Sewer Repairs Means an Increased Utility Rate
By: Jennifer Penate
Updated: June 8, 2012
It's a major undertaking with a pricy bill attached.
Parsons residents will pay extra in waste water fees to fund the needed repairs.
"It's all pretty easy," says one city street worker abou the sewer cleaning process."It'll pull the line through the sewer line and when you're pulling it back it will wash out all of the debris into the man hole so you can suck it out and get it cleaned," he says.
This process is now a routine for city crews. They go up and down streets cleaning sewer lines.
It's the first step of a lengthy process that will continue for 5 years.
"Back in February 2012 the EPA issued an administrative order to the City of Parsons that we needed to repair our sewer lines," says Kari West, Public Information Officer for the City of Parsons.
The EPA ruled the lines were unsafe- deteriorating and causing ground water to seep into the system.
"That can inundate the waste water plant and that's where our issue has come," says West.
The lines must all be checked, repaired, or replaced. The overhaul will cost $15 million.
For the next 5 years Parsons residents will pay an extra $10 in waste water fees each month.
Instead of $12.50 - customers will pay $22.50.
"It's going to generate more than $400,000 a year to help us move forward," says West.
The fee will go up again in 2016 residents will then pay an additional $5.
