Fruitland individuals with sewer problems can join district

I wanted to say thank you to Scott Moyers for his article highlighting the sewer system issues facing residents and businesses in the Fruitland area. Recognizing the looming problems dealing with wastewater in an increasingly stringent regulatory climate, in 1997 the voters created the Cape Girardeau County Sewer District No. 1 to address the challenges of wastewater disposal. The Fruitland area problems are not unique. Tightening ammonia limits and requirements for disinfection are affecting sewer system owners and operators throughout the country. The city of Cape Girardeau is about to undertake a huge investment to replace its wastewater system.

The district is a not-for-profit subunit of county government, and is positioned to help serve the needs of the subdivisions, businesses and schools in the area. Currently, the district is working with several proactive subdivisions and businesses to assume ownership and operation of the sewer systems. By voluntarily turning over a system to the district, the owner is relieved of the responsibility of maintaining, upgrading, operating and permitting the system. The district, while operating several systems, can provide service in a more economic fashion than the individual entities.

There is no doubt that complying with the new regulations will prove expensive. These costs to the users will be reduced if the district undertakes the upgrades. The cost of required upgrades to a system will be the responsibility of just the users of that system, and will be paid through their monthly bills. Unlike the owners of private systems, the district can keep costs down through low-interest financing and grant opportunities.

Many years ago, the Public Water Supply District No. 1 began operating to provide safe and reliable drinking water to the area residents. In much the same way, the sewer district would like to eliminate the overwhelming issues of owning and operating a wastewater system, and replace them with a reasonable monthly bill.

I encourage the owners and operators of the wastewater systems to get in touch with the district to explore a solution to the regulatory issues they are facing. I can be reached at 573-271-8772.

Joe Tousignant, the chairman of Cape Girardeau County Common Sewer District No. 1, can be reached at 573-271-8772.