An Alternative to the Midland Avenue Phase III
The Partnership for Onondaga Creek, February 21, 2008

$35 Million (M) remain in the two bonds funding the Midland RTF and Conveyances. The county can avoid a third bond and save the Consolidated Sewer District ratepayers $22 M. Cost-effective, ACJ-compliant alternatives are available.

With the $35 M currently available for Phase III, the county can increase the carrying capacity of the Midland Basin's combined sewer system. This can be done through the following:

1. STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
2. TEMPORARY STORAGE / TREATMENT OF UPSTREAM COMBINED SEWAGE
3. SELECTIVELY SEPARATING SOME SEWERS

WAYS TO IMPLEMENT THE SUGGESTIONS ABOVE:

1. STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
   • Keep storm water out of the system by managing it with Green Infrastructure (GI) and storm water Best Management Practices (BMP). There are upstream GI and BMP opportunities on Onondaga Hill (South Avenue trunk sewer), along the Skytop/Colvin trunk sewer, in Oakwood Cemetery (Kennedy trunk sewer), and along the Elmhurst trunk sewer.
   • Eliminate storm water from the Main Interceptor Sewer (MIS) by finishing the stalled Valley Drive storm sewer project.
2. TEMPORARY STORAGE / TREATMENT OF UPSTREAM COMBINED SEWAGE
   • Build upstream off-line storage off the Skytop/Colvin trunk sewer.
   • For now, keep the Newell RTF operating for the Newell sewer district 067.
3. SELECTIVELY SEPARATING SOME SEWERS
   • Eliminate storm water from combined sewer system and its MIS by separating Glenwood Avenue, Brighton Avenue and the tiny three-acre sewer district that overflows through CS0 061.

The rules of the ACJ allow the county to build a reasonable plan and to measure later for compliance. Currently, the county is nearly ACJ-compliant. The county has captured 83% of the system's combined sewage (of 85% required by the ACJ) and there have been no bacteria violations in the lake for years. It would benefit Onondaga Creek, Southside residents and the Consolidated Sewer District's ratepayers if the county, the state and ASLF allowed for the creation of a more environmentally and fiscally sound alternative to the pipeline.

BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING THIS PIPELINE ALTERNATIVE:

• closes some CSO's and keeps those upstream from overflowing, at the one-year storm level.
• preserves creek revitalization possibilities by not girding the east side of the creek with a massive pipe conveyance
• does not jeopardize the bank or creek wall's integrity with the construction of the pipeline, especially on W. Castle Street, south of South Avenue, and along Kirk Park Drive.
• precludes the need for the Elmhurst siphon under the creek
• does not compromise 60 homes which are inside the 75-ft pipeline construction perimeter.
• provides 40% more capacity at the Midland RTF allowing it to store much larger storms and avoiding the need for regular chlorination of sewage in this residential neighborhood.
• saves the Consolidated Sewer District's ratepayer the added expense of $22 Million.

LEARNING FROM THE PAST:

The installation of the1000-ft pipeline built under Midland Phase II was a warning of the coming disruption along the 7700-ft pipeline extension. Adding to the construction upheaval is the pipeline's adverse impact. For example, the large gas vents and utility boxes mar the green space on W. Castle Street, north of South Avenue. They are permanent reminders of the pipeline's presence and they will make it hard for further revitalization of this creekside green space.

Read more about the increasing costs of the Midland RTF and pipeline on the Midland page

Contact your County Legislator! Click here for a list and contact information.

Come to the public hearing on March 4th at 2:00 pm to the county leg to give support to a cost-effective, environmentally sound alternative to the massive pipeline! People wanting to speak should get to the legislature by 1:30 pm to sign in.

The bond resolution was voted out of committee which means there will be a vote during the leg session that begins at 2:30 pm.

You can find more information at EPA's Green Infrastructure Web site at: www.epa.gov/npdes/greeninfrastructure and at EPA's LID Web site: www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/.