Why does sanitary sewage treatment cost so much?
Based on a survey conducted by the City of Carbondale, Illinois (July 2005) of Illinois and Indiana cities with both water and sewer utilities, 60% of the 54 sewer utilities responding have lower residential sewage costs than O’Fallon. Edwardsville, Shiloh and Lebanon in our immediate area are more costly; Glen Carbon is less costly. Our costs are higher than many others at this time due to a surcharge needed to pay for the $8,000,000 dollar upgrade to our plant seven years ago that should see us through the next ten years without major upgrade cost. Additionally, the sewer trunk mains transporting wastewater from the city to our treatment plant are approaching 40 years of age and are in need of ever increasing maintenance.
Why does the City make homeowners replace their sewer laterals when mains are replaced in the neighborhood?
If the sewer main is in need of repair due to age the laterals are also due to age in need of repair. Old lateral lines are the source of much of the inflow and infiltration of groundwater entering the sewer mains causing additional costs of pumping and treatment.
How many miles of sewer main does the City service?
The City has approximately 106 miles of gravity mains and 5 miles of force mains.
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