Costs of septic vs. sewer are debated

NORTH CANAAN — One sewer extension project is about to be completed, while two more may soon be underway.

An extension of the sewer line south down Route 7 to the town line (at Falls Village) is expected to be completed before the June 9 deadline. It will serve about 10 homes and the Mountainside treatment facility.

The project —which involved extensive blasting of ledge along Route 7 — was not without its snags. It is over budget by about $85,000, according to Anthony Nania, warden of the Canaan Fire District, which owns and operates the sewer system. Having to remove more rock than anticipated quickly escalated costs.

The plan is to apply for more funding under the grant/loan package from the federal Agricultural Rural Development Program. The project was originally expected to cost about $1.75 million.

The grant will pay for 45 percent of costs. The remainder would be divided up among property owners on an assessment basis. In this case, Mountainside would pay the bulk of costs.

The final phase of the project, a pumping station just north of Mountainside, recently received its needed permitting from the town. Work is expected to begin there next week.

Meanwhile, fire district officials are gearing up to upgrade aging sewer lines in the center of town, and to take another shot at extending the sewer line into Green Acres, a neighborhood straddling Route 44 on the western edge of town.

Nania said an engineering contract is about to be signed, a grant/loan package applied for and they hope to schedule an initial hearing as soon as next month. An answer on financing won’t come until around October, but experience has shown that local discussion is likely to be lengthy. The cost has been a deterrent for many residents, who have voted the project down many times over the years. Fire District officials had hoped a number of failed septic systems and the high cost of installing a new septic system might prompt property owners to approve this alternative.

“I, personally, have been through the process about 13 times,� Nania said. “The project is now estimated to cost about $10 million. It will be the same 45-percent reimbursement rate, with financing for property owners. From what I understand, it costs a minimum of $25,000 to $30,000 for a new septic system. Permanently hooking up to the sewer will be about half that.�

The process will start with a public hearing to which Green Acres property owners will be specifically invited. If they reach a consensus to proceed, a district meeting will be held. At that meeting, anyone living or owning property within the Fire District, defined by sewer lines, will be asked to vote for or against expanding the district.

Latest News

Water main cleaning in North Canaan

NORTH CANAAN – Aquarion Water Company today announced a water main cleaning project in the company’s North Canaan system. The project is scheduled to take place from Monday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 16, and is being undertaken to ensure customers in North Canaan continue to receive the highest quality water.

The cleaning for April 1 and April 4 (subject to change) will take place on the following streets:

Keep ReadingShow less
Tuning up two passions under one roof

The Webb Family in the workshop. From left: Phyllis, Dale, Ben and Josh Webb, and project manager Hannah Schiffer.

Natalia Zukerman

Magic Fluke Ukulele Shop and True Wheels Bicycle Shop are not only under the same roof in a beautiful solar powered building on Route 7 in Sheffield, but they are also both run by the Webb family, telling a tale of familial passion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.

In the late ‘90s, Dale Webb was working in engineering and product design at a corporate job. “I took up instrument manufacturing as a fun challenge,” said Dale. After an exhibit at The National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, California, in 1999, The Magic Fluke company was born. “We were casting finger boards and gluing these things together in our basement in New Hartford and it just took off,” Dale explained. “It was really a wild ride, it kind of had a life of its own.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Cray’s soulful blues coming to Infinity Hall

Robert Cray

Photo provided

Blues legend Robert Cray will be bringing his stinging, funky guitar and soulful singing to Infinity Hall Norfolk on Friday, March 29.

A five-time Grammy winner, Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned The Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. He has played with blues and rock icons including Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and many more.

Keep ReadingShow less