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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />FEBRUARY 25, 1998 <br />for treatment of clean water. The Director presented a series of graphs <br />which compared base water flows and the amount of clean water entering <br />the system. <br />The Director reported that each city has an allowabie amount of <br />infiltration, and 48 million gallons per year is what is considered allowable <br />for Little Canada. The Director reported that there has been a 62% <br />increase in the cost of treating sewer flows from 1993 to 1998. This is a <br />serious increase. <br />The Director reported that in 1996 the City be~an televising its sanitary <br />sewer lines and commenced a manhole inspection program. This program <br />is almost complete and so far approximately 65 manholes have been <br />identified as needing repairs. 25 of which will require repairs by a <br />contractor, the others can be done with existing staff. <br />Another- important element in reducing inflows is to initiate a sump pump <br />inspection pro~ram. The Director reported that the City has 2,200 sanitary <br />sewer connections. These will need to be inspected to determine that <br />those with sump pumps are pumping outside the structure, and not directly <br />into the sanitary sewer. Other cities who have undertaken a similar <br />program have found that between 5 and 15 percent of sump pumps are <br />connected to the sanitary sewer system. <br />The Director estimated that the result of the sanitary sewer system repairs <br />and sump pump inspection program will save the City $60,000 per year in <br />treatment costs. <br />Fahey asked if other cities have found ~ood participation on the part of <br />property owners in the program. The Director replied that as long as <br />property owners are educated about the program and the reasons for it, <br />there has been good participation. The Director also pointed out that if <br />property owners refuse to participate, he is recommending a$100 per <br />month charge be imposed on the sewer and water bill for that property. <br />This $100 per month amount is fairly typical of what it would cost to treat <br />the surface water from a property that would be diverted to the sewer. <br />The Director indicated that he would like to include an article in the April <br />issue of the City's newsletter informing property owners of the program, <br />as well as hold two neighborhood meetings to discuss the issues. The <br />Director is also proposing an August Is` deadline to correct connections to <br />the sewer system. <br />12 <br />