Residents along the south shore of Lake Wawasee -South Shore Drive, Vawter Park, Waco Drive, Grandview Drive and other areas into the town limits of Syracuse have received a letter from an engineering service regarding sewer installation.
But the installation is not going to occur immediately. "If it takes 10 steps to install a sewer, this is step two," stated Dick Green, attorney for Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District, noting this is how preliminary the project stage is at.
There's still questions needing to be answered - type of sewers, costs and where the sewer would be emptied, at the TCRSD plant or the town of Syracuse's plant.
Plans to install a sewer line in this area have been in the plans for years - 10 to 12 years at most.
When the original sewers were installed, TCRSD sewered areas approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, who provided grant funds. At that time it left the east end of the lake and the south shore of the lake. Green stated in 1993-94 the Blackpoint area was added to the district, adding 335 customers.
A survey of the south shore area had a 61 percent response with 85 percent of those responding in favor of a sewer system. However attention to the project was diverted due to issues in Enchanted Hills arising and several medium expansions occurred but not initiated by the sewer district.
That final area, however, remained a top priority.
"The trustees are resolved to go full speed ahead," Green stated, noting the process now is determining the feasibility and alternatives.
Referring to the recent notification residents received, Green stated it is the engineer's effort to get information to get sewer to each home - if a pump is needed, what kind of pump, etc., "so he can make recommendations of alternatives and the estimated cost."
Green stated when the project was first looked at 10-12 years ago, the cost was too high to undertake. "There has been real dramatic changes in technology," Green stated, noting this will affect the project's cost. Another cost factor will be if the project will only include homes along the lake or pick up side streets and subdivisions, as well as which sewer treatment plant will be used - the district's or the town's. |
