CHAPER IX UTILITIES

IX-1

Geauga County, Ohio General Plan

CHAPER IX

UTILITIES

SUMMARY The utilities element is meant to generally identify existing utility service areas and plant locations. Furthermore, a service area plan (particularly with respect to sanitary sewer) is recommended. This approach is in harmony with the Ohio EPA effort to update regional “208” water quality plans and to guide more intensive growth to those locations best suited for it. By guiding growth in this fashion, more environmentally sensitive areas may be protected. The U.S. EPA has also initiated Phase II storm water rules that are an extension of the program establishing the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water (Phase I) program. A new development within designated “urbanized areas” (as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau) must follow stricter construction and environmental protection criteria. EXISTING CONDITIONS Central public sewer and water service is very limited within the unincorporated areas of the county. According to an analysis of census data (1990) and updated statistics (2002) from the Geauga County General Health District and the Water Resources Department roughly 80% of the housing units in Geauga are utilizing on-site septic systems for sewage disposal. Approximately 87% of the housing units in the county have a well as their primary source of water supply. Most of the public sewer and water plants and lines are owned and operated by municipalities. The County Water Resources Department has a limited number of public sewer and water facilities under its jurisdiction. Public Central Sanitary Sewer Facilities There are an estimated 6,500 public central sanitary sewer connections in the county pursuant to existing records from the County Water Resources Department (note: there are an estimated 26,406 private on-site septic systems in the county). Generalized areas served by publicly operated central sanitary sewer systems are shown on Map IX-1. Nearly all of the municipalities have central sanitary sewer service. Chardon, Burton, and Middlefield all operate their own treatment plants and Aquilla’s is managed by the county. South Russell’s sewer lines are primarily tied into the McFarland Creek treatment plant operated by the county, however, some portions of the village are connected to the Chagrin Falls plant.

Publicly operated central sewer service in the townships is very limited. Most of the lines are connected to a particular development. The lines for the McFarland Creek treatment plant, however, extend over more than one political subdivision. The current service area for this plant covers portions of Bainbridge Township, Auburn Township, and South Russell Village. County and municipal treatment plant locations are shown on Map IX-2. Accompanying Table IX-1 provides information on the plant name and its capacity. The largest plants are operated by the City of Chardon and Middlefield Village, each having a treatment capacity of 1.8 and 0.5 million gallons per day (MGD), respectfully. The McFarland Creek plant in Bainbridge Township operated by the county has a capacity of 1.2 MGD.

Map IX-1

IX-2 Geauga County, Ohio General Plan

IX-3


Table IX-1

County & Municipal Operated Central Sanitary Sewage Treatment Plants

Map I.D. No.

Plant Name Address Capacity (MGD)

1 Aquilla 202 Cornelia Dr., Claridon Twp. 0.07 2 Bainbrook 8100 Stoney Brook Dr., Bainbridge Twp. 0.07 3 Belle Vernon 8405 Belle Vernon Dr., Russell Twp. 0.04 4 Berkshire 15000 Kinsman Rd., Burton Twp. 0.02 5 Broadwood 13160 Longwood Ave., Burton Twp. 0.0275 6 Burton Lakes 12606 Jackson Dr., Burton Twp. 0.05 7 Opalocka 12887 Opalocka Dr., Chester Twp. 0.16 8 Infirmary 13345 Aquilla Rd., Claridon Twp. 0.08 9 Kimberly 13855 Auburn Rd., Newbury Twp. 0.046 10 Lindsey School 11844 Caves Rd., Chester Twp. 0.02 11 McFarland Creek 17630 Chagrin River Rd., Bainbridge Twp. 1.2 12 Newbury School 14775 Auburn Rd., Newbury Twp. 0.028 13 Original Middlefield Cheese House 16942 Kinsman Rd., Middlefield Twp. 0.09 14 Pilgrim Village 18000 Alden Rd., Bainbridge Twp. 0.08 15 Plymouth Acres 13100 Aldenshire Dr., Claridon Twp. 0.01 16 Russell Park 14546 Russell Ln., Russell Twp. 0.08 17 Scarsdale 850 Coy Ln., Russell Twp. 0.0256 18 Scranton Woods 11012 Diane Dr., Newbury Twp. 0.014 19 Sherman Hills 12291 E. Shiloh Dr., Chester Twp. 0.04 20 Surrey Downs 14909 Surrey Downs, Russell Twp. 0.01 21 Troy Oaks 17989 Shaw Rd., Auburn Twp. 0.06 22 Wenhaven 15422 Wenhaven Dr., Russell Twp. 0.008 23 West Geauga School 13401 Chillicothe Rd., Chester Twp. 0.06 24 Westwood School 13738 Caves Rd., Russell Twp. 0.02 25 Willow Hill 11370 Willow Hill Dr., Chester Twp. 0.0125 26 Wintergreen 10033 Hawthorne Dr., Chardon Twp. 0.0075 27 Burton Village 13850 Memorial Dr., Burton Village 0.27 28 City of Chardon 501 N. Hambden St., Chardon Village 1.808 29 Middlefield Village 15380 Kinsman Rd., Middlefield Village 0.5 30 Valley View Mayfield Rd., Chester Twp. 0.2 31 Parkman (proposed) South of US 422 & East of S.R. 528 0.2 32 Auburn Corners 17915 Ravenna Road .07

