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Free hookup to CUC main sewer lines will be offered
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Posted on Sep 19 2011
By Moneth Deposa
Reporter
Reporter
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. will be creating a new program that will allow its customers to hook up their septic tanks to the agency’s main sewer lines for free.
CUC executive director Abe Malae said Friday that the program’s goal is to connect all failed septic tanks to the main system and stop the contamination of the groundwater.
In the past, anyone living within 200 feet of a new sewer line was required by CUC regulation to connect at their own expense. The cost of a new sewer connection can run anywhere from $2,000 to close to $10,000.
CUC recognizes that this cost has been a significant barrier to obtaining new customers, said Malae, adding that CUC also recognizes that times are very hard for most customers, who simply cannot afford to pay for such services.
According to Ken Esplin, associate engineer for CUC, the program will be funded by the $350,000 grant provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He disclosed that CUC is finalizing the selection of a contractor and expects the program to begin before the year ends.
Esplin believes that there is a significant number of CUC customers who have failed septic tanks and are not connected to the main sewer line. He said this is the chance for these customers-living within 200 feet of the CUC main sewer system anywhere on the island-to get connected, whether they are residential or commercial. All the customer has to do, he said, is submit an application to CUC to connect to the sewer and sign an agreement allowing the contractor to perform the connection.
CUC charges customers for sewer usage based on their water consumption.
According to Malae, the completion of the realignment and rerouting of the sewer line W-8 lift station project gave them the impetus to create this new program.
“Overall, this first test of the program was a success, and CUC was able to connect nearly every customer along the new sewer alignment. CUC will be commencing an islandwide version of this grant-funded customer connection program within the next few weeks, applying the experience and lessons learned during the W-8 project to ensure even further success,” added Malae.
