The York Sewer District this month issued a notice of violation against the town for failure to install sand traps in the plumbing system at the Long Sands Bathhouse that would prevent sand from entering the district’s sewer mains.
Although just this past Monday, YSD withdrew its notice after being assured the town would fix the problem, which may involve jackhammering the cement floor in the area of the bathhouse drains, the situation sparked frustration and even consternation from town and district officials.
Problems appear to have arisen in late August, when a YSD collection system foreman checked the system and didn’t see a sand “interceptor,” or trap, installed, said Director Tim Haskell. The discovery prompted a meeting on site with town and district officials Sept. 5. “At that time, they weren’t sure what happened” but said they’d look into it, said Haskell.
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Sand interceptors, he said, are required by state plumbing code and YSD regulations. He said at no time during the bathhouse’s construction was YSD asked to review or comment on the bathhouse’s plumbing plans. If it had, it would have flagged the need for the traps.
Town Manager Steve Burns said he’s bothered by Haskell’s assessment. He said if the district wanted these to be installed, it should have made concerns known early in the construction process while designs were being drawn up.
“Why did they wait until after the bath house was built to raise these issues?” Burns said. “We’re all working ultimately for the same public. If we screwed it up, it’s on us. But at least talk with us before we have the whole bath house built.”
In her response to Haskell at the end of September, Parks and Recreation Director Robin Cogger said she reviewed all the documents and found no reference to sand traps as a required component of the plumbing system. While the town doesn’t want to be noncompliant, she told Haskell, “if there (was) no formal request by the Sewer District for installation of the sand traps, the town does not plan to make any modifications to the bathhouse.”
Cogger’s response triggered a notice being sent to her Oct. 2 and again Oct. 15, when Haskell wrote YSD had not heard back after the first notice. Cogger said Burns was on vacation during this period, and she was awaiting his return.
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Haskell said when initial bath house plans for an outdoor shower were considered, but dropped for financial reasons, district staff went to the design meetings and told the town interceptors would be needed. “It just makes sense that sand is not a good thing to put in public sewer. There’s a lack of common sense that these weren’t installed. This shouldn’t be such a contentious issue.”
Burns said he was not pleased to come back to the notice of violation. In an email, he asked Travis Jones, YSD regulatory compliance manager, several questions about the circumstances leading up to the notice, including when district’s inspection occurred, if it occurred during construction, if there was a written report, and if the sewer district considered the bathhouse commercial or industrial building — in which case the town would be required to install the traps.
Jones replied requesting a meeting with town officials at which time the questions would be answered, but said “it will not change the fact the structure is in violation.” Burns said the meeting would be held once the district provides answers to his questions.
“I am extremely disappointed we have reached this point,” Burns wrote to Jones in seeking answers. “The district has, in writing, accused the town of violating a regulation and is threatening a legal action against the town. This is not an inconsequential matter.”
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Burns said later he feels YSD has been “disrespectful to us, and to the citizens, by not answering the questions.”
Burns this week sent a letter to Haskell agreeing to retrofit sand traps in the floor drains, “which unfortunately means breaking up the floor,” he told the Board of Selectmen Monday night. He asks that the town be given until May 15 to install the traps. It was as a result of this letter that YSD lifted the NOV.
He said he is concerned about long-term implications of the town’s relationship with the sewer district, which had improved in recent years as YSD and town officials worked to coordinate projects. “We’re supposed to be working together. We’re not perfect, so help us, don’t be adversarial,” he said.
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