As a follow up to the storm event that impacted Lake Michigan water quality and beaches in the area the week of January 7, the Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board (ODEAB) is asking the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) for assistance in making sure the Town of Ogden Dunes, and more importantly, the Indiana American Water Company, is immediately notified of any Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) events.
“Being notified of CSOs is crucial because Ogden Dunes sits near the mouth of Burns Ditch, which is the endpoint for the Little Calumet River watershed, which also drains the Salt Creek, Coffee Creek and Deep River sub-watersheds in Porter and Lake Counties,” said Susan MiHalo, Chair of the ODEAB. In addition, Indiana American Water maintains a water intake off the shores of Ogden Dunes.
During an ODEAB meeting held Thursday, January 17, residents and committee members expressed concern about the basketball-sized balls of matter that landed on the beach. MiHalo indicated that IDEM is testing the matter for additional parameters, like mercury, and will have results in about a week or more.
It was also noted that water quality issues pertaining to Burns Ditch are also impacted by other types of nonpoint source pollution such as run-off from impervious surfaces and increasing development throughout the sub-watersheds. Residents and committee members were urged to get involved in watershed management planning efforts in the area, and to report what they believe are illicit discharges and violations of erosion control laws.
IDEM defines a combined sewer as a combination of wastewater, including domestic, commercial or industrial wastewater and storm water that are transported in the same conveyance. A CSO event occurs when the hydraulic capacity of the wastewater treatment plant, combined sewer system, or part of the system, is exceeded as the result of a wet weather event.
Distinctions between “bypasses” and “sewer system overflows” (SSOs) were also provided during the meeting. Bypasses, which occur rarely, may happen, for example, if planned maintenance needs to occur, or if something like eminent flooding threatens to shut down the system. According to MiHalo, IDEM requires that bypasses and SSOs be reported to IDEM within 24 hours, but no public notification is required.
On the other hand, “the public has a right to be notified of CSO events if they have requested to be notified,” said MiHalo. According to IDEM rules, each CSO community is required to describe how individuals and entities may be notified, and this information must be published in a newspaper each March.
Attendees were also urged to let their Senators and Congressman know that they support efforts to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for State water pollution control revolving funds. States would use such grants along with their own funds to make low-interest loans to communities to construct wastewater treatment facilities and to fund other related projects. The Sewage Overflow Right-to-Know Act, introduced in the Senate last year, would require that sewage treatment plants monitor for and report discharges of raw sewage.
“Being notified of CSOs is crucial because Ogden Dunes sits near the mouth of Burns Ditch, which is the endpoint for the Little Calumet River watershed, which also drains the Salt Creek, Coffee Creek and Deep River sub-watersheds in Porter and Lake Counties,” said Susan MiHalo, Chair of the ODEAB. In addition, Indiana American Water maintains a water intake off the shores of Ogden Dunes.
During an ODEAB meeting held Thursday, January 17, residents and committee members expressed concern about the basketball-sized balls of matter that landed on the beach. MiHalo indicated that IDEM is testing the matter for additional parameters, like mercury, and will have results in about a week or more.
It was also noted that water quality issues pertaining to Burns Ditch are also impacted by other types of nonpoint source pollution such as run-off from impervious surfaces and increasing development throughout the sub-watersheds. Residents and committee members were urged to get involved in watershed management planning efforts in the area, and to report what they believe are illicit discharges and violations of erosion control laws.
IDEM defines a combined sewer as a combination of wastewater, including domestic, commercial or industrial wastewater and storm water that are transported in the same conveyance. A CSO event occurs when the hydraulic capacity of the wastewater treatment plant, combined sewer system, or part of the system, is exceeded as the result of a wet weather event.
Distinctions between “bypasses” and “sewer system overflows” (SSOs) were also provided during the meeting. Bypasses, which occur rarely, may happen, for example, if planned maintenance needs to occur, or if something like eminent flooding threatens to shut down the system. According to MiHalo, IDEM requires that bypasses and SSOs be reported to IDEM within 24 hours, but no public notification is required.
On the other hand, “the public has a right to be notified of CSO events if they have requested to be notified,” said MiHalo. According to IDEM rules, each CSO community is required to describe how individuals and entities may be notified, and this information must be published in a newspaper each March.
Attendees were also urged to let their Senators and Congressman know that they support efforts to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for State water pollution control revolving funds. States would use such grants along with their own funds to make low-interest loans to communities to construct wastewater treatment facilities and to fund other related projects. The Sewage Overflow Right-to-Know Act, introduced in the Senate last year, would require that sewage treatment plants monitor for and report discharges of raw sewage.
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