Small Town News

Rural Water District - Sanitation Issues:

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Rural Water District No. 2 District Manager Nathan Anderson provided a map of the territory in the water district which reflected coverage area in the northern 1/3 of the county. Anderson stated his concerns are separation between Rural Water District and potable water and requested! a change in the Wabaunsee County Codes to reflect a 25 foot minimum buffer between Rural Water Lines and any Septic lines.

Anderson explained the 25 foot buffer is a state guideline that is followed by the rural water district, and would like the county to recognize and adopt codes that would call for a 25 foot separation for water lines and septic to protect the water lines through out Wabaunsee County.

Zoning Administrator/County Sanitation Administrator David Stuewe advised there have been two specific incidents in the past where circumstances have been such that the sewer system lines were placed at 24 feet rather than 25 feet. Stuewe went on to say one was a failed sewer system and the second was a house with close proximity to the road. Stuewe stated in these two instances he felt it was reasonable to allow the variances of the 25 foot buffer. Stuewe did not feel it was an egregious encroachment to the water line and under KDHE standards reasonable variances are accepted.

Anderson stated he wants to establish guidelines and every effort put forward in new construction that the 25 foot buffer is in place, that the rules be followed and it is unusual circumstance for a variance to be granted. Stuewe stated he would agree as long as Anderson would accept there could be encroachments from time to time, that he would accept a 10% variance and that Stuewe is the one who makes the decision.

No action was taken on the issue at this time.



Copyright 2010 The Wabaunsee County Signal-Enterprise, Alma, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 The Wabaunsee County Signal-Enterprise Alma, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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