Kentucky

Interesting story on how unchecked growth in Eastern Jefferson County has exceeded the system's capability to handle the waste results in a fine to MSD that we all pay; but does the businesses, large office buildings or other added structures which have added to the waste water and drainage issues have to pick up the tab based upon the fact they created the problem?  No.  And what is one of the proposed solutions?  Pipe the waste to western Jefferson County.  Can't imagine why it bothers them.  Even though we are one county, and there should be no NIMBY (not in my back yard) issues, it does not make the stink of the added waste any less.

I have witnessed first-hand how the local planning folks approve zoning changes to allow purchasers to increase the value of their property from apartment zoning to office zoning; add lots of asphalt parking area; and increase the storm drainage runoff.  Thanks alot.

With less land, zoning should and needs to be more careful as the city begins to build upon itself and cause problems from the increased concentrations and their impact on existing facilities.  Remember when new subdivisions were scrutinized on their impact on utilities, schools, roads, etc.?  However, these issues are not considered as seriously when this infrastructure is already in place and the increased demands minimized.

However, here is the story.

MSD to pay fine, fix or remove plant - from Courier Journal

The Metropolitan Sewer District agreed to pay a $230,000 penalty to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and either eliminate its Jeffersontown waste-water treatment plant or fix problems there by the end of 2015.

The new agreement, which includes deadlines for several smaller treatment plants in eastern Jefferson County, replaces one announced in 2005 to fix much of Jefferson County's antiquated sewer system. That system each year spills about 4billion gallons of sewage into local waterways, including Beargrass Creek, Floyds Fork, Harrods Creek and the Ohio River.

MSD will pay the new penalty out of money it gets from ratepayers, and Brian Bingham, a senior engineer for the agency, said he didn't expect the fine to force rates higher.

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A key change to the agreement with the EPA is regulators' requirement that MSD eliminate overflow problems at Jeffersontown and several other small plants much earlier than the previous deadline of 2024.

Schardein said there are three options for the Jeffersontown plant:

Renovate and expand the plant.

Shut it down and send sewage on days when it doesn't rain through pipes to the Morris Forman Wastewater Treatment Plant in western Louisville, but the extra swollen volume that occurs during rainy weather would be sent to the Derek Guthrie plant (formerly West County) in southwest Louisville.

Shut it down and send all the plant's sewage to a new plant or plants that could be built on or near Fort Knox as part of a new regional sewer district. Schardein said the Kentucky General Assembly will likely take up that proposal next year.

One of those options ? the one involving the Guthrie plant ? has come under heavy criticism from some residents of southwest Jefferson County.

Louisville Metro Councilman Doug Hawkins, R-25th, said it appears that MSD is again "dumping on southwest Louisville." * * *