Sewer Information Update

Sewer Information Update [Scroll down for spill chart]

(Reply from Executive Director Dianne Philipps and the FOIL documents for 110 spills)

Background: On June 24, 2005, Mayor Layne and the Board of Trustees of Airmont sent this letter to the Director of the Rockland County Sewer District No.l. Faced with reports from residents about increasing sewage overflows, their concerns were that the system on South Monsey Road was seriously undersized; that sewage overflows on 12/24/03, 12/29/03, and 9/18/03 were reported to the sewer commission "but not to the regulatory authorities as required"; and that the system’s remote overflow sensors ceased operating at the end of 1999.

Along with the health issues, there was the problem of the spills flowing into the Saddle River. And for the Board there was the "need to have an accurate understanding of these matters to make the correct decisions regarding future land use matters."

The Reply from Rockland County Sewer District #1:

In her reply, Executive Director Dianne Philipps discussed a number of spills in the Airmont area, and she also commented on the remote sensor issue. Several disturbing inconsistencies arose. Airmont residents had Sewer District documents on 10 spills in the area attained by a Freedom of Information Act request. In her comments, Director Philipps addressed a total 6 spills, and three of them had not been included in the documents returned in the FOIL request as required by law. I was told later by a Department of Environmental Control agent that the reason could have been bad record-keeping. But even if it was poor information gathering, there were still the seven major spills in the Airmont area over the last five years that the letter did not address. Four of these spills of 5,000 gal., 800 gal., 1,200 gal., and 100,000 gal. made their way into the Saddle River. The three others spilled into the streets or in the parking area and locker room of a local swim club.

The question about the sensors was restricted to a discussion about alarm systems. Philipps explained, "The telemetry system transmits alarms from our 22 pump stations to our wastewater treatment plant in Orangeburg, which is manned 24/7." She did admit "we lost some of our data gathering functions in 2000, but she did not explain the reason and the nature of the information gathering that was lost and why it is still not repaired. Does this data have an impact on the capacity of the system? Without the information, can reliable plans be made for future land use (and hookups to the system)?

The sewer system became operational in 1967 when there were 59,000 people living in the county. It was designed to serve a projected maximum population of 153,000—a number the planners thought would be reached by 1980. Now some 25 years later, with about 300,000 people in the county, we continue to add to that number with high-density developments throughout Ramapo. The question becomes not if, but when will the system fail, and what’s that going to cost the taxpayers?

The Larger Picture

After the Director's letter, another FOIL request was submitted by Peter Strasser, an Airmont resident. This time, he asked for all spills in Rockland County for the last five years. Mr. Strasser was looking for the missing documents that Director Philipps made reference to in her letter. He also wanted to know what was going on upstream and downstream in the system which was periodically failing in Airmont. Documents for 90 separate events were returned. A total 830,000 gallons were estimated to have backed up onto streets, into streams, a lake near a children’s camp, into businesses, a trench adjacent to Lake DeForest reservoir, and onto streets in Monsey, Airmont, Spring Valley, Chestnut Ridge, Suffern, Pomona, etc. The chart below is self-explanatory. [Updated numbers are 110 events and a total of 3,410,800 gallons spilled.]

What causes these back-ups and spills? Director Philipps says heavy rainfall and snow melts are the problem. But when you look over the chart, the reasons given in the documents break down this way:

36 from rain and snow melt

28 caused by blockage or build-up

16 by failing pumps

10 other causes.

Mr. Strasser spoke to a scientist at the Rockland Soil and Water Department and she offered a more complete explanation than the Director. Her reasons were:

1. Loss of power (pumps fail).

2. The system is undersized.

3. Ground water infiltration.

4. Illegal connections to the system.

5. Vandalism.

Note: Updated spreadsheet through January 2008 is available here. Current totals: 167 spills, 4.2 million gallons. Add the
amount contested over the Cherry Lane spill, and the total is 6.7 million gallons, most in the last two years.

These 90 documents were delivered in that last FOIL application. The color code is explained at the bottom of the chart. (Amended with a second set of FOILed documents beginning with #91).

