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Homeowner/General Questions:
Do I have the option to not hookup to the sewer?
Yes. However, the assessment on each parcel includes costs for on-site work, including abandonment of the septic tank, installation of the grinder pump and associated piping, and site restoration. If you elect not to connect as part of the current project, you will be responsible for these costs, and possibly others, when you elect to connect at a future date.
What are the possible consequences of not hooking up to the sewer?
As mentioned above, there are financial consequences to not hooking up as part of the current project. There could be consequences if your on-site septic system is deemed to be a threat to water quality or public health by state and/or local agencies. The California Regional Water Control Board as well as the Santa Barbara and Ventura County Environmental Health Departments are enforcement agencies with jurisdiction in these areas. Development or redevelopment of your property may also be restricted by the size or condition of your on-site septic system.
How much will this project cost each homeowner?
The assessment for each parcel covers nearly all of the costs associated with septic to sewer conversion. Each homeowner will be required to provide an electrical connection to provide power to the grinder pump. More details will be provided on this requirement, but each homeowner will likely incur costs that will be paid to an electrician they engage.
If anyone else hooks up to the sewer (i.e. a development along the bluff), will residents be reimbursed - and if so, how will will the reimbursements be paid out?
Future users of the infrastructure that is paid for with proceeds from the Rincon Point component of Assessment District 2007-1 will be obligated to pay a pro-rata share of the value of the improvements that they would utilize. For example, the County Park would likely connect to the central pump station and would be obligated to pay, on a reimbursement basis, for a portion of the cost to construct the pump station and the downstream pipelines. They would not be requried to pay for any of the costs of the low pressure sewer system within the gated Rincon Point community. Likewise, a future resort development on the Carpinteria Bluffs would only pay a pro-rata share of the cost of the pipelines that they connect to and utilize. The formula for cost apportionment has not been finalized but it is expected to be volume based. District counsel is preparing an ordinance that the District Board of Directors will consider and adopt to ensure that future users will be required to pay their fair share. It is anticipated that funds will be returned to property owners in a manner similar to the State grant funds, however, the mechanics of this have not yet been finalized.
Should we expect noises or odors from the pump station?
The individual grinder pump units installed at each home should not produce discernable noise or nuisance odors. As with your existing septic system, there will be some use guidelines to keep your unit working at its optimum level. The central pump station, which will convey the community’s wastewater up to Carpinteria, will be designed to minimize noise and odor generation to the greatest extent possible. There are modern sewage pump stations situated in many similar environments, including one immediately adjacent to the Coral Casino and the Biltmore hotel.
Will the pump station be aesthetically pleasing to the community?
The tanks and pumps will be underground. A small building will be necessary to provide an enclosure for the on-site emergency generator, the control panels and other critical equipment. The structure will be designed to be architecturally appealing and consistent with the local aesthetic. The design team will work with the local property owners’ association during the design development stage.
In case of power outage, how long will the tank be able to hold fluid?
The individual grinder pump tanks will have a 240 gallon capacity. The average single family residence uses about this amount of water on a daily basis, when the power is on. During an outage, when washing machines and dishwashers or not functional, a conservation minded homeowner could have capacity for several days. The units will also be equipped with a generator plug and tanks could be pumped down if a generator were available for this purpose.
The central pump station will have a dedicated emergency generator and should be fully functional during any power outage. District staff will also be notified automatically of any outage, and can respond when necessary. As an added precaution, the pump station will also be equipped with an overflow storage tank to provide additional storage if all of the redundant mechanical systems were to fail.
Who will be responsible should any damage occur to my home as a result of the construction?
The Carpinteria Sanitary District, as the project owner, will be ultimately responsible. There will be a full-time construction manager on-site to help prevent damage from occurring and to work with property owners to make sure any unavoidable damage is repaired satisfactorily.
Will the contractor be required to have a bond/insurance?
Yes. The District has comprehensive surety and insurance requirements for all contractors that it employs.
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COMMENTS
THIS DID NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT THE PUMP STATION. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS WILL BE ABOVE GROUND AND THIS FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS MISLEADING.
The tanks and pumps will be underground. A small building will be necessary to provide an enclosure for the on-site emergency generator, the control panels and other critical equipment. The structure will be designed to be architecturally appealing and consistent with the local aesthetic. The design team will work with the local property owners’ association during the design development stage.
http://www.romtecutilities.com/wastewater/custom/Wastewater_Duplex_6x19_Lift_Station_System/
This image is really intended to give an overview of the pump station components. The Rincon station will look much different - of course there will be no chain link fencing - but the basic elements are accurate. There will be two vaults that are below ground (for pumps and valves) with access hatches at grade level. A small building will house an emergency generator, the pump station control panel and other support equipment. The building itself will designed to be integrated into the community setting - it will not be a basic block building as shown in the image. For instance, the building may have redwood siding to match the entry gate aesthetic or it may be a cape cod style structure. The final building design will be selected with input from the community representatives.
When properly designed, facilities such as this can blend nicely into their surroundings. There is a sewage pump station located at the base of the stairs leading down to Miramar Beach in Montecito. Most people have no idea it is even there.
I hope this reply sheds some light on the pump station component of the project. Homeowners can look forward to some direct outreach in the near future.
A: Prepayment of your assessment, in full or in part, is possible. There is a 3% penalty, or premium, that will be incurred for bond prepayments. This “early call” provision is common for municipal bonds. However, there are other factors used to determine actual prepayment costs. For example, the full assessment amount includes a reserve fund contribution that would be partially refunded to you. The net result will be a prepayment amount that is lower than the total per parcel assessment but higher than the original cash payment price. The District’s bond administrator can calculate an exact prepayment amount for a property owner at any time. Please contact Craig Murray at 684-7214 x12 if you are interested in a prepayment quote.
Please refer to the questions and answers above for additional answers to your questions.