Sewer work to cost Mishawaka $125 million over 20 years

By SUE LOWE
Tribune Staff Writer

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By WSBT 24/7 News

Story Created: Jul 27, 2010 at 2:21 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 27, 2010 at 2:21 PM EDT

MISHAWAKA — Mishawaka has reached an agreement with the state and federal governments that calls for the city to do $125 million in sewer work during the next 20 years.

The consent decree was approved Tuesday by the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety and now goes to the Common Council.

The federal Clean Water Act and state law have set standards for discharges into the St. Joseph River that the city is not meeting during storms.

During dry weather, the city’s sewer plant handles all the waste water that goes through it. However, rain from the grates that drain city streets goes to the treatment plant during a storm.

Because the plant can’t handle that much water some of it overflows into the river. And that water includes some sewage.

According to the resolution approved by the board of works Tuesday, the city already has spent more than $80 million since 1990 on the problem, reducing the volume of combined sewer overflow by 86 percent.

The volume of combined sewer overflow has been reduced from 357 million gallons a year to 50 million gallons per year.

However, the state and federal government are requiring even more work on the system.

According to the resolution, the work being agreed to would result in no combined sewer overflows in a year with typical rainfall.

The work also will cost the city $1.4 million a year in operation and maintenance.

According to the resolution, the state and federal governments plan to file a complaint against the city in federal court if officials don’t agree to the plan.
The city could be charged fines of up to $37,500 a day for violating the law.

Staff writer Sue Lowe:
slowe@sbtinfo.com
(574) 247-7758

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