	SEWER DISTRICT #1		COUNTY OF ROCKLAND		7/25/2005
	FOIL report sent to Peter Strasser July 20, 2005

#	LOCATION	DATE	SPILL IN GALS.	Cause	FRESH WATER?
1	Adj. To Monsey Glen Park	Feb. 11, 2000	100,000	Problem clearing rocks in line
2	754 Saddle River Rd.	July 25th 2000	1200	Failed check valve on pump	Saddle River
3	754 Saddle River Rd.	August 16, 2000	800	2 pumps failed on high vibration	Saddle River
4	754 Saddle River Rd.	Dec. 7, 2000	5000	2 pumps failed valve & vibration	Saddle River
5	Washington Ave. New Square	Jan.23, 2001	500	Blockage--cause unknown
6	11 Sherwood Ave. S.V.	Feb. 17, 2001	50	Blockage (ongoing problem)
7	754 Saddle River Rd. MH10172	March 30, 2001	4200	Pump failure
8	754 Saddle River Rd. MH10174	March 30, 2001	4200	Pump failure
9	New Hemstead Rd.	March 30, 2001	3000	Blockage--buildup silt & debris
10	Crikki & Lawrence	March 30, 2001	3600	Rain/groundwater infiltration
11	Jeffery Court-Manhole 16002	March 30, 2001	11250	Rain/groundwater infiltration
12	Jeffery Court-Manhole 16003	March 30, 2001	11250	Rain/groundwater infiltration
13	Jeffery Court-Manhole 16004	March 30, 2001	11250	Rain/groundwater infiltration
14	Old Mill Road, Valley Cottage	March 30, 2001	6500	Rain/groundwater infiltration
15	Strawtown Rd, West Nyack	March 30, 2001	12300	Rain/groundwater infiltration
16	Twin Lakes Lane, Monsey	April 13, 2001	30000	Pump failure	Saddle River
17	23A Pascack Plaza	April 28, 2001	350	Blockage--rags and grease buildup
18	24 Tara Drive, Pomona	April 30, 2001	250	Blockage--roots in pipe
19	Cottage Lane, Pomona	May 26, 2001	200	Two pumps failed
20	Strawtown Rd, West Nyack	June 17, 2001	39500	Heavy rainfall
21	Rt. 59, S.V.	June 23, 2001	1000	Heavy rainfall
22	Old Mill Road, Valley Cottage	June 29, 2001	75	Partial Blockage
23	754 Saddle River Rd.	Aug. 27, 2001	2000	Check valve failure	Saddle River
24	Wilder Rd. Suffern	Oct. 3, 2001	750	Failure of 2 pumps
25	Rt. 304/ New City	Nov. 11 & 12, 2001	150000	Blockage--grease buildup	Stream
26	Nob Hill Rd. Clarkstown	Feb. 25, 2002	?	Blockage	Lake Lucille/Hackensack R.
27	11Sherwood Ave. S.V.	March 15, 2002	1000	Blockage--grease buildup
28	11Sherwood Ave. S.V.	March 19, 2002	225	Blockage--grease buildup
29	Dutch Lane in Spring Valley	April 2, 2002	?	Leak in barrel of syphon	Pascack Brook
30	Twin Lakes Lane, Monsey	April 13, 2002	30000	Check valve failure	Saddle River
31	Dutch Lane in Spring Valley	April 19, 2002	1000		Fish Killed/ Sparkill Creek
32
33	Rt. 59, S.V.	May 1, 2002	200	Construction mistake
34	Dorset Rd. S.V.	June 5, 2002	750	Blockage--grease and silt
35	2 Camp Hill Rd. Pomona	July 19, 2002	5000	Power failure (stuck linkage)	S. Branch Creek
36	11 sherwood Ave. S.V.	July 20, 2002	1000	Blockage--grease buildup
37	30 Hemion Rd., Suffern	Sept. 17, 2002	2500	Blockage--grease buildup	Mahwah River
38	Willow Tree Rd., Wesley Hills	Sept. 30, 2002	200	Blockage grease and stones
