Flint: City working hard to correct sewer problems

Saturday, June 02, 2007

By CHERIE WARD The Mississippi Press

GAUTIER -- Public Works Director Dallas Flint said Friday he understands and sympathizes with the residents of Bemis Avenue, but wants the people there to know his employees are doing everything possible to fix the sewer problem.

Residents on Bemis Avenue, located off Old Spanish Trail and north of Shepard State Park, complained Thursday that their homes and yards are often overrun with raw sewage after a heavy rain.

On Friday, Flint said the problem is not with the sewer lines under Bemis Avenue, but with the number of sewer lines from other parts of the city that tie into the avenue.

Flint said there is either a break in a line, uncovered manholes or possibly someone has illegally taped into a sewer line routed to Bemis Avenue.

"It will take time to find the actual cause," Flint said. "But we are trying. It's an everyday issue that we are trying to resolve. We've repaired at least 250 manholes in the last year and we'll find it. The entire staff is aware of the issue and anytime anyone sees anything incorrect they make sure it gets fixed."

Flint said since the sewer system is underground it makes searching for problems difficult.

"We're checking areas throughout the city one at a time," Flint said. "And we are finding problems. We went from the manholes on Bemis overflowing for five hours when it rains to overflowing only thirty minutes. We are making progress."

Flint also said that back-flow valves will be installed in houses on Bemis Avenue beginning Monday. Flint said to have the device, which prevents sewage overflows, installed, residents must fill out an application available from the public works department.

Flint also said the City Council's recent approval for a manhole operator in the public works department will be a big help.

"All that person will do is inspect manholes and find and fix problems with them," Flint said. "That position will go a long way toward getting this resolved."

Several residents on Bemis Avenue said Thursday that despite the changes, the city is not doing enough to fix the problem.

But Flint disagrees.

Flint said public works employees responded during storms to pump out sewage stations, even if it's in the middle of the night.

Jere Shuster, manager for the water and sewer department, said crews also spend several hours cleaning up any sewage left on the ground.

Shuster said they wash the contaminated area, sanitize it and coat it with lime to neutralize any leftover contaminants.

"We take every precaution when it happens," Shuster said. "And it's not just the area around the manhole. We do the same thing for affected homes."

Shuster said they also must fill out a form and send it to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality when the manholes overflow.

"They (MDEQ) know everything we do," Shuster said.

Bemis Avenue is the only street of the 467 in Gautier with a sewage flooding problem, Shuster said.

Flint and Shuster said help from the residents is required to fix sewage issues.

"The bottom line is we're doing all we can as fast as we can," Flint said. "I know it's hard to have patience with sewage in your house, but it will take time to find the problem."

Reporter Cherie Ward can be reached at cward@themississippipress.com or (228) 934-1442.