Utilities Board proposes extending sewer separation deadlines

The Avon Lake Board of Municipal Utilities will consider a plan to extend sewer separation deadlines.

The board, in consultation with Avon Lake Law Director Abe Lieberman, presented a draft plan titled

“Sewer Lateral Path Forward” on Jan. 2 that outlined the proposal to extend deadlines to give customers more time to comply.

The plan would extend deadlines from Feb. 1, 2018, to Nov. 30, 2018, for the Belmar, Moorewood and Mull Norman neighborhoods; the Fairfield-Brookfield separation would be extended from Feb. 1, 2019, to June 30, 2019; and the 45s neighborhood would be extended from June 30, 2019, to Nov. 30, 2019.

Avon Lake is under a 2020 deadline from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency requiring all properties on combined sewer systems with sanitary waste and storm water to separate their laterals in order to conform to environmental regulations.

The city was given a 15year window beginning in 2004 to comply with the Ohio EPA to separate sewer laterals to keep untreated wastewater from discharging into Lake Erie or into basements during rain events, according to officials.

Once that window closes, the issue falls into federal jurisdiction, and noncompliance from the city could potentially result in federal fines, officials said.

According to the plan, with less than month until the first deadline on Feb. 1, about 230 customers have yet to have their properties inspected and close to 300 properties with known problems have yet to have the necessary work completed.

“Board members and Avon Lake Regional Water staff have been told by some that they are trying to comply; however, contractors are backed up due to excessive work,” the plan says.

Under a 2013 ordinance followed by a 2017 resolution passed by Avon Lake City Council, property owners who failed to meet the deadlines would face $200 per day fines.

Customers who still failed to meet the extended deadlines would risk fines if it is determined their property needs to separate its laterals, officials said.

In addition, Avon Lake Regional Water would seek authority from the courts to inspect the property and complete any necessary work at the expense of the owner plus an additional 5 percent.