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Sewer Information
January 8, 2010
Sewer Sign-Up Applications are currently being accepted in the HAWL office. The sign-up period ends February 26, 2010.
As a reminder, we will have two sewer construction meetings at the HAWL Lodge (lower level) on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 6:30 pm and Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 10:00 am. A representative from the Pearl River County Utility Authority will be available to answer any questions you may have.
Below is a compilation of "Questions and Answers" on the HAWL Sewer Project:
1. Is it mandatory that I tie into the system when it is run by my home?
Connection to the sewer system is not mandatory. However, if a resident elects to connect after the designated sign-up period has passed, funds may not be made available to cover the cost of the connection.
2. If not now, when will it be mandatory to tie in?
If a resident elects not to connect to the centralized system initially and a major septic system problem occurs, the Health Department will require the property owner to connect to the centralized sewer system at the property owner?s own expense. The Health Department will not issue any more permits for septic tank repairs within HAWL after the sewer collection system is installed.
3. What will the installation cost if I sign up now?
If you sign up by February 26, 2010, the Utility Authority agreed to fund the complete installation of sewerage in HAWL, including electrical connections up to $750. The property owner would pay any difference above $750. The Utility Authority feels the $750 will cover almost all electrical installations. If your connection is going to cost more than $750, you will be notified and given an exact amount of what the connection will cost. In the event the electrical connection costs more than $750, the resident has the option to pay the difference, or elect not to receive sewer service and have the $250 connection fee refunded. The electrical hook up will be handled by the contractor?s licensed electricians; therefore the charges will be significantly less than would be incurred by an outside electrician. You could use your own electrician, but the UA will not pay any of the electrical connection fees.
4. What is included in the individual installation?
The installation includes all "on lot" components and installation, connection of home to the system, connecting the electricity from home to grinder pump panel and capping exiting septic tanks. It also includes the electrical connection from the electrical panel in the house to the pump control panel.
5. What is the responsibility of the PRCUA as to taking out of service, existing mechanical or other treatment systems other than septic tanks? Would this include removal, filling in, etc. or nothing?
The Utility Authority will treat existing mechanical or other treatment systems just like septic tanks. The connection going into the treatment system will be capped and flow diverted to the new grinder pump.
6. Why is there a deadline to sign up?
The Utility Authority needs to know exactly how many residents will be signing up for sewer service. The deadline has been set to allow the Authority?s contractor to begin installing the on-lot equipment as the lines are being installed on the street. The final number of residents that choose to connect will also determine the final price of the total project. Both the Utility Authority and the funding agency (MDEQ) need to know the total cost of the project as soon as practically possible.
7. When the PRCUA reports $$ committed to this project to the government, how specific is the information reported, i.e. do they report specific properties, names, etc.?
The funding associated with this project (ARRA) has some strict reporting guidelines and requirements. The exact information that will be required for this project is currently unknown. Since this project is being build using public funds, everything associated with the project is subject to the Freedom of Information Act. However, sensitive information, such as Social Security Numbers and Phone Numbers are protected under this Act.
8. If I pay the connection fee and find out that I can not afford the electrical installation, can I get the $250 back?
If you sign up and find that the electrical connection for your property exceeds the $750 allowed by the Authority, you have the option to pay the difference or not connect. The $250 connection fee will be refunded in these situations if the property owner chooses not to connect. This is the ONLY situation where the $250 connection fee is refundable.
9. Can I get prices and have my own contractor to do the grinder pump installation?
If a homeowner wants to have their own contractor install the grinder pump, the connection will follow the normal process for connection. The normal connection process requires that an approved pump be purchased by the homeowner and installed by a contractor which is approved by the Authority. The normal $400 connection fee will also apply in these cases.
10. How much will the electrical hook up cost?
The Utility Authority feels the typical electrical connection will cost approximately $250. The Authority has agreed to pay up to $750 per connection in situations where the work required is more than the typical electrical connection. This determination will be made by the Authority?s contractor and approved by the Authority?s Engineer.
11. Can I get prices and have my own contractor to do the electrical installation?
Yes, a resident may choose to have his own contractor bring electrical service to the grinder pump panel. In these situations, the resident will be required to have an electrical disconnect installed at the location of the grinder pump panel. The location of the grinder pump panel will be determined by the Authority. The resident will also be required to pay for the electrical permit from Pearl River County.
12. Can the PRCUA electrical hookup be modified so that an emergency generator can be connected during power outages?
The Grinder Pump control panel will have a standard 220V generator receptacle on the side of the panel. The panel also has an automatic transfer switch built in to prevent power from back feeding into the house or electrical grid.
