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Local |
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Sailview owners may get sewer problem solution By SHERRY KITTS, Staff Writer Dec. 26, 2001 - Even though sewer problems plague the prestigious Sailview community, homeowners hope recent agreements between Lincoln County and Crescent Resources should help rectify some of those problems. Many residents of the east Lincoln waterfront community have been having problems with the grinder pumps not pumping sewage properly. Some homeowners have paid to have the pumps replaced. The Barnes Pump initially installed in the community has the rated maximum of 88 PSI (pounds per square inch), while many of the home sites, due to low elevations, have the potential of developing head pressure between 88 and 95. The result is sewage remaining in system lines. At a Sailview Homeowners meeting earlier this month, some action terms — steps to be taken by Crescent and Lincoln County to resolve the problem — were established, concerning the pumps and future development. It could be some good news for the community. “For once I get to report that some progress has been made on the sewer/grinder issue,” Edward Moolenaar, chairman of Sailview’s advisory board, told community members in a recent letter. Moolenaar says new hope emerged after a conversation with Steve Schreiner, a vice-president with developer Crescent Resources, following a Dec. 3 meeting between Lincoln County Public Service Department. Schreiner says an agreement was made in which the county will flush all mains and lateral lines, with Lincoln County and Crescent jointly monitor the work. “We both will be there,” Schreiner said. Crescent’s engineering firm which originally designed the system will supervise the work, along with an outside consultant. The work will be done in small sections. That way, if problems are found, they can be isolated quickly, said Schreiner. After flushing, Crescent will replace, at no cost to the homeowner, 28 pumps currently installed at low elevations. “We have already identified the pumps that are to be replaced,” Schreiner said. These pumps, installed at 775 feet elevation, can experience head pressure greater than 95. A timeline for installation cannot be determined, because of problems that might be found during the flushing phase, said Schreiner. Moolenaar said the county will evaluate another 26 pump locations where problems have been reported. Recently, Moolenaar contacted the N.C. Division of Water Quality about the problems with the Sailview pumps. The county was found to be in violation of state rules on equipment and maintenance. In addition, the state found the county in violation of record keeping, as well. Lincoln County could have been fined as much as $10,000 for the violation. “We were not fined anything,” Lincoln County utility maintenance manager, Chris Henderson said. The county recently stopped issuing building and sewer permits for Sailview. Moolenaar says, the moratorium on issuing permits will not be lifted until the county’s engineers are satisfied that the system can work, as originally designed, and he says that additional lift stations within the development are unnecessary. However, the county may issue building and sewer permits for ten additional lots sold prior to the discovery of the problem. “The engineering firm has been looking over problems, and which of the ten lots may or may not have problems,” Henderson said. Moolenaar says owners are on tight timelines to get their homes completed. He says agreements have been made, but Crescent has not committed to reimbursing homeowners. Some homeowners, he said, have already paid to replace their pumps. “I would suggest that if you are one of those that fall into this group, that you remain patient and see what develops through this process.”
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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
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