approval. This approval comes after Meadow Springs received a 98 percent approval rating from the more than 260 Handyman Club members that participated in the test.

Meadow Springs is available in three sizes -- 10 ounce, 20 ounce and 60 ounce; the latter two being re-sealable for additional treatments. Meadow Springs is available at retailers including Ace Hardware and True Value, as well as online at www.meadowspringscorp.com .The member test will be highlighted in the October/November issue of HANDY Magazine, the official publication of the Handyman Club. The member test allows club members to utilize innovative DIY products and provide subsequent unbiased opinions. Some feedback which Meadow Springs received, included, "The product [Meadow Springs] is very user friendly..." and "I love the ease of using this product compared to my old one." Several testers also remarked how they appreciated the "convenient resealable packaging," fresh scent (lack of pungent odor) and "measurement window" which ensures the correct usage amount each time, and comes standard on the 20 ounce and 60 ounce sizes of the product.About Meadow SpringsTesters also had an overwhelmingly favorable view of Meadow Springs' effectiveness, with one tester commenting that "After only one treatment, approx. half of the bottle, we have seen dramatic results and [the product] has stopped our system from belching and draining slowly." Complete results will also be posted on the Handyman Club of America website, www.handymanclub.comMeadow Springs is a safe, non-toxic, easy-to-use and effective septic tank maintenance product that is powerful yet eco-friendly. The product is made with natural active dry yeast, which Meadow Springs Corporation named Eco-Yeast™, so it's safe for both the environment and around children.Meadow Springs is a safe, effective and easy-to-use alternative for consumers looking to maintain their septic tanks without additional bacteria. Meadow Springs combines the company's Eco-Yeast™ with other natural enzymes to safely and effectively energize existing septic tank bacteria and break down solid waste. The result is a smooth-running septic tank with no harsh chemicals. For more information on Meadow Springs, visit www.meadowspringscorp.com .

Media Contact: Joshua Levitt PR for Meadow Springs McKinley Reserve Media Group (949) 852-8604 joshua.levitt@mkrmg.com

Holme Valley planning decisions

Conditional permission: * Holmfirth Vineyard, extension to existing agricultural building to form wine shop and wine tasting room with formation of new access and additional parking provision, building of sedum-roofed eco lodge in existing quarry containing seven units, one wind turbine on a 9m mast, two septic tanks and two air source heat pumps, Woodhouse Farm, Woodhouse Lane, Holmbridge.

Withdrawn: * P Mitchell, one Evoco 10kw wind turbine on a 15m high mast, Upper Woodroyd Barn, Hog Close Lane, Holmfirth.* R Thornton, demolition of existing garage and building of a two storey detached garage with pitched roof, 21 Ryefields, Scholes.* Mr and Mrs M Carr, extension and alterations, 137 Huddersfield Road, Thongsbridge. Refused: * Mr Mohammad Adnan, garage, 13 Northfield Grove, Lockwood.* Dr Michael O'Grady, decking to rear, 71 Woodhead Road, Honley.* D Smith, sun lounge extension to rear (conservation area), 11 Sike Close,Totties, Holmfir th.

Withdrawn: * P Mitchell, one Evoco 10kw wind turbine on a 15m high mast, Upper Woodroyd Barn, Hog Close Lane, Holmfirth.

Commentary: Curbing septic systems to clean up the bay

Hemmed in by fiscal and political circumstances, Gov. Martin O'Malley and his speech writers labored mightily and brought forth septic tanks, or a ban of them, to be precise.

