Bethpage-Tribune_1979-09-27

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BETHBAGE
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BETHPAGE LIB
47 POWELL AV
BETHPAGE NY 1 17 I 4
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OLDBETHMGE
also serving ISLAND TREES
PLAINVIEW PLAINEDGE SEAFORD
VOL. 14 NO. 15 Thursday, September 27,1979
Town Meets To Discuss Sewer Situation
On September 19, a meeting was held
in the JFK Junior High School to
discuss Sewer Connections. Present
were members of the Civic Association,
including President Ron Grimaldi, and
several residents of the Bethpage
Community. Many expressed their
views on the situation and challenged
the Association with questions relating
to the transition of cesspools to modern
public sewer systems.
The Town of Oyster Bay is presently
providing homeowners with qualified
licensed plumbers to handle these
operations. By law, the substitution is
to be established within two years. It is
the responsibility of the homeowner to
be aware of the consequences involved
in accepting work from an unlicensed
technician.
Permits are required before the
project commences. They include the
Nassau County Permit, a highway
permit, and a Town Sewer Permit.
(Any questions involving the permits
may be answered by the Public
Information Office.) Copies of all three
permits should be attained by the
homeowner through the plumber