Plans For Tippy Sewer Move Forward
September 2, 2017 at 4:19 a.m.
By Staff Report-
The group has organized and gathered signatures from landowners representing over 500 of about 1,200 parcels who support forming a lake conservancy district that will have the sole responsibility of installing a sewer system for the lake, according to a press release provided by the group.
Tippecanoe Lake is one of the last large lakes in Kosciusko County that lacks a sewer system, the group said.
Reasons for the change are numerous and are outlined by the group on their website, sustainourlake.com.
For new homes constructed in areas without public sewers, Kosciusko County requires a minimum 20,000-square-foot lot size. This requirement is more than twice the size of the average Tippy home site. Many are far less than 10,000 square feet. To meet the requirement, new homes or existing homes replacing septic systems are forced to purchase and devalue “back lots” to make room for septic systems – or expensive, complicated system designs are required if space is available.
The average, well maintained septic system placed in good soil conditions has a life span of 20 to 25 years. However, the project engineers have found that Tippy soil conditions are less than perfect. This condition is further complicated on small lots where the 50-foot isolation requirement of water wells from nearby septic systems cannot be met, the press release said.
“Even when septic systems are constructed in favorable soils and are regularly maintained, vertical proximity to the water table in densely developed areas, like Tippy, raises real concerns,” stated Ken Jones, project engineer and president/CEO of Jones Petrie Rafinski. “Where the isolation for water wells cannot be achieved, this can often develop a preferential pathway for contaminants between septic systems and water wells. Sewer systems address lake residents’ concerns about surface water resources. Also, most have also recognized that their drinking water is even more of a concern.”
Another concern for Tippecanoe Lake residents is the flooding of low lands during high rains. The flooding of septic leach beds can push backwater toward water wells or pull contaminated surface water back into the lake, stated Jones.
“We have strong support for this project. The only expressed difference, which the district board will need to decide, is the fee structure,” said Joe Tynan, district formation committee leader.
A few residents believe the cost should be an equal flat fee for all residents. Tynan said the committee will recommend a variable fee structure that is based on a percentage of each property’s assessed value. According to the group, 70 percent of homes on the lake have an assessed value less than $300,000 or are residents living on fixed incomes.
“We simply want to be fair so that everyone can afford to pay for the sewer system,” Tynan said.
The group aims to collect 200 more signatures by the end of the week of Labor Day to prepare for the application and formation of the conservancy district. Once approved, a board of directors will initially be appointed. Subsequent members’ terms will be elected.
To learn more, go to www.sustainourlake.com for project details.
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The group has organized and gathered signatures from landowners representing over 500 of about 1,200 parcels who support forming a lake conservancy district that will have the sole responsibility of installing a sewer system for the lake, according to a press release provided by the group.
Tippecanoe Lake is one of the last large lakes in Kosciusko County that lacks a sewer system, the group said.
Reasons for the change are numerous and are outlined by the group on their website, sustainourlake.com.
For new homes constructed in areas without public sewers, Kosciusko County requires a minimum 20,000-square-foot lot size. This requirement is more than twice the size of the average Tippy home site. Many are far less than 10,000 square feet. To meet the requirement, new homes or existing homes replacing septic systems are forced to purchase and devalue “back lots” to make room for septic systems – or expensive, complicated system designs are required if space is available.
The average, well maintained septic system placed in good soil conditions has a life span of 20 to 25 years. However, the project engineers have found that Tippy soil conditions are less than perfect. This condition is further complicated on small lots where the 50-foot isolation requirement of water wells from nearby septic systems cannot be met, the press release said.
“Even when septic systems are constructed in favorable soils and are regularly maintained, vertical proximity to the water table in densely developed areas, like Tippy, raises real concerns,” stated Ken Jones, project engineer and president/CEO of Jones Petrie Rafinski. “Where the isolation for water wells cannot be achieved, this can often develop a preferential pathway for contaminants between septic systems and water wells. Sewer systems address lake residents’ concerns about surface water resources. Also, most have also recognized that their drinking water is even more of a concern.”
Another concern for Tippecanoe Lake residents is the flooding of low lands during high rains. The flooding of septic leach beds can push backwater toward water wells or pull contaminated surface water back into the lake, stated Jones.
“We have strong support for this project. The only expressed difference, which the district board will need to decide, is the fee structure,” said Joe Tynan, district formation committee leader.
A few residents believe the cost should be an equal flat fee for all residents. Tynan said the committee will recommend a variable fee structure that is based on a percentage of each property’s assessed value. According to the group, 70 percent of homes on the lake have an assessed value less than $300,000 or are residents living on fixed incomes.
“We simply want to be fair so that everyone can afford to pay for the sewer system,” Tynan said.
The group aims to collect 200 more signatures by the end of the week of Labor Day to prepare for the application and formation of the conservancy district. Once approved, a board of directors will initially be appointed. Subsequent members’ terms will be elected.
To learn more, go to www.sustainourlake.com for project details.
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