13. If I sign up for the PRCUA to install the electrical connection, can I later decide to use my own contractor if the PRCUA?s cost is too high?
Yes. However, the PRCUA feels this situation is very unlikely due to the fact that the resident will only be required to pay the difference between the actual electrical connection cost less the $750 allowance. For example, if the actual electrical connection costs $900, the resident will only be responsible for the additional $150.
14. How does the PRCUA propose to run electrical cable in a multi-story home with inaccessible attic space?
The ?typical? electrical connection will be installed from the electrical panel in the house, through the attic and down the exterior wall to the grinder pump panel. Multi-story homes or homes with inaccessible attic space will be considered ?non-typical? and will be evaluated on a case by case basis. In a worst possible case scenario, a connection will be made at the meter box and the power wire will be trenched around the house to the location of the grinder pump panel.
15. Why is it necessary for the PRCUA to add a second shutoff valve in the water line to the property?
HAWL has advised the PRCUA that HAWL owns the water system and a second shutoff valve would not be installed.
16. What is the schedule for the installations and start up?
Work is scheduled to begin in January. All existing paved driveways and our roadways will be "bored". This project will be ongoing during the next year. No septic tanks will be taken off-line until the PRCUA treatment plant is finalized, which is scheduled for completion in September 2010. The grinder pumps may be installed on your property prior to this date; however, the wastewater will not be diverted to the grinder pump before the treatment plant is finished.
17. Will there be a work schedules published as to when and where the construction groups will be working in HAWL?
The PRCUA?s contract with its contractor establishes working hours for this project to be Monday-Friday, 7:00am ? 5:00pm. Homeowners will be contacted prior to grinder pumps being installed on their lot.
18. Will there be any period of time that the property owner will be without sanitary services during change over from their existing system to the new PRCUA system? If yes, what is the estimated time for this change over? What will the property owner?s responsibility be?
The actual changeover from septic tank to the grinder pump will only take a few minutes. The Authority does not anticipate a homeowner being without sanitary services for an extended period of time.
19. What will be the advanced notice prior to the UA making the property owner's installation? If so, what is that estimate? How will the property owner be notified?
Each property owner will be notified by phone, door hanger, or personal visit to schedule the electrical service installation. The property owner will have to be present while the Authority?s contractor is performing the electrical work inside the house.
20. Will the property owners property be restored to the condition (shrubbery, grass, trees, structures) prior PRCUA's sewer installation? Will photographs be used as evidence to prevent disputes?
As stated in the Sewer Subscription Application and Contract, the PRCUA will restore the property to reasonable pre-work condition. The property owners need to understand that this project will cause some disturbance to their property. It is the goal of the PRCUA and its contractors to minimize this disturbance. However, if excessive damage is caused to private property, the PRUCA will restore the property to reasonable pre-work condition. Photographs will be used as evidence to prevent disputes.
21. Is PRCUA responsible for restoring any damage caused by them to any of the property owner's facilities, such as underground sprinklers, underground electrical, concrete work etc.?
Any underground facilities damaged by the PRCUA or its contractors will be repaired by the PRCUA.
22. If I choose not to tie in at this time, when will I be required to tie in?
Whenever a major septic system problem occurs on the property, the Health Department will require the property owner to connect to the centralized sewer system at the property owner?s own expense.
23. If I choose not to connect at this time, what is the estimated cost for an installation?
Of course, the cost will be dependent when the connection is made. Current estimates for the installation are $4000 - $6000 not including the electrical work. Costs will vary depending on the location of the grinder pump and your electrical needs.
24. Will the PRCUA pay for the installation later? If not, why not?
This project provides each homeowner in HAWL to opportunity to connect to the sewer system at no cost. Once the project is complete, these funds will no longer be available. However, if a resident elects to connect after the designated sign-up period has passed, funds may not be made available to cover the cost of the connection.
25. If I tie in later, will the PRCUA finance it over time as it was proposed earlier?
Any connection to the sewer system after the designated sign-up period has passed will be subject to the Authority?s standard connection policy. The Authority?s current standard connection policy does not offer financing.
26. If a property owner chooses to wait until after the Feb 26th deadline and pays the installation fee on his own, is he still obligated to sign over the 10' easement to the PRCUA?
A 10? easement to the grinder pump will be required no matter when the homeowner signs up for service. This easement is required to give the PRCUA access to the grinder pump for operation and maintenance in the future.
27. How would the cost be handled for unitized lots?
The current offer for connection to the sewer system is only available to lots with houses. Vacant lot owners will have access to the system when a structure is built on the property.
