VILLAGE MUST REDUCE ITS WASTEWATER DISCHARGE

Mike McCagg

ccSCOOP News

02-03-10 - 2:10 p.m. - The Village of Chatham will have to reduce its use of the wastewater system, regardless of whether or not any additional facilities or residences are attached to the system.

Mayor Paul Boehme explained that the Village is exploring a number of options to reduce its discharge from the wastewater plant and bring the Village into compliance with its New York State Department of Conservation permits to operate. According to a 2009 Order of Consent issued by the DEC, the Village of Chatham violated its maximum daily discharge level limit of 365,000 gallons on six occasions in 2007 and 2008. Boehme said that on specific days the violations have continued, including during last summer’s monsoonlike storms and, more recently, during the heavy rains and runoff of January 25.

Boehme told ccSCOOP last week that one of the options being considered is reducing infiltration to the system through manhole covers and other openings, reducing input from those properties that exceed their limits, and targeting people who discharge their sump pumps into the system in violation of village codes.

The capability of the wastewater system has been the center of discussion as officials examine the potential of expanding the Village’s water and wastewater lines outside the village boundaries to accommodate a new Price Chopper supermarket proposed to be constructed near the existing store. The developer of the proposed 45,000-square-foot store, Schuyler Companies, has approached village officials about extending the lines and various dollar amounts have been discussed for the extension.  The project is also under review of the Ghent Town Planning Board.

Trustee George Grant, who initially expressed reservation because of the wastewater plant’s capacity issues, said that there have not been any recent discussions with the developer. Schuyler officials, however, have continued to go through the review process with the Ghent Planning Board. Any funds that would come from extending the line to include the proposed Price Chopper would be used to increase the wastewater system’s capacity.

“For anybody to come onto the system, we have got to get the excess out of there,” said Boehme. “Irrespective of whether Price Chopper is added to the system or not, we have to fix the problem.” The mayor said Village officials will meet on February 4 with a contractor who has a solution to the water infiltration that occurs in the various manholes in the village. Boehme said the contractor uses a sealant that would stop the water from making it into the manholes and consequently into the wastewater system. While he didn’t know how costly the project would be, Boehme said it would be “less expensive than replacing the manholes.” The village has an estimated 75 to 100 manholes.

The mayor also promised to crack down on homeowners that discharge their sump pumps into the wastewater system and to approach the school district about correcting the problem of stormwater entering the wastewater system on their properties.