Rowlett Sewer Connection Letter from
Tedd Sugg [8001 Ravens Nest]   3 June 2005

I have spoken to the City of Rowlett Director of Public Works, City
Engineer, and the assistant City Engineer regarding the recent
ordinances that were passed by the City of Rowlett City Council.  The
ordinances will require homes on septic systems to connect to the
City sewer system if they are within 300 feet of a City sewer line.
This part of the ordinance is clear, but unfortunately there are many
discrepancies in the ordinances that need clarification.

In the situation that is developing on Toler Road, the City is
spending over a million dollars of Capital Improvement Program funds
to construct a new sanitary sewer.  The homes along Toler Road that
are within 300 feet of the new sewer will be required to connect to
the City sewer line.  The City’s view point is if they are spending
over a million dollars, then the residents will be required to
connect to the line.  The key item to remember in this situation is
the City used Capital Improvement Program funds to construct the
line.

On the east side of Raven’s Nest, a new sewer line has been
installed.  All the homes on the east side of the neighborhood are
within the 300 foot requirement.  A developer (DR Horton) paid for
the line to be installed.  The City did NOT contribute any funds for
the construction of the line; therefore the homes that are within
300’ in Ravens Nest will not be required to connect to the line.  If
the homes choose to connect to the new sewer line, they may do so.
The cost is approximately $3000 plus $700 for decommissioning the
septic tank plus $450 City Impact fee.

A new sewer line was placed on Hickox Road a few years ago.  The
homes on the south side of Ravens Nest are within 300 feet of this
line.  The line was paid for by the City, but was installed prior to
the approval of the ordinance.  These homes will not be required to
connect to the line. The City is considering allowing the homes to
connect to they line if they choose to, but the service line would
have to be bored under the wall and a large storm sewer to access the
sewer line.  The cost is approximately $3800 plus $700 for
decommissioning the septic tank plus $450 City Impact fee.

The 300 foot rule applies if you can run a service line from your
home to the City sewer without constructing a line in the City ROW
and the City paid for the construction of the sewer main.  In short,
the City sewer line has to be adjacent to your property.  If a home
in Ravens Nest located four lots (for example) from the gates wants
to tie into the City sewer line on Hickox, they will not be allowed
to.  The City will not allow individuals to construct a sewer line in
the ROW to extend a sewer main to there lot.  The City does not want
a piece-mill line placed in random increments in a neighborhood.  The
line has to be installed as one project.

In summary, the new ordinances, according to the City Engineer, will
not affect Ravens Nest.  I asked the City Engineer what were the
possibilities of the City constructing a sewer main in Ravens Nest in
the Future.  He said the odds were pretty decent.

If the neighborhood wants the City to construct a sewer main in the
neighborhood, we should have a petition signed and presented to the
City Council requesting that sewer improvements for the neighborhood
be placed on the City’s Capital Improvement Program Schedule.  This
would probably take some time to accomplish and several request
before the City Council.  Once the request is approved and accepted,
the City Engineering Department will place the project on the Capital
Improvement Program Schedule.  It could be schedule for construction
as far as five years from now.  The rough estimate for construction
is $500,000.  If it is placed on the Capital Improvement Program,
then the City will pay for all of it.

Since the City would pay for the line, all residents would be
required to connect to the Sewer Main in accordance with the
ordinance.  If our septic systems are less than 5 years old at the
time of the construction of the sewer main, we would have to be
connect with 15 years from the time the sewer main was constructed.
If our septic system is older than 5 years, then we would have 10
years to connect to the City sewer main.

According to the ordinance, the City would help finance the cost of
placing the service lateral from your home to the new sewer main and
the decommissioning of the septic tank if the resident connects to
the sewer main within 24 months of the construction of the new sewer
main.  This cost could range from $3000 to $5000.

This is the interpretation of the ordinances by the City Engineering
Department.  They are currently writing a letter to the City attorney
stating there interpretation of the ordinances and will issue the
letter once approved by the City attorney.

I called AAA septic and obtained cost for maintaining a septic
system. I was surprised at how expensive it is.  Since all of our
septic systems are new, we have not seen the expense of the
maintenance yet.  When we purchased our homes, the septic systems
came with a two year maintenance contract.  The maintenance contract
is required by TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) and
enforced by Dallas County.  If you do not renew your maintenance
contract and submit the proper forms to Dallas County, they will
issue you a warning.  If the contract is still not renewed, Dallas
County will issue you a citation and schedule a court date.  They
don’t fool around with this.

Cost to Maintain a Septic System Over a Five Year Period

Annual Maintenance Contract	$225	Yearly	$1,125.00
Replace Aerator Motor	$550	Every 3 to 5 years	$550.00
Replace Discharge Pump	$280	Every 5 years	$280.00
Pump Out Septic Tank	$350	Every 3 to 5 years	$350.00
			$2,305.00	Total
			$461.00	Yearly
			$38.42	Monthly

We are currently paying almost $40 a month to maintain a septic
system.  Your sewer rate with the City is based on your water usage,
so it can be much lower.  The maximum sewer rate with the City is
currently $39. I personally have already replaced my discharge pump
twice in the last year and a half.  Thanks to the warranty, I did not
have to pay the $560 it would cost if it happened now.

As a professional Engineer, I know that as septic systems get older,
they require more maintenance and expense.  I also know that not
everyone will take care of their septic systems.  We have all walked
through the neighborhood late at night and got the smell of a
malfunctioning system.

As a resident, I would like to see the neighborhood pursue having the
City place the construction of a sewer main in the neighborhood on
their Capital Improvement Program Schedule.  Best case, we could have
a sewer line in 5 years and be required to be connected in 15 years.
Our only cost would be the service lateral from the house to the
main, and the City will help finance that.

I will gladly answer any questions I can regarding this issue.

Ted Sugg, P.E.