Lawmakers and governors are not obliged to make their deliberations entertaining. It might be preferable to have a dull 90 days in Annapolis.C. Fraser Smith is senior news analyst at WYPR-FM. His column appears Fridays in The Daily Record. His e-mail address is fsmith@wypr.org.A muted bombshellThis was greeted a day later as nothing less than a bid to curb suburban sprawl and help restore the Chesapeake Bay -- major objectives. Here was something worthy of a splash.Republican members of the assembly heard the governor's accompanying concerns about sprawl with related worries about big government over-reaching yet again. The GOP used to be a strong advocate for Chesapeake Bay recovery and may still be. But its reflex to protect every iota of individual liberty can get in the way of community-saving restrictions.One had been fighting off the vague but experience-based expectation of something underwhelming. These speeches are often brain dumps in which every possible notion is put out on an equal footing with every other notion.But when there are major problems to confront and when there are ways to solve them, it's the job of governors and legislators to act.But at the very end of his 29-minute oration, O'Malley offered his muted bombshell, a call to prohibit any more septic systems in new developments of more than five or six homes.Wrong, actually.O'Malley's proposal has the beauty of accelerating the effort to make some dramatic contribution to the bay's health. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the federal government, multi-state compacts and virtually every Maryland governor for decades has declared support for the restoration.Thus the prospect of a governor having to huff and puff in search of the right rhetorical tone, probably knowing he would be hyperventilating to no avail. There was no clarion call, nothing that might rally even his own Democratic troops to action. He'd already wet-blanketed the faithful by inviting them to raise taxes on their own if they were so inclined.Offered as a near-throwaway at the end of his State of the State address, the proposal landed without much immediate impact. It should have been right at the top of the list of initiatives unless the idea was soften the landing.The reception was understandable, given the way of such speeches.None of it seems to have the kind of impact everyone wants. We see a holding action for the most part -- better than nothing, of course, but more is needed to make real progress.The assembly has dealt with all of these issues in the past and it has found ways to mitigate if not end the flow of nitrogen into the bay waters. Progress has usually been incremental. That is likely to be the case again, but something more is needed and the governor has thrown down the gantlet.Nitrogen captured by septic systems can move through a drain field into groundwater and from there into the bay via streams. Nitrogen is one of the culprits in the growth of algae blooms which help to create "dead zones" inhospitable to fish.That seemed at least as likely as usual this year for various reasons, one of them well-known: There's no money for initiatives. Worse, really. We're more than a billion in the hole. And there's little if any appetite for raising taxes.The culprit is nitrogenO'Malley's proposal is certain to provoke long and loud opposition from home builders, septic tank makers, installers and others who say cleaning the bay will mean economic hardship on the shore."There is one area of reducing pollution where so far we have totally failed," the governor said, "and in fact it has gotten much worse and that is pollution from the proliferation of new septic systems -- systems which by their very design are intended to leak sewage into our bay and water tables."The speech was widely dismissed by members of the General Assembly as harmless. Empty of imagination, lacking a challenge, boring even.

C. Fraser Smith is senior news analyst at WYPR-FM. His column appears Fridays in The Daily Record. His e-mail address is fsmith@wypr.org.

Permits expired for dozens of wastewater plants in Jefferson County,

One of the more pressing problems facing Jefferson County is how to finance infrastructure improvements such as sanitary sewers.

An NID would allow homeowners to pay for improvements through special assessments levied over a number of years.In the past, the smaller systems were left to property owners associations to maintain. But the standards for treatment plants have become more stringent over time and there is a new, complex permitting process, he said. Sewer districts are struggling with ways to finance the required upgrades."It's a problem every district has," Cox says. "There are no quick fixes for it."Pratt says that he has been contacted by eight other private sewer systems to have the Jefferson County Public Sewer District take them over, but no funding is available.Josiah Cox of Trumpet Land Services and Clyde Pratt, Jefferson County Public Sewer District chair, discussed the dilemma at the Jefferson County Council work session May 2.There are four main public sewer districts in the county: Glaize Creek, Northeast, Rock Creek, and Jefferson County Public Sewer District, along with private sewer systems, lagoons, and an unknown quantity of septic tanks.Residents along Mark Drive in Fenton plan to pursue an NID for their neighborhood. Currently there are 34 homes with failing septic systems, Cox said. The water quality issues violate code and could warrant a $1,000/day fine.The group has already raised about $20,000, and has engineering plans designed and easements signed, said spokesman Jim Weiss. A building permit was issued Nov. 22. Following approval of the NID by the county council, they can begin construction.The former County Commission created the Jefferson County Public Sewer District in 2000, which includes all unincorporated parts of the county not already served by other sewer districts. In 2007 it took over the troubled Raintree Plantation subdivision sewer system.The District has placed bond issues before the voters in the past to borrow money to build facilities, but the issues failed.Another option is to establish a special tax district like a Neighborhood Improvement District that would enable improvements to be made to sanitary sewage collection and disposal systems. NIDs are financed by the local government through the issuance of general obligation bonds.Of the 265 wastewater treatment plants in the county, about 20 percent are operating with expired permits, Cox said.

