Confusion In Devola
I have been trying so hard to figure this out, my hair hurts. (The one I have left)
During the meetings last year at the Devola Fire Department called by the county commissioners, we were told that the runoff from septic systems in Devola were causing the high nitrate levels in the water supply. It was also indicated that the EPA was mandating a sewer system be built in the parts of Devola not having a system. (1/4 to 1/3 of Devola already has sewer.) This to permanently clear up the water and cost all affected homeowners around $10,000, $12,000 or more to tap on and remove, crush or sand fill their septic tanks. We were also told the sewer tap part could be spread out over 20 years on our property taxes but not the septic tank work. Now that's something we can all afford, another 20 to 30% increase on out property taxes and another few thousand to take care of the old septic system..
Now it gets weird. I talked to the EPA in Columbus and in Logan and was told that the EPA doesn't MANDATE any actions just results. The EPA Mandate is to lower the nitrate levels in the water supply to their acceptable level. Presently the levels are in compliance. The EPA Rep also indicated that septic drainage doesn't cause high nitrate levels.
Now Putnam water wants to spend $2,000,000 for a Reverse Osmosis System to permanently clean up the nitrates in the water. Now we may have water rates skyrocketing to pay for the water system, and property taxes skyrocketing to tap on to the sewer system and, of course, a sewer bill. And why didn't they put an article (like last year) about June 11, 2012 meeting at Devola Firehouse? EPA's notice was buried in the Classified Legal section of April 20 Times and the article form was published in the June 6 issue of the Anchor not the Times. Approximately May 30 I asked a Putnam Water Employee, on the phone by calling the phone number on my water bill, when the next meeting concerning the Devola water problem was going to be held. I was told he didn't know maybe the commissioners would know. The meeting had already been scheduled with Putnam Water and the EPA, not the commissioners. Is the communication within the Putnam organization really that bad? I don't think they really wanted public participation.
Source of Confusion: If the sewer system is to clear up the water and the reverse osmosis is to clean up the water - Why do we need or have to pay for both. Is there any other solution?
I know a family living within a stones throw of the Putnam wells on River Road that have a drilled well, thru bedrock and have their water tested about every year and Putnam water itself tells them their water is of much better quality than the Putnam Water system wells. The owner tells me it is negative for nitrates. The Logan Ohio EPA office told me Putnam wells #3,4,5 and 6 on River Road are none more than 75 feet deep and I found out from a retired water board member that the water table is at 41 feet. I keep trying to do the math and it keeps coming up that "you know what" runs down hill and we're getting it. Back on the farm if we had a bad well, we drilled deeper until we hit good water. What would it cost to drill four new, good, deep wells? I was informed by a couple well drillers that a good starting figure would be $100,000 per, for commercial wells.
At the meetings last year, questions were asked and a lot of run around given in return. I admit, I am not higher educated, I'm not worldly wise and barely have two nickels to rub together but I AM a registered voter.
Ed Russell
Devola
