posted by Joe Polk at 10:57 PM /
It is going to cost a lot of money to fix the region's antiquated sewer systems, Allegheny County Sanitary Authority officials told residents who attended a recent regional wet weather planning meeting. "It's going to be very expensive...several billion," said Glenda Murphy, one of several consultants contracted by ALCOSAN to work on the project.
Approximately a dozen residents and community officials attended the meeting held at the Mt. Lebanon Community Center. The meeting was the second in a series of public meetings the authority is holding to discuss the sewage overflow issue and its impact.
Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/11-25-2009-South-Hills-ALCOSAN
Approximately a dozen residents and community officials attended the meeting held at the Mt. Lebanon Community Center. The meeting was the second in a series of public meetings the authority is holding to discuss the sewage overflow issue and its impact.
Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/11-25-2009-South-Hills-ALCOSAN
Labels: alcosan, sewer management
6 Comments:
I attended the meeting and the cost estimate had yet to be determined. How can any entity present without the ability to project cost? Totally beyond me and it is going to be expensive although Mt. Lebanon is keeping up with their obligation, which is federally mandated, to comply with the consent decree. I believe that any federally mandated decree should provide funding with those municipalities who comply. Many municipalities/boroughs and cities are not meeting their obligation and will request federal assistance. Is this unfair? Absolutely and our representatives should be fighting for our responsibility toward this project and its costs!!
Matt Kluck
Newly elected commish Kluck should be commended for attending. Were any other local folks in attendance to listen?
Stuart Getz
Thanks, Matt, for attending ! I seem to recall a newapaper article a few months ago where the ALCOSAN *fix* would likely amount to at least $3-$5 billion.
Mt. Lebanon surcharge rates for our local *fix* have increased more than 100% over the past 8 years or so; and, I believe we have been subjected to one or more ALCOSAN increases as well...perhaps for repairs not related to the EPA consent decree.
It would be helpful for the public to have a table showing what the Lebo and ALCOSAN rates have been and are currently since say 2000.
Matt,
I'm not an attorney, but there is a difference between a consent decree and federal legislation in the form of a bill. My understanding of consent decrees is that they are essentially an order to comply with the existing laws on the books; as opposed to a new federal law being created. Failure to adhere to a consent decree can result in loss of federal funds. In the 1990s, several universities (including my alma mater) were under federal consent decrees for failure to adhere to hiring laws on the books. In those cases, they stood to lose their federal funding.
I agree with you that if Congress passes a new law, they have to address any adverse impact it may have on local municipalities. If I'm not mistaken, the Clinton administration passed such a measure as a result of the implementation of ADA in 1993. Being in compliance with that law was financially very difficult for many municipal governments.
Any lawyers out there, feel free to correct my understanding.
I believe the ALCOSAN case is a matter of the county being out of compliance with existing laws. Eventually, the Feds have to put their foot down and enforce the law. You're right, its expensive but its not like the feds made up a new law.
A friend *in-the-know* sent me the Mt. Lebanon and Alcosan sewer surcharge rates for water usage in Leboland....it's a real wake-up as to what government fee charges can be beyond taxes we are probably more familiar with....real estate millage, earned income, real estate transfer taxes, etc..
Here is the data...hold onto your hats. The $ figures are the rates we pay per 1,000 gallons of water consumption and are in addition to that charged for water by the water supplier, PA American Water Company (PAWC) :
1)In 2000, Mt. Lebanon charged $0.8.For 2010, it will be $4.05 !
2)In 2000, Alcosan charged $1.82. For 2010 it will be $4.04. And the *fix* has not even begun !
According to my source, the average annual residential surcharge fees for both Lebo & Alcosan rates combined were $267.84 in 2000. For 2010, they are projected to be $713.52. I could well imagine the Alcosan *fix* might even double the projected 2010 figure again over the next 5-10 years. Why doesn't the media cover the alarming details and possibilities of this aspect of *governance* ?
I have never paid much attention to the sewage fund. It is a necessary part of our infrastructure that must be maintained.
But this posting has highlighted that it may be time for more attention by the Community. The 2007, 2008, 2009
Manager's recommended Budget included more than $11,000,000 (total for 3 years). The sewers represent our single biggest, recurring capital expenditure.
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