The county does have a Private Sanitary Sewer System Replacement program to repair or replace failing septic systems for low-to- moderate-income residents, but there is a limited amount of funding available.

Therapeutic No, The

Take a good deep breath, flex your diaphragm, look into the mirror and with your most enthusiastic voice say "No!". Now, don't you feel better, more in control, maybe even richer? You should. In the right circumstances you have just rid yourself of a marginally profitable job, a too difficult client, a calendar or schedule killer, and it all took less air than it takes to blow out the candles on my birthday cake.

We all know if no one says your price is too high, it is, in fact, too low. Attitude is a little like price and sometimes it needs adjusting. When you are dealing with a lead who is asking for too much or wants things to be done too quickly, it is time to upgrade.Well, we're gonna kick that habit, maybe even go cold turkey. We're going to get back to running a business instead of hanging on. I don't think your post-recession clientele is any different than it was before the crash: Your customers wanted too much for too little, but they did appreciate the good and thoughtful service that separated you from Charley's Rusty Fender Remodeling. These clients haven't changed and you probably haven't either. You still try to give your famous service even though you aren't being paid for most of it. Cars, gas, food, clothing, golf balls and fishing rods cost more now than they did a year ago, and so do we. So do we! Ever wonder why the materials suppliers didn't lower their prices much if any? They didn't have to. Where else were we going to go for product?By MM "Mike" Weiss, GMR, GMB, CAPSIf you agree with the pundits, experts and prognosticators that we are emerging from the inside of the sales septic tank, I'd like to prescribe a quick bit of preventive medicine for you. We have been searching and scrounging for leads, talking to everyone, and gnashing our teeth about smaller jobs and shrinking margins. We survived, thanks to those very same jobs (maybe mostly to them). But something else has happened: We have become accustomed to stretching further and making allowances or even excuses for our lower margins because of the times.M M "Mike" Weiss has been a full-service remodeler for more than 35 years. As an instructor for the CGR and CAPS programs, he spends many weeks per year teaching remodelers. He has been an NAHB member since 1970 and is past chairman of the NAHB fiemodelers. He can be reached at mike@weissrcmi.com.You might say: "Mrs. Jones, I'm concerned that your conditions are not something we can meet and at the same time deliver our standard of service, so I think we had better pass on doing your work. We very much appreciate that you called us and wish you the best with your project."At my company, I have told prospective clients for years that we know our price is higher than many, but we insist on charging enough to be able to deliver the excellent service for which we are known. Clients tell us "No" for different reasons. You will almost always be aware that a prospective job is going to be a problem in time to turn it down. Just say "No!". You'll feel better even if you need work because you need profitable work. Be nice but be confident that the work you take on has all the ingrethents to make both sides happy at the end. That's called being in the know. "No?" While you're here ....Yes, she likely will be stunned, but if you are polite when you say "No" she will probably ask why. At that point, you are at a crossroads. You can upgrade the job by explaining why your price is higher and sign it for your price or save yourself buckets of time (and money) by finding out the job is going for the cheap and you just dispatched a time-waster. In either case, the "No" should make you feel better because this "No" is a big positive.

M M "Mike" Weiss has been a full-service remodeler for more than 35 years. As an instructor for the CGR and CAPS programs, he spends many weeks per year teaching remodelers. He has been an NAHB member since 1970 and is past chairman of the NAHB fiemodelers. He can be reached at mike@weissrcmi.com.