Unsewered Communities

The Miami Valley is dotted with small communities with pockets of residences and businesses served by septic systems. In locations where these systems no longer provide adequate wastewater treatment, water surveys and samples collected by OEPA have documented the presence of E.coli bacteria, which is the principal organism used to detect the presence of fecal pollution (human, solid waste) in drainage ditches and tributaries to our creeks and rivers.

In some places, there may not be enough physical space to build septic systems to modern specifications. In other places, there may not be the resources to construct adequate community-scale treatment works, nor the projected future customer base to keep such treatment works viable. The purpose of the “Unsewered Communities Project” was to examine and report on the options for these communities where on-site treatment is failing to protect human health and the environment. The reports identify actionable solutions and lay the groundwork for future projects.

Unsewered Communities Project

The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) partnered with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) and public health districts in the Miami Valley to help our communities with large concentrations of failing or underperforming home sewage treatment systems. Funding was provided to conduct feasibility studies for five of these high priority communities experiencing environmental and public health concerns due to failing or underperforming home sewage treatment systems. Those communities that chose to take part in the study are:

• Village of Bowersville (Greene County)
• Glenwood Area (Preble County)
• Jackson Township (Darke County)
• Village of Ludlow Falls (Miami County)
• Village of Wayne Lakes (Darke County)

What will the "Unsewered Communities Project" accomplish?

The "Unsewered Communities Project" evaluated the specific problems and needs of each participating community to develop customized wastewater treatment options in the form of a General Plan. The General Plan was developed through close involvement with community leaders to cultivate the best-suited solutions for each community. MVRPC has contracted with an engineering firm, IBI Group, to develop General Plans for these communities. IBI Group (formerly M•E/IBI Group) has worked closely with numerous communities, guiding them through the rigors of developing a cost-effective plan and implementing the plan through construction and start-up.

Does development of a General Plan commit these communities to installing a public sewer system?

No. The plans do, however, provide potential alternatives, cost estimates, a funding plan and a schedule. This information will help the community decide whether a sewer system is in its best interest and whether to proceed further with engineering design and funding applications.

What was the schedule for the overall project?

Kick-off meetings with leaders and representatives each community started in October 2014 and were completed by December 2014. Fact-finding meetings were held with community leaders in order to develop the best planning options for each community through May 2015. Notes from all community meetings are available in each report appendix. Once alternatives and potential costs were developed, a public meeting was held in each community during the spring of 2015. The studies were completed for all participating communities by July 2015.

What will happen after the studies are completed?

Participating communities received completed studies that provide options for addressing wastewater treatment concerns. These documents may be used to support applications for loans or grants to fund implementation of the solutions selected by the communities. The choice of next steps will be up to each individual community.

For more information Contact, Matt Lindsay, Manager of Environmental Planning at MVRPC at (937) 531-6548 or mlindsay@mvrpc.org.

Community Plans

Village of Bowersville

The Village of Bowersville is a community predominantly located on Ohio 72, 6 miles south of the Village of Jamestown and 11 miles northeast of Wilmington with approximately 155 homes. This area was listed as a concern by the Greene County Combined Health District, Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Ohio EPA.A public meeting was held Tuesday, June 23, 2015, WOW Church, 5802 E. Xenia St.,  Bowersville, Ohio 45307, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

The final study is available in 4 parts (Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Appendix).

Glenwood Area Draft Sewer Study

The Glenwood area is an unincorporated community located in Preble County between the Village of West Alexandria and the City of Eaton with approximately 200 Homes. MVRPC contracted with IBI Group/Burton Planning Services to develop a study to provide sewer collection and treatment alternatives with associated costs for each alternative. A public participation meeting was held on Tuesday May 12, 2015, at the American Legion James E. Ryan Post 322, 1477 Ohio 503, West Alexandria, Ohio 45381, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

The study is available to review as a four part download. (Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Appendix).

Jackson Twp. (Darke Coutny) Draft Sewer Study

The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission contracted with IBI Group to complete a feasibility study for wastewater collection and treatment alternatives for the Jackson Township in Darke County. Jackson Township is located in the Northwest quadrant of Darke County. The unincorporated portion of the township just to the East and South of Union City is the area of interest. The area if interest has approximately 163 homes. A public participation meeting was held on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at Mississinawa Valley Schools, 1469 Ohio 47, Union City, Ohio, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Public comments on the draft study were accepted through June 26.

The final study is available to review as a 4 part download. (Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Appendix).

Ludlow Falls Draft Sewer Study

The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission contracted with IBI Group to complete a feasibility study for wastewater collection and treatment alternatives for the Village of Ludlow Falls in Miami County.  A public meeting provided the residents and property owners in Ludlow Falls an opportunity to review the General Plan report. The meeting was held Tuesday May 5, 2015 at Ludlow Falls Fire Department, 10 Greenville Avenue, Ludlow Falls, Ohio 45339, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

The final sewer feasibility study is now available for public review and download (Report | Appendix).

Wayne Lakes Draft Sewer Study

The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission contracted with IBI Group to complete a feasibility study for wastewater collection and treatment alternatives for the Village of Wayne Lakes in Darke County. The draft study report was developed with the guidance of a local steering committee made up from elected officials, and business and property owners from the Village of Wayne Lakes.  The steering committee met three times and the minutes of these meetings are available in the report appendix. A public comment meeting was held on Saturday, May 30, 2015 in Wayne Lakes.

The final sewer feasibility study (Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Appendix) is available for review and download.

The study provides a preliminary engineering review of multiple options for replacement of on-site septic systems with in the village.  The study examines septic tank effluent pump (STEP) systems, grinder pump sewage systems and vacuum sewer systems for potential collection options.  The report also looks at options for wastewater treatment including three different designs for a new treatment facility for the village: extended aeration, lagoons and packed-bed media. In addition, the report studies the possibility of contracting with three different neighboring communities for wastewater treatment. The study recommends a specific collection and treatment alternative: grinder pump sewers and a new mechanical, extended aeration plant for treatment.

The report also covers other critical topics:

Environmental conditions surrounding the Village of Wayne Lakes

Future development potential and population projections

Potential project costs

Local, regional, state and federal funding options

Implementation considerations