28. What is the cost per month and what does it include?
The monthly fee, based on water consumption, will be $25.25 for the first 4000 gals. and $2.15 for each additional 1000 gals. The $25.25 rate breaks down to $16.25 for the sewer, $8.00 for maintenance on the pumps and a $1.00 per month administration fee to HAWL to cover billing expenses. The $8.00 goes into an account to be used to repair or replace grinder pumps.
29. What happen if I sell my home and I have not tied in? Will the new owner be required to tie in then?
The new homeowner will only be required to connect to the system if the septic tank inspection indicates trouble with the existing septic system.
30. What are the PRCUA?s Rule and Regulations?
The PRCUA?s Rules and Regulations are available at www.prcua.state.ms.us
31. What are the grinder pump?s usage rules and guidelines?
The PRCUA?s Rules and Regulations are available at www.prcua.state.ms.us
32. Where on the lot will the grinder pump unit be placed - nearer the house or the road?
The grinder pump will be located near the house where the sewer line runs from the house to the existing septic tank.
33. How will I know if the system is working?
If there is trouble with the grinder pump, the panel will have a flashing red light and you will hear an audible siren. The siren can be silenced by pressing a button on the outside of the panel. When you receive an alarm, you will need to call the PRCUA and report the problem.
34. What happens when a grinder pump fails?
The PRCUA has a 24 hour telephone number that the customers can call if they have trouble. The PRUCA is usually able to respond within an hour or two from the time the trouble is reported. The Authority will have spare pumps on hand that can be swapped out within a few minutes.
35. How long can the system be out of service before I have a sewage problem?
The tank has a liquid capacity of about 130 gallons. Usage will determine how long the pump can be down before you have a sewage problem.
36. What happens when the power goes out?
During most power outages, the tank will have enough storage to provide service during the outage. During extended outages, a portable generator can be used to pump down the tank.
37. If we have another Katrina, what will a resident do without power for a long time?
The grinder tank will hold approximately 130 gallons, which is approximately 90 flushes. Each grinder will have a generator plug to run a couple times a day, depending on usage. During an extended outage, such as we experienced after Hurricane Katrina, the PRCUA will work with HAWL and its residents to ensure everyone has access to a generator to pump down the grinder tanks.
38. If the grinder system does not work when power fails, will all property owners be required to have an operating generator on hand?
The PRCUA does not require everyone on a grinder pump to have a generator. However, if a resident has a generator, it will be very easy for the resident to connect the generator to the panel and pump down the tank. The pump will be able to pump down the tank in about 5 minutes.
39. Should the electrical hook up for a home have provisions to use an emergency generator when there is a power outage?
The grinder pump control panel has a 220V generator receptacle and automatic transfer switch built into the panel.
40. Is there an emergency generator or system for the central treatment facility and lift pump?
Backup power will be available for the Wastewater Treatment plant and central pumping station.
41. What are HAWL?s plans in the event of a long power outage?
Same as the property owner.
42. Will the gathering system be installed on all the Fair lots?
All platted lots will have collection lines and taps installed.
43. Will HAWL continue its septic system inspection program?
Yes, the HAWL septic system inspection program will continue until all households are tied into the PRCUA sewer system.
44. Does the grinder pump run constantly or intermittently?
Intermittently.
45. Was horsepower is the grinder pump?
The selected grinder pumps are 2 HP ? 220V Single Phase.
46. What is the estimated electrical usage or monthly cost to run the grinder pump?
$3 - $5 per month.
47. What other government agencies can mandate connection to the sewer system?
?????
48. What is the expected service life of a grinder pump?
The grinder pumps have an expected life of 10 years.
49. If flapper (check) values are installed in the system to prevent back flow, what happens if/when they stick open?
Check valves will be used throughout the system to prevent backflows. If the check valves become defective, they will be replaced by the PRCUA.
50. If the flapper valve fails, assuming that the entire system is pressurized, and sewage backs up into the house...who has liability?
Each service connection will have 2 check valves, one at the street and one at the pump to prevent backups into houses. In the event of a backup into a house, the PRCUA will be liable for damages provided the PRCUA is responsible for causing the backup.
51. Will there be any way to subtract the water used for watering lawns/sprinkler systems from the sewer bills since it will not be going through the treatment system?
Residents that have lawn/sprinkler systems will need to have an additional meter installed to meter water to those devices. The resident will need to contact HAWL to have this meter installed. Otherwise, all water that flows though the meter will be billed for sewer.
52. Where can property owners see the system drawings and get design information?
A set of construction plans and specifications is on file at the HAWL office for review.
53. When a property owner is gone for extended periods (i.e. for several months), do they turn off the grinder pump and will they be charged the monthly basic charge?
The monthly charge will apply for sewer as long as the water meter is connected.
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