Delta's request wastewater treatment plan denied by OEPA

By DAVID J. COEHRS

Expositor Features Editor

DELTA - Because it has a dismal record of violating its wastewater discharge permit, the Village of Delta will not be allowed to switch from a costly sewer separation project to a "trap and treat" program.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency notified Administrator Derek Allen in a June 29 letter that the village must adhere to the originally- mandated Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Long Term Control Plan. The letter was accompanied by 22 pages listing multiple permit violations each month over a three-year period.

In May, the village submitted a revised CSO plan allowing a less expensive storm retention basin.

Mayor Dan Miller said Tuesday village residents cannot possibly support the estimated $16 million sewer separation project.

"That's all there is to it," he said.

The letter from Paul Novak, a manager of the OEPA Division of Surface Water, states that while the agency has approved "trap and treat" plans similar to Delta's proposal, "we have concerns about the approach for Delta's system at this time due to the effluent violations that have been routinely occurring for the past several years..."

OEPA records between March 2006 and April 2009 list consistent, multiple wastewater discharge violations every month, with the exception of November 2006. The records also show the village's wastewater treatment plant in "significant non-compliance" with the permit every quarter between June 2006 and March 2009.

"We are denying it primarily because (the village has) not been able to meet the limits set in their wastewater discharge permit under the current volume of wastewater they're treating," OEPA spokesperson Dina Pierce said. "For three years consistently, they've been in violation of their wastewater discharge permit. If they can't meet it now, we don't think they would be able to meet requirements under even heavier flows."

Pierce noted the village treats roughly 725,000 gallons of wastewater daily. But during heavy storms it must contend with peak flows of 2.2 million gallons.

'We would have given it more consideration, but there are 22 pages of violations over three years," she said. "They can't handle what they're trying to treat now, and to let them try to treat more wouldn't serve any purpose. Under the current circumstances there's no way."

She emphasized the OEPA has not enforced penalties against the village, as is typically done with non-compliant communities.

"We know the situation out there, but we think if they separate the sewers that will be less water the treatment plant will have to treat ... and get them back in compliance. Ultimately, they're going to save money because that's less water they'll have to treat," Pierce said.

Village officials planned to meet Wednesday to discuss the OEPA's ruling. Administrator Derek Allen declined to comment until he reviews the agency's findings.

Mayor Dan Miller expressed frustration with the decision. He said the village is currently spending $250,000 to bring the trouble-plagued wastewater treatment plant up to regulations. That has included cleaning out village sewers.

"For (OEPA) to base their decision on that, I don't understand," he said. "I think they're hastily not looking at all the facts. Once we get the plant the way it was designed to operate, then it will take care of their issues. The residents of Delta can't afford what the OEPA is mandating us to do."

Once the plant is repaired, the village will likely ask the EPA to re-evaluate the revised CSO plan, Miller said.