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Today, Franklin County Commissioners unanimously approved $600,000 for sewer improvements along Cleveland Avenue in Blendon Township. One-hundred and fifty homes are expected to be brought on-line along Ashbury Road, Abington Road, Chester Road, Claridon Road and Sharon Avenue.
This new project was approved as part of the County’s 2007 Action Plan and is part of the Water Quality Partnership, a collaborative agreement between the Franklin County Commissioners and the city of Columbus. During the 20th century, as Columbus and its utility infrastructure grew to be the country’s 15th largest city, some older housing was left with on-site septic systems and wells. In the late 1980s, an increasing number of these septic systems began to fail, causing untreated household waste to leach into the groundwater. These areas were named “pockets of pollution”.
Besides the threat to households who use wells for drinking water, these pockets of pollution posed serious risks to rivers and creeks.
“We stand firm with our commitment to protecting our environment. Because of this commitment, groundwater and surface water throughout Franklin County are dramatically cleaner and safer. This has resulted in increased fish populations, expanded recreational opportunities and vastly improved public health,” said Commission President Mary Jo Kilroy.
The Water Quality Partnership has so far connected 1,713 homes and businesses to the centralized sewer system, preventing millions of gallons of effluent from reaching groundwater and surface water.
Commissioner Marilyn Brown noted that, “many of these connections are in low-income areas allowing the commissioners to leverage federal funding to clean up the community with minimal cost to local taxpayers.”
“The Water Quality Partnership has connected over 75% of the originally identified pockets of pollution to centralized sewer service,” stated Commissioner Paula Brooks. “I am proud of the work we are doing to keep our families and children safe.”
One particular noteworthy partnership area is the Darbydale community in southwestern Franklin County. Franklin County was able to utilize federal, state, and local funds to connect over 325 homes to a new sewer system. These households were formerly using failing aeration systems that discharged untreated sewage directly into the Big Darby Creek, a state and national environmental treasure that is home to 38 federal and state endangered species.
The Cleveland Heights area in Blendon Township is a perfect example of an area forgotten in time. Annexation over the years has created this pocket of homes cut off from basic services such as central sanitary sewer. Through the efforts of the Franklin County Board of Health and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, this area and several others were identified as desperately needing central sewer services. Failed septic and leach fields and malfunctioning aeration systems led to pollution problems that this approved project will correct. Over 150 homes will come into compliance with state standards and eliminate the pollution and foster new development in the area.
Construction is expected to begin soon with all homes connected to the sewer lines by mid-year 2008.
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