ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

June 21, 1973

MRS. LORETTA JEFFRESS,

Petitioner,

vs.

)

PCB 73—167

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,

Respondent.

OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (by Mr. Henss)

Petitioner seeks a variance from a ban on further sewer

connections in a Madison County area served by the Godfrey

Township Utility Board. The ban was imposed by the Environ-

mental Protection Agency pursuant to Rule 921(a) of Chapter 3:

Water Pollution Regulations. Petitioner’s proposed connection

would be tributary to the Black Creek Lagoon, which is a

single—cell lagoon and has a design average capacity of .09

MGD. The Agency estimates that the plant is currently serving

almost double its design average capacity. Chlorination

facilities at the lagoon are in operation. The lagoon discharges

into Black Creek but no information is available concerning the

condition of Black Creek in the vicinity of the lagoon outfall.

Godfrey has failed to maintain the effluent quality required by

Rule 404(a) of Chapter 3.

Petitioner’s home is now on a septic tank system. Discharges

from the septic tank constantly flood her basement and the sump

pump runs almost continuously. In the thirty days prior to the

filing of her variance request she emptied the septic tank ~iree

times.

The Agency recommends that the petition for variance be

denied unless Petitioner can provide documentation that a public

health hazard exists which cannot be eliminated through improved

maintenance or relatively minor repairs of the septic tank system.

Petitioner states that the surrounding area has turned into

a cess—pool and has submitted photographs showing the septic fluid on

the surface of the ground. A local contractor of septic tank sewer

8~~359

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systems has said that it would not be feasible to correct the

situation by repair or by replacement of the septic system

because the soil is mainly composed of clay which will not accept

any more water. Raw sewage flowing on the surface of the ground

is proof enough of a health hazard. We will grant the variance

for the sewer connection so that this health hazard can be

eliminated at an early date.

ORDER

The variance is hereby allowed so that Petitioner may proceed

with the necessary steps to connect to the sewer system operated

by the Godfrey Township Utility Board.

I, Christan L. Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control ~çard,

hereby certify the above Opinion and Order was adopted this

vm~/ ~

day

of June, 1973 by a vote of

4~

to 0

8

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360