Source: Geauga County Water Resources Department & Village Officials

Map IX-2


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“208” Water Quality Plan The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) was charged under Section 208 of the Federal Clean Water Act to prepare a water quality plan in conjunction with local officials, known as Clean Water 2000. This plan addresses wastewater treatment issues and nonpoint source pollution management. As part of the Clean Water 2000 plan, facility planning areas were delineated in various communities (see Map IX-3 and Table IX-2). Sanitary sewer service is restricted to the areas within the boundaries shown on the map. All areas outside the service plan area must be served by on-site treatment facilities, unless a documented health issue is found.

Table IX-2

208 Water Quality Management Plan Geauga County

Map Legend Acreage % of County

Existing Sewers 7,083.13 2.7% May Be Sewered 3,139.70 1.2% No Service 250,257.17 96.1%

Total 260,480 100.0% Source: Geauga County Department of Water Resources

Map IX-3

IX-6


Public Central Water Facilities There are an estimated 461 connections to public central water supply systems in the unincorporated portions of the county according to the Geauga County Water Resources Department. (note: there are approximately 28,595 individual water wells in the county). Generalized areas served by publicly operated central water systems are shown on Map IX-4. Three of the municipalities in the county have central water service: Chardon, Middlefield, and Burton. All of these municipalities have central well fields as the source of supply. Publicly operated central water service in the townships is extremely restricted. Only Bainbridge Township has such service. The lines are connected to the Cleveland water system pursuant to a master meter agreement between the city and the county. County and municipal operated central water facilities are shown on Map IX-5. Table IX-3 correlates with the map. The largest water plant is operated by the City of Chardon, with a capacity of 1.1 MGD. The Cleveland water line serving Canyon Lakes Subdivision, the East Washington Street commercial zone, and Chagrin Falls Park in Bainbridge has a capacity of 0.7 MGD.

Map IX-4


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Table IX-3

County & Municipal Operated Central Water Facilities

Map I.D. No. Name Address Capacity

(MGD)

1 Cloverdale Cloverdale Dr., Middlefield Twp. 0.02 2 Country Lane Booster Station 7437 Country Ln., Bainbridge Twp. 2.016

3 Geauga County Bainbridge Water Tower 16828 Park Circle Dr., Bainbridge Twp. 0.5

4

Geauga County Hospital Geauga County Human Services Geauga County Pleasant Hills Geauga County System

13207 Ravenna Rd., Claridon Twp. 12480 Ravenwood Dr., Claridon Twp. 13211 Aquilla Rd., Claridon Twp. 12555 Ravenwood Dr., Claridon Twp.

0.05 0.014 0.05

0.046 5 Canyon Lakes City of Cleveland Water Line 0.7 6 Chagrin Falls Park City of Cleveland Water Line 0.7 7 Scranton Woods 11012 Diane Dr., Newbury Twp. 0.05

8 Burton Village Well Field South of Village Square, West Side of S.R. 168 0.2

9 City of Chardon Well Field South of Village Square, North Side of Woodiebrook Rd. 1.1

10 Middlefield Village Well Field North of Village Near Tare Creek, West Side of S.R. 608 0.58

Source: Geauga County Water Resources Department

Map IX-5


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EPA Phase II Storm Water Regulations The Phase II storm water regulations are an extension of the 1990 U.S. EPA rules establishing the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water (Phase I) program. The Phase II rule extends coverage of the NPDES storm water program to certain “small” MS4s, but takes a slightly different approach to how the storm water management program is developed and implemented. A small MS4 is any MS4 not already covered by the Phase I program (see Map IX-6). The Phase II rule automatically covers on a nationwide basis all small MS4s located in “urbanized areas” as defined by the U.S. Bureau of the Census unless waived by the NPDES permitting authority. An MS4 is a municipal separate wastewater treatment facility, which includes sewer facilities, ditches, and culverts. The definition of “small” MS4s includes “urbanized areas,” meaning any land area comprising one or more places adjacent to a densely populated area that together have a residential population of least 50,000 and an overall population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile. According to the EPA four areas within Geauga County must comply with the Phase II requirements. These areas include portions of Bainbridge, Russell, and Chester Townships, and the entire South Russell Village area (see Map IX-6). Although a portion of Auburn Township is included as an MS4 area the township was granted a waiver from the Phase II small MS4 program (letter dated July 25, 2003). Geauga County operates facilities within the Townships of Bainbridge, Russell and Chester and has thus prepared a Geauga County Storm Water Management Phase II Report (adopted by the Board of County Commissioners May 15, 2003), which will be updated every December to comply with the Phase II requirements. Compliance with the EPA Storm Water Phase II program mandates the urbanized areas to establish Best Management Practices (BMP’s) for the following six storm water control measures:

Public Education and Outreach – Distributing educational materials and performing outreach to inform citizens about the impacts polluted storm water runoff discharges can have on water quality. Public Participation and Involvement – Providing opportunities for citizens to

participate in program development and implementation, including effectively publicizing public hearings and/or encouraging citizen representation on a storm water management panel. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination – Developing and implementing a

plan to detect and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm water system. Construction Site Runoff Control – Developing, implementing, and enforcing an

erosion and sediment control program for construction activities that affect one or more acres of land. Post Construction Site Runoff Control – Developing, implementing, and

enforcing a program to address discharges of post-construction storm water runoff from new development and redevelopment areas. Pollution Prevention / Good Housekeeping – Developing and implementing a

program with the goal of preventing or reducing pollutant runoff from municipal operations.

In addition to identifying BMP’s for each of the above listed control items, measurable goals must be established to monitor the BMP’s effectiveness. As a part of the monitoring process, the Geauga County General Health District may be conducting an inventory of septic systems within urbanized areas that fall under the EPA’s storm water management plan.

Map IX-6

Source: www.epa.gov OTHER UTILITY SERVICES Other utility services are operated by private companies, that are considered public utilities and are regulated by the PUCO, in the county. Telephone service is handled by Alltel and SBC (South Bell Corporation). “Wireless” service is also available through various carriers. Electricity is provided by the Illuminating Company and Ohio Edison, also known as First Energy Corporation. NOPEC (Green Mountain Energy) is a service provider through power lines owned by First Energy as well. Natural gas is supplied by Dominion East Ohio Gas and Orwell Natural Gas. Cable television service is available through Adelphia and Cebridge Connections (see Maps IX-7, IX-8, IX-9, and IX-10).

IX-11


Map IX-7


Map IX-8


Map IX-9


Map IX-10

IX-15


IX-16


PROPOSED PROJECTS This plan does not outline specific projects contained within municipal areas. However, as a general comment, coordination between municipal and county officials should continue to be fostered. The following is a brief list of proposed known public sewer and water projects identified through the County Water Resources Department. Upgrade the Belle Vernon Waste Water Treatment Plant in Russell Township.

Conversion of the Sherman Hills Waste Water Treatment Plant in Chester Township

to a pump station. Upgrade the Coy Lane pump station in Russell Township

The Parkman Waste Water Treatment Plant in Parkman Township will generally

serve the commercial and industrial zoned areas along U.S. Route 422 and the residential area in the vicinity of S.R. 528 and U.S. Route 422 (see Map IX-5). The expected plant capacity is 200,000 GPD.

Construction of a septage receiving station at the McFarland Waste Water

Treatment facility in Bainbridge Township Expansion (600,000 GPD) of the McFarland Waste Water Treatment Plant in

Bainbridge Township. Upgrade the Troy Oaks Waste Water Treatment Plant in Troy Township.

Improvements to the lines of the Opalocka Waste Water Treatment facility in

Chester Township. Study of Thompson Township “square” regarding available options for sewage

disposal. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Goal The goal of the utilities element is to protect county water resources and to effectively treat sewage disposal in order to promote water quality. Objectives Continue to map and adopt service area plans for unincorporated areas in order to

guide infrastructure (central sanitary sewer) to such areas and to contain it.

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Devise a short- and long-range Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) that outlines proposed infrastructure projects, cost estimates for such projects, and a time frame for completion. The CIP should include the following components.

Examine facility deficiencies and determine an up-to-date capacity assessment of current sewer and water facilities.

Evaluate the need for system expansion.

Coordinate activities with local political jurisdictions.

Design facilities to be compatible with natural resource protection.

Identify funding sources.

IMPLEMENTATION Safe and reliable utility service is necessary to meet existing and future needs. Cost effective service is essential as well. Business retention and growth is dependent, in part, upon the availability of utilities at a reasonable cost. Local officials need to keep electric and natural gas suppliers abreast of current and expected growth areas so that connections may be made to the system when needed. Service area plans are being devised with the input of township officials through the County Water Resources Department. Plans should be developed in every community as a means to plan and guide possible infrastructure development into desired areas. Map IX-3 depicts completed plans as approved by the Geauga County Board of Commissioners and submitted to the Ohio EPA. Development activity outside of such areas should not be served by central sanitary sewers. Therefore, on-site septic systems and larger lot area requirements in accordance with prevailing zoning should apply. The measures included in the Phase II storm water plans should be implemented in accord with EPA guidelines.

Documents

CHAPER IX UTILITIES