The church wanted to tie into a Richfield line that ran directly in front of it, but Richfield had a policy that prohibited outsiders from tapping in. After four years and a petition drive, Richfield agreed to allow the church to tap into its line without being annexed. In communities throughout the United States, new businesses are not being started and new homes are not being built because of exorbitant tap-in fees. The high costs associated with complying with clean water standards are proving to be a detriment to economic development. Local officials genuinely want to meet clean water standards because it makes their communities more attractive and livable, but they cannot bear the financial burden alone without federal assistance.
Projects can often cost tens of millions of dollars.
The Urban Wet Weather Priorities Act of 2000 will assist all communities struggling to meet clean water standards, and will especially be helpful to former rural areas experiencing suburban sprawl. These communities often face the largest costs because they don't have the infrastructure in place to cope with burgeoning development. In Northeast Ohio, residents in Ashtabula, Lorain, Geauga and Medina counties have seen their water and sewer bills skyrocket as city water and sewer lines were brought in and septic tanks turned idle. Residents have already paid thousands of dollars in assessment fees based on the size of their property, and also had to pay additional fees to tap into the new lines. Plus, their water and sewer bills have gone up.