Macon sewer program hailed

S. HEATHER DUNCAN | www.macon.com

October 26, 2007

The Macon Water Authority, once notorious for its sewage spills, has cut a deal with the state to reduce spill fines because it has created such a thorough sewer maintenance program.

Already the utility has seen the number of its sewage spills drop from 93 in 2003 to 18 in 2006, with no major spills in the past two years. On average, only 1,340 gallons of sewage escaped during spills this year, compared with an average of about 9,940 gallons in 2003, according to authority records.

As part of its voluntary "Capacity Management, Operation and Maintenance Program," the authority is implementing an emergency response program for sewage spills, mapping its sewer system, prioritizing areas for improvements and developing a plan for investing in sewer system upgrades. The authority also is pledging to devote at least a quarter of its sewer budget to repairs, sewer line monitoring, grease management and similar programs.

Most of these initiatives began after the authority hired a consultant several years ago to identify weaknesses in its sewer operations, said Director Tony Rojas. He said the utility would be following the plan even if the state didn't offer a rebate in fines.

"This is the right way to manage and operate a sewer system, and we've shown the impact it can have in reducing sewage spills," he said.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has approved the consent order with the water authority and is accepting public comment on it until Nov. 14.

Rojas said the authority has pursued the agreement with the state for several years, not only because of the reduction in fines but to increase credibility within the community.

"This says we've really turned the corner, from where we were, to being one of the better-operated systems in the state," Rojas said.

Bill Noell, EPD manager of compliance and enforcement for the region that includes Macon, said Macon's performance has improved consistently.

Frank Amerson, longtime chairman of the authority board, called the operation and maintenance agreement "a real step forward in reference to protecting the environment."

The authority's commitment, while voluntary, takes the form of a three-year consent order with EPD. Three other communities already have these agreements with EPD, but all are all in the "zero-tolerance zone" that covers metro Atlanta and part of north Georgia, said Ernest Earn, an implementation coordinator with EPD who oversees the program.

The state charges a fine for every sewage spill occurring in the zone. Because of the public attention these penalties received, several years ago some communities in the zone asked the EPD if fines could be reduced for utilities that take proactive measures to show their good faith in maintaining sewer systems.

The program was opened up to communities outside the "zero-tolerance zone" for the first time last year - partly because of the efforts of the Macon Water Authority - and the authority is the first and only water provider outside the zone to participate, Earn said.

"I think (Rojas) felt for some time we were treating Macon just like a zero-tolerance area because of their history," Earn said. "But from everything I've seen and heard, there has been a significant reduction in their sewage spills."

Earn attributes that change to Rojas and the management system the authority has established.

Rojas said the turnaround is largely because of investments made by the board that runs the utility. The authority spent about $7 million on installing new liners in sewers during a two-year period, then continued spending at least $1 million a year on lining since, he said.

The authority hired a coordinator for the operation and maintenance of the sewer system and started offering pay raises to sewer collections employees who get extra training. More than half now are trained to a level usually required only of supervisors, Rojas said.

The authority also is cleaning far more sewer lines, checking for tree roots penetrating lines and frequently checking "hot spots" where overflows are common, Rojas said.

However, if the authority fails to live up to its operation and maintenance agreement, the state can eliminate the deal and issue other enforcement orders or fines, Earn said.

Local environmentalist Lindsay Holliday praised the authority's progress, saying they are "5,000 percent better" than in the past, but added that he mistrusts any system that relies on the authority reporting its own mistakes.

"They have a monetary incentive to underreport spills," he said. "That's a conflict of interest." Holliday, who believes a spill this year into a creek on his father's Forest Hill Road property was underreported, said the authority should hire an objective engineer to evaluate the size of spills when they occur.

James Holland, Altamaha Riverkeeper, said his river advocacy organization opposes agreements like the one EPD is approving for Macon.

"When you decrease monetary payments, you lose the incentive to have as few spills as possible," said Holland, whose organization worked closely with the authority on reducing its spills a few years ago. "That's just a good reason for backsliding."

But Earn praised Macon's aggressive pursuit of the operation and maintenance agreement.

"It's very positive and proactive," Earn said. "I hope we will see more people implement these programs. You have to plan, implement and keep records of it, and when you're doing that kind of work, then you're going to have a good system."

To contact writer S. Heather Duncan, call 744-4225.