Sewage

The normal method of sewage treatment in semi-rural areas is to install prefabricated cement septic tanks underground with leech lines downgrade from them.

In this short-term emergency, septic tanks can be trucked to the Village site and left above ground. Large hoses can connect RVs to the tanks. Depending on the size of the tanks and the number of residents, a sewage pumper truck will have to visit the site periodically and transport the sewage to the local treatment plant.

This solution will be workable for the first two or three months. During that time, the Village, the land owner and the local building department will have to come to a decision about whether to install a more permanent solution.

Most Villages are expected to disband within one year so permanent sewers will not be necessary. Some land owners who have plans to develop their property may find it advantageous to negotiate for Villager labor to actually install permanent tanks and lines. Where property is located on existing municipal sewers, proprietors may find they can negotiate with local agencies for reduced hook-up fees as compensation for their willingness to contribute to this relief effort.

Each Village will have to develop unique arrangements with its host community authorities. Those arrangements will have to be formalized before LO*OP Center can accept a site as part of the Katrina Village Project.

Please post sample agreements and discussion of the necessary negotiations here so others can use your experience as a model. Be as detailed in your description as you can.

Sewer Negotiation 1? Sewer Negotiation 2? Sewer Negotiation 3? Sewer Negotiation 4? Sewer Negotiation 5? Sewer Negotiation 6?