All that water has to go somewhere
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Flooding photos
Severe storms and flooding have caused problems locally and statewide. If you have been affected, we want your photos. Send us your photo.
To view a gallery of photos of the flooding taken by Gazette photographers, click here.
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The baseball diamond at Monterey Park in Janesville on Monday looks like the shoreline of a sandy island. Officials stress to local residents to stay out of the flood water as it may be contaminated.
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Daryl Thompson of Janesville stands Monday on a concrete outcropping and fishes into a patch of grass near the end of South River Street in Janesville that has become a small pond. Officials still expect the Rock River to crest at 14 feet Thursday.
NEWVILLE — Hey! Quit running your sump pumps into the sanitary sewer system.
It’s not good for anybody.
And Jerry Miles doesn’t like it and politely requests that you stop.
Miles, superintendent for the Consolidated Koshkonong Sanitary District, reported Monday the district was “bypassing” the treatment plant and dumping raw sewage into the Rock River. It’s something Jefferson and Fort Atkinson already have started to do.
As of this morning, the Janesville sewage treatment plant was not being bypassed.
Before you panic, keep in mind most of that “raw sewage” is heavily diluted river water from the basements of the district’s homes and businesses. The district has 1,856 customers and about 39 miles of sewer lines.
Here’s what happens:
Sump pumps—and sometimes even down spouts—are hooked up illegally to the sanitary sewer system. When a basement fills with water, the sump pump sends the water into the system for treatment. Water from such pumps should be directed on to the lawn or back into the river.
Illegal sump pumps always are a problem for the district.
And when the Newville area experiences a flood of this magnitude, all of that water—plus the water from regular usage—overwhelms the system.
How much of a problem is it?
“It’s a huge problem,” Miles said. “It hinders our whole operations; it’s hard on the pumps.”
The district has 20 lift stations, and each has at least two pumps. If a station goes out, the time down means significant expenditures in time and money. And that’s doesn’t include the inconvenience to customers.
The district could choose not to bypass the system, but that would mean backups in homes on Ellendale Road, where the district’s offices and treatment facilities are located.
This summer, the district is planning a “smoke test” to find illegal hookups and will ask people politely to change their ways.
The smoke testing was planned before flooding became an issue, Miles said.
If illegal hookups are found, people are given seven days to make adjustments. Then they can be fined $200 a day.
Illegal hookups usually aren’t the result of criminal masterminds at work; often homeowners aren’t even aware of the rule.
Treating river or rainwater, which is sometimes referred to as “clear water,” isn’t the best use of the district’s resources, either. It’s like rewashing clothes to see if you can get them any whiter.
“For us to treat clear water doesn’t make sense,” Miles said.
Jun 19, 2008 at 9:26 a.m.
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We found out last night driving around looking for it there is no such street. When I called they neglected to tell me this address is in Madison. We went to the Red Cross shelter at St. John's Lutheran Chuch on N. Parker Dr. They could not accept the donations there either. We had clothes and bags of towels. We were told to take them to Goodwill.
Goodwill works with the Red Cross.
Red Cross apparently gives people in need vouchers to go to Goodwill & get what they need. So, any extra items you have or those clothes you have not worn in years now would be a good time to take them to Goodwill by Woodman's. If you have the diapers & formula that they are needing I'm not sure what you are suppose to do with those.
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If you want to make a cash donation to the Red Cross and have it earmarked for the people here you need to make the check out to "South Central WI Red Cross". In the memo field you need to write "Local Flooding". This will ensure you are helping out your neighbors and it won't be distributed somewhere else.
You can either drop the check off at their office or mail to them at: 211 N. Parker Dr., Janesville 53545.
Hope this helps everyone so we can do whatever we are able to do for these people in need.
Jun 18, 2008 at 7:20 p.m.
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Where is 630 E. Washington Ave.?
Jun 18, 2008 at 9:07 a.m.
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I found out the Salvation Army is needing donations of diapers, underwear, socks, formula & towels. They can be dropped off at 630 E. Washington Ave. in Janesville.
Let's all do our part to help our neighbors out.
Jun 17, 2008 at 8:50 p.m.
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No Longtime, what they're doing is connecting their sump pump directly to the sewer line. It isn't that difficult and only requires a piece of pipe and a joint. The downspouts would be a little trickier and I assume they'd have to run the lines to a main pipe which they've buried connected to the sewer line.
Jun 17, 2008 at 7:09 p.m.
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SK~ I agree with you, I was being sarcastic...some people see everthing as an opportunity.
Jun 17, 2008 at 3:26 p.m.
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Except the man in the picture fishing does not have enough sense to pay attention to the warnings to STAY AWAY FROM THE WATER. #1 the current is moving so fast if you fell in you'd be in Beloit in 1.2 seconds. #2 if you fell in somebody else would have to risk their live to save yours. #3 The water is full of raw sewerage, bacteria & E.Coli. #4 Is a fish that important to risk all that????
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I'm still waiting for Red Cross or United Way to call me back on if they are accepting clothing or any other donations for people that have been evacuated from their homes. I have not heard back from them as I'm sure they are extremely busy. If anyone knows where donations can be taken please let me know. Thanks.
Jun 17, 2008 at 2:27 p.m.
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At least the man fishing in the picture's cup is half full!!
Jun 17, 2008 at 12:47 p.m.
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All I have to say is we all need to pray. And it wouldn't hurt to start building a few arks.
Jun 17, 2008 at 12:32 p.m.
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Are you having a bad day JustinTimberlake? You have been very disrespectful! Smile it will be okay!
Jun 17, 2008 at 11:56 a.m.
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Here are some pictures I took this morning:
http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/d...
Jun 17, 2008 at 11:02 a.m.
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There's a good illustrated page on the problem (and fixing it) from a Minnesota city:
http://www.ci.golden-valley.mn.us/street...
This is a pretty universal problem.
Jun 17, 2008 at 10:42 a.m.
Jun 17, 2008 at 10:19 a.m.
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I am confused...so, folks are pumping water from their flooded basements into their toilet bowls? And, they run their downspouts from the gutters down through windows into their kitchen sinks?
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How does this "clear water" find its way into the municiple sewer system?
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And, what about flooded septic systems?
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