Speakers at hearing talk about the cost of inspections and compliance.
Homeowners laid out their concerns Thursday about the cost of complying with a proposed county law, designed to stop storm water drains and sump pumps from being hooked into the sewer system illegally.
Garre Krayenhof, of Mattydale, said the proposed law could be a financial hardship for homeowners forced to separate their sump pumps or other foundation drains illegally hooked to their sewer lines, instead of being allowed to drain into their yards. He was one of about a dozen people who spoke at a public hearing held by the county Legislature’s Environmental Protection Committee.
Under the proposal, property owners would be required to have their sewer connections inspected before they could sell their homes or commercial buildings. Any illegal hookups would have to be repaired before a sale could go through.
Owners who do not sell would have 10 years to have their buildings inspected to prove they have no illegal hookups.
County officials say the inspections would cost $60 to $100. Unhooking any illegal connections, however, could cost $100 to several thousand dollars, depending on whether the hookups are above or below the foundation.
Officials said the illegal hookups place an unnecessary burden on the county’s sewage treatment system.
Waivers would be given to those who could show a hardship, officials said. But Krayenhof said such exceptions would amount to “favors for some, but not others.”
James Franke, of Clay, said the proposal would burden suburban homeowners the most, because much of Syracuse would be exempted. County officials said most areas of the city would not have to comply because the storm water drains on their streets are combined with the city’s sewer system. Most areas of the suburbs have separate sewer and storm water drainage systems.
Doug Wickman, an engineer for the town of Clay, said the proposal is flawed because it would force everybody to eventually pay for an inspection, even though the vast majority of property owners have no illegal hookups.
Other speakers said city residents with large lots should also be required to send their storm water drainage into their yards.
County Legislator James Corbett, R-Geddes, chairman of the Environmental Protection Committee, said after the hearing that the proposal will have to be “tweaked” to get it passed by the Legislature. A vote likely would not be taken before September, if then, he said.
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