Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1956-08-31
An Editorial
SEWER RENTAL IN LONDON NOW EFFECTIVE


On June H. the City Council of London adopted ordinance
No. % entitled an ordinance To Provide For The Manten
Operation and Control of the Sewerage System and Sew
vide for the Establishment and Administration Of Sewer Rental
Service Charge This ordinance has now become effective
will go TO residents of the city who of the sanay
sewers for the first time in L0nd0n'' history
The possibility Of rental in London did not become
problem until 9s when The 99th eenera Assembly created
the Ohio Water Pollution Control Board and passed
known the Water Pollution Control Act Of Ohio Among
other provisions this act provided for and reserved to the Board
the power TO issue revoke modify deny permits tor the dis
charge of industrial wastes other wastes into the
waters Of the State The act also provided for penalties the
form of fines imprisonment So where London had been
operating sewage treatment works without state interference
il became obvious that supervision would be imposed by
the State of Ohio anyone dscharene waste into Ohos
streams AT this time London present treatment works
fifteen years old and good condition The plant is still
in good condition however during these fifteen piece
Of household machinery known the esrbsse grinder had been
developed and installed in number of homes with the effect
gents also been factor Disposal plants which had been
designed handle estimated normal increases in population
becoming overloaded prematurey due TO the fact that
they called upon neuraze uncooked garbage we'll
baqe constituted load far OF its equal volume OF
sewage most other waste materials.
London applied for its first permit discharge
into the waters of the State and issued permit for twelve
depend upon conditions being fulfilled namely IL
tnued satisfactory operation of present plant; vi
5 to O. sny III. pn
then engaged the firm Of Uhmenn and Associates to compile
recommend would
necessary to correct any DEFICIENCIES found.
Following this survey the Uhmann people said that The
Plant was oPerss at fo[y percent Of its rated esnae
the plant be made the estimated cost of such being around
$I25ooooo Upon analysis Of these recommendations the City
Council determined that such renovation could be separated
steps group of which would somewhere
around s35 10000 TO s4oooooo the balance costing around
s76ooooo to sa5ooooo The primary group would alleviate
the overload liquid waste the secondary would alleviate the
overload solid wastes. Hence the city could for the major
part the deficiency those being discharged into
of
the Of opinion among Council members and the Board
Of Public Utilities that the renovation be undertaken in steps
Council adopted the following Of action in August 1883
m That survey be made to determine the number of
basis Of this survey rental ordinance be created t3
That possible the primary OF improvements be
by the Engineers and approved by The State Department Of
Health the survey relative needs and estimated income TO De
and Ordinance No. I23 drawn and passed upon by Council
As experience has been compiled the rev.
produced by rental service charges the City will
then issue bonds and he work outlined above
If anticipated that some sa 10000 s2o.ooo.oo per
year will be realized by the City Such funds will be designated
as the Sanitary Sewer and will be available only for de-
ayn the costs Of operation and maintenance Of The sanay
system and treatment works and for e payment of
interest and retirement Of bonds issued for the purpose of
novatine or enareng sewage facilities with the exception Of
nticpsted annual expense Of 90 incurred in operating
the present plant and retiring 35ooooo worth of 30
revenue bonds
Major provisions Of this ordnance provide follows
Delegation Of authority to administer and control the
complete sanitary system and sewage treatment works
TO the Board of Public Utilities.
B Provision for rental service charge amounting
to twenty percent of the Users water bill with minimum
charge Of 100 per month if located within the City double
this is located outside the Ciy
c Provision for the Board TO make special in
may arise where general rates unfair
reasonable service charge subject to approval Of Council
Provision whereby any delinquency rental
ice charges automatically delinquency in water bills
the case of extreme denquenees such be made lien
against the property served
It anticipated that through this Ordinance London may
not find itself in the position of having TO make extensive i'm
provements its system and not having the funds
with which to make these TO retire bonds issued for these
purposes Further the relief afforded the Cy General Fund
by the transfer of operating costs and maintenance of the
from the General Fund will help
keeping London from operating the red would be fhe
definitely This action not taken Sewer places the
of operating city utility squarey those who
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