Cost will determine sewer system type in Norton

10/30/2014 - West Side Leader

At the Oct. 27 Norton City Council meeting, City Council President Rick Rodgers (Ward 1) said saving taxpayer money will be the primary factor in determining whether to use a gravity or vacuum system when the city converts the Nash Heights area from septic to sanitary sewer.

The city is getting prepared for Phase II of the Storm Water Management Program and Sanitary Sewer Project to comply with an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandate that required action of abating pollution and correcting the unsanitary conditions in the Nash Heights area.

While the citys commitment to conversion is clear, the type of sewer system that will be used is still murky. City officials are grappling with the decision to install gravity or vacuum systems in the area.

Rodgers said the city is looking for the most cost-effective solution.

All were trying to do is save the people as much money as we can, he said.

The city is looking at both the gravity and vacuum systems despite gravity being the traditional and most common preference in most parts of the state, according to city officials.

At Mondays meeting, however, some residents urged the city to select the gravity system, arguing that it may be cheaper to maintain over time as opposed to the vacuum system.

My recommendation is gravity, said resident Mary Ann Driscoll, an engineer who has had prior experience in designing sewer systems with a private firm.

She told Council that maintenance on a vacuum system could lead to higher costs over the long run opposed to the gravity system.

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Cost will determine sewer system type in Norton