Flush with possibilities: Fruitland area might gain needed sewage system

A community that has long struggled with wastewater issues at last may have found a solution.

Residents of the Fruitland area depend on individual septic tanks and small wastewater systems to meet sewage needs, which can be expensive when it comes to maintenance and staying in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

A plan proposed by the Cape Girardeau County Reorganized Common Sewer District would change that by connecting area businesses and residents to a public sewer system.

The district was formed by county voters more than 15 years ago to manage wastewater disposal within the district, except for the facilities operated by a municipality.

Joe Tousignant, chairman of the sewer district board, said the district was inactive and accomplished very little in its first years because of insufficient funding.

In 2009, the Cape Girardeau County Commission appointed five new members to the board and it began working on its primary goal of providing a sewer system to "unsewered" areas.

"I was here when the original election [to form the district] happened in 1998, and the problem then was there's no real sewer system in the Fruitland area," Tousignant said. "People had problems with their septic systems backing up in their yards and just, smells and nuisance problems and environmental problems, dealing with failed septic systems."

In addition to the many individual septic tank systems used for homes in the area, he said Fruitland has about 25 small wastewater systems, such as lagoons or small filter systems to serve subdivisions and businesses. Both systems come with problems.

Septic tanks have about a 20-year life span and can cost up to $12,000 to replace, said Tousignant, and keeping lagoons or filter systems in compliance with evolving EPA regulations can cost tens of thousands of dollars. It was an issue that concerned the district, he said, so finding a solution to that problem became its next goal.

Since 2009, Tousignant said the district has taken over ownership and operation of five such sewer systems, and is in talks to take over others. He said this move allows the district to fix two problems with one solution.

"The 'big project,' as we call it, would eliminate up to 20 of the existing treatment systems out there ... and then in the process of consolidating and piping all [the wastewater] to one centralized location, we would pick up a large number of homes and businesses that currently do not have any sewers at all," he said.

The district hired two local engineering firms -- Strickland Engineering and Horner & Shifrin Engineers -- to help with the project.

Under the new system, users would open up an account with the district, pay a $100 refundable deposit and a monthly bill. Tousignant said he understands some people may not be enthusiastic about taking on the monthly bill, but he believes it would be a good financial move.

"When you have a subdivision with 13 homes on a lagoon system, if they had to replace that, it would be astronomically expensive," he said. "Putting in a system that serves 1,200 homes is ultimately a lot cheaper for everybody just because of the economy of scale. ..."

Tousignant said it would also benefit those relying on septic systems. As a homeowner in the Fruitland area, he said replacing the tank for his own home probably would cost more than $10,000. And septic system failure is not a question of if, but when, he added.

"My personal attitude is, I don't want to pay a new sewer bill any more than anyone else wants to pay a new sewer bill," Tousignant said. "But I honestly think if I start paying a sewer bill now, I'll come out money ahead, because if I just put that money in the bank, I'd never have enough to replace my system by the time I needed it."

Drenna Shive is treasurer for the county sewer district and human resource manager for RapcoHorizon and Major Custom Cable, two businesses in the Fruitland area. She said cost was definitely a factor the businesses considered when they came out in support of the district's plan.

The two businesses rely on different lagoon systems. Major Custom Cable recently went through a system upgrade to meet recent standards, which Shive said cost about $30,000. RapcoHorizon has until the end of next year to upgrade and it's estimated to cost up to $50,000.

"In the matter of a year-and-a-half to two years at most, we're looking at nearly $100,000 for upgrading our lagoons," Shive said. "And for a small- to mid-size company in Southeast Missouri -- we're both manufacturers and we're feeling the economic pinch just like everyone else."

A public sewer system would definitely alleviate costs, she said, and it would likely be cleaner. Heavy rains can lead to runoff issues for the existing lagoons.

The lagoon system used by Major Custom Cable also serves other nearby businesses and homes, which Shive said also would benefit from the switch.

Before the district can move forward with the plan, board members are waiting to receive surveys from residents in the area. It's an effort to determine the median income level, which Tousignant said will have an effect on funding.

The district plans to seek funding through U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development loans and grants. Tousignant said these funds are necessary to keep the project affordable; it would pay hookup fees for system users and even pay to restore any yards dug up in the connecting process.

To be eligible for the funds, the area's median income level must be lower than the state's. The median household income for Missouri was $45,321 in 2012, the most recent year for which data are available.

"If the household income survey comes back to show that this area has a median household income less than the state level, then we will apply for low-interest loans and grants from rural development," Tousignant said. "If they approve those loans and grants, then we will commence final design and building of the system as soon as possible. If the median household income in the area is higher than the state average, then we're going to have to kind of regroup and re-evaluate our options. Without grant money ... we feel that it would be cost prohibitive at this point."

To get an accurate number, he stressed it is important for each resident to return the survey mailed to them last week. Tousignant said board members hoped to receive a significant number of surveys by Friday to start applying for the grants as soon as possible, but would continue accepting them until the end of the month if necessary.

Those interested in learning more about the Cape Girardeau County Reorganized Common Sewer District or the public sewer service project may visit capegirctysewer.wix.com/capecty.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Fruitland, Mo.