39	Strawtown Rd. W. Nyack	Jan. 2nd, 2003	8500	Rain and snow melt	Lake DeForest Dam
40	Shady Brook Lane, New City	Feb. 23, 2003	3000	One pump failed
41	Lime Kiln Rd. Suffern	April 23, 2003	200	Power dip in line
42	Cottage Lane, Pomona	May 15, 2003	200	Pumps turned off
43	Hillside Ave., Airmont	June 9, 2003	1000	Blockage--odor control dish	Saddle River
44	Strawtown Rd. W. Nyack	June 22, 2003	100	Heavy rainfall
45	754 Saddle River Rd.	Aug. 14, 2003	400	Maybe power switch failure	?
46	Ewing Rd., S.V.	Sept. 11, 2003	700	Blockage in 8-in. line	Pascack Brook
47	New Square	Oct. 10, 2003	100	Blockage in 8-in. line
48	Strawtown Rd. W. Nyack	Dec.12, 2003	10000	Heavy rainfall
49	Strawtown Rd. W. Nyack	Dec. 24, 2003	30000	Heavy rainfall
50	Bethune Blvd. SV	Dec. 28 2003	1000	Blockage--exess grease	Pascack Brook
51	Pomona	Jan. 14, 2004	400	Failure of second pump
52	Tallman Pump Station	Jan. 24, 2004	1000	Voltage control system failure
53	Harvey Place, SV	May 5, 2004	50	Blockage--grease buildup
54	Jeffery Court,	July 23, 2004	21000	Heavy rainfall	Lake DeForest Dam
55	Rose Ave, S.V.	July 25, 2004	200	Blockage--grease buildup	Pascack Brook
56	Wilder Road, Suffern	July 30, 2004	500	Oily sludge in wet well	Mahwah River
57	Wilder Road, Suffern	August 4, 2004	200	Failed level control system
59	Shadybrook Lane /near 304	Sept. 8, 2004	8000	Heavy rainfall	Lake DeForest Dam
60	Jeffery Court,	Sept. 8, 2004	21000	Heavy rainfall	Lake DeForest Dam
61	Pomona	Sept. 8, 2004	200	Blockage--roots in pipe
62	Rt. 59, S.V.	Sept. 18, 2004	5000	Heavy rainfall	Pascack Brook
63	Pascack Rd.	Sept.18, 2004	2400	Heavy rainfall	Pascack Brook
64	S. Monsey Rd.	Sept. 18, 2004	4000	Heavy rainfall	Saddle River
65	Shadybrook Lane /near 304	Sept. 18, 2004	6000	Heavy rainfall	Lake DeForest Dam
66	Jeffery Court	Sept. 18, 2004	19000	Heavy rainfall	Lake DeForest Dam
67	Strawtown Rd., West Nyack	Sept. 29, 2004	25000	Heavy rainfall	Lake DeForest Dam
68	Cherry Lane, Airmont	Oct. 3rd, 2004	50000	Partial Blockage	Saddle River
69	Tara Drive, Pomona	Nov. 21, 2004	750	Blockage downstream
70	Strawtown Rd, West Nyack	Nov. 28th 2004	5000	Heavy rainfall
71	Harvey Place, SV	Dec. 1, 2004	200	Blockage and high flow rates
72	South Monsey Rd. Airmont	Dec. 17, 2003	10000	Heavy rainfall
73	Cherry Lane, Airmont	Oct. 3rd, 2004	50000	Blockage	Saddle River
74	Rockland County Sewer Dist. #1	March 16, 2005	2300	Sludge spill
75	Rockland County Sewer Dist. #1	March 31, 2005	4500	Digested sludge spill
76	W. Nyack/ Jeffery Court	April 2nd & 3rd 2005	19000	Heavy rainfall
77	Old Mill Road	April 2nd & 3rd 2005		Heavy rainfall
78	Strawtown Rd. MH 14008	April 2nd & 3rd 2005	15000	Heavy rainfall
79	Old Rt. 304	April 2nd, 2005		Heavy rainfall
80	Shadybrook Lane	April 2nd, 2005		Heavy rainfall
81	Strawtown Rd. MH 15117	April 2nd, 2005		Heavy rainfall
82	South Monsey Rd. Airmont	April 3rd, 2005	4500	Heavy rainfall	Saddle River
83	754 Saddle River Rd.	April 4th, 2005	5000	Heavy rainfall	Saddle River
