Sanitary Sewer Systems
Galena Properties, La Porte, IN
Galena Properties own a complex in LaPorte County that is a commercial establishment and a residential site. Their on-site waste water treatment systems had failed and required an entire new system. Radtke And Associates, Inc. was hired to obtain existing topographical features of the complex and design a waste water system that would handle their present and future needs. After plotting topographical features and a soils report, it became evident that a re-circulating media filter with a mound system was the best choice. The design of the re-circulating media filter and mounds were challenging on the point that high ground water and very little opportunity for a permanent drainage system.
Centurian Utilities, Valparaiso, Indiana
Fox Chase Farms Subdivision
Centurian Utilities is an organization that operates wastewater treatment facilities for Fox Chase Subdivision which is located near Chesterton, IN. There are approximately 100 homes within this subdivision which was developed in the early 1990’s. The developer operated this system as the homes were constructed and finalized the last phase in approximately 1995. When the developer was operating the system, there were many complaints by the residents that services were not properly provided. The developer sold the utility in 2000 and a recirculating media filter was designed and constructed by the new owner allowing treatment to be either by reed beds or by a recirculating media filter. This filter was not constructed according to the plans and specifications and caused major problems. A new owner took over in 2002 and operated the system for approximately two years. Major complaints were received by the state and the current owner hired Radtke And Associates, Inc. in 2005 to operate and maintain the system.
Radtke And Associates, Inc. invested thousands of dollars to repair the major problems and developed communications with the homeowners and also the Property Owners Association. All problems could not be repaired at once since it was impossible to know what they were. The detailed maintenance system was developed with a 24/7 on-call service. Radtke And Associates, Inc. employed two staff members to maintain this system. Part of this maintenance plan is reading meters so that problems could be prevented and addressed prior to causing a major problem
The system consists of septic tanks and a pumping station on each home’s property that is constructed by the homeowner and is inspected, operated, and maintained by Radtke And Associates, Inc. The pump pumps out the effluent from the septic system through a one and one quarter inch pipe to a low pressure sewer main in the street. The size of the main varies from two inches to three inches. The main discharges into either the recirculating media filter or the reed bed system for secondary treatment. Once the effluent is treated in either of those facilities, the effluent is then pumped to a mound system which gives terchiary treatment before the water enters into the ground water.
Since operating this system, Radtke And Associates, Inc. made presentations to the homeowners association and has received many compliments on the total operation and maintenance of this facility. The administrative staff of Radtke And Associates, Inc. handles the monthly invoices and payments. Prior to Radtke And Associates, Inc. being involved, there was a 95 percent delinquency factor for payments. Since the new management, there are no delinquent accounts and only on rare occasions is there a late payment problem.
Many problems are being investigated which include laterals that were installed very poorly and some of the laterals were connected onto adjoining property’s laterals. Major inflow has occurred into the system from the start and is being investigated to determine how to eliminate it.