84	Saddle River Rd, & Ramapo Lane	April 4th, 2005	3500	Heavy rainfall
85	Pascack Rd.	April 4th, 2005	10000	Heavy rainfall	Pascack Brook
86	King Terrace, S.V.	April 7th 2005	1000	Heavy rainfall
87	Valley View Rd.	April 7th 2005		Heavy rainfall	Pascack Brook
88	Rte 304 on the Lower Main	April 7th 2005	1000	Heavy rainfall	Sparkill Creek to Hudson River
89	Francis Place, SV	10-Apr-05	10000	Blockage (maybe sand & stone)
90	Francis Place, SV	18-Apr-05	3000	Blockage (maybe piece of wood)	Pascack Brook
91	Requa Lane, SV	Sept. 6, 2005	500		Saddle River
92	Strawtown Road on Old Mill Rd.	Oct. 8 & 9, 05	12,000		Hackensack River
93	South Monsey Road	Oct. 8 & 9, 05	4,000		Saddle River
94	Strawtown Road on Old Mill Rd.	Oct 12 & 13	4,400		Hackensack River
95	Saddle River Pump Station	Nov 30, 2005	10,000		Parking Lot and Saddle R.
96	Jeffrey Court	Dec. 16, 2005	300		Downstream of Lake DeForest Dam
97	Strawtown Road	Dec. 16, 2005	5,000		Downstream of Lake DeForest Dam
98	South Monsey Road	Dec. 16, 2005	200
99	Ramapo Interceptor	Dec. 16, 2005	2,400		Pascack Brook
100	Rte. 59 BMW dealership	Dec. 16, 2005	25,000		Pascack Brook
101	Strawtown Rd. on Old Mill Rd.	Jan. 18, 2006	3,500		Lake DeForest Dam
102	South Monsey Road	Jan. 18, 2006	500		Saddle River
103	Ramapo Interceptor	Jan. 18, 2006	2,000		Pascack Brook
104	Rte. 59 BMW dealership	Jan. 18, 2006	1,000		Pascack Brook
105	30 Hemion Road, Suffern	Jan. 24, 2006	750	Failure of pump sequence control panel	Ponded nearby
106	Sherwood Avenue, Spring Valley	March 17, 2006	200	Partial blockage between manholes 1791 and 1790 apparently due to grease.	Pooled in the area and seeped into the ground nearby.
107	Washington and Jefferson in New Square (manhole 9300)	June 11, 2006	3,000	Blockage	Spill did enter two nearby catch basins.
108	Washington and Eisenhower in New Square (manholes 9299 and 9300)	July 25, 2006	250-500	Partial blockage	No indication that spill entered storm drains or watercourse
109	Airmont--In a woods on Cherry Lane alongside property at 64 Cherry Lane 10 feet from the Cherry Brook	August 25, 26, 27, 28 (Friday to Monday), 2006	2.5 million gals. (for how the estimate was made click here)	Vandalism--A cement block was dropped into the manhole blocking the flow	Spill poured directly into Cherry Brook to Lake Oratam and eventually to the Saddle River
110	South Monsey Road Also Cherry Lane and College Rd and Route 59	November 8, 2006	Still need FOIL reports from RCSD#1
	Dec 24, 2003 local reports of a spill but no report from RCSD#1
	Oct 12, 2005 South Monsey Road from 8:30PM to 10:00PM Photos taken but no report from RCSD#1
	Oct 14, 2005 South Monsey Road from 5:04PM to 6:45PM Photos taken but no report from RCSD#1
	These are documented spills in the 2nd FOIL that I believe I should have received in the first FOIL report
	These were the 1st FOIL reports I received
		Total	3,410, 800 gallons

Total

3,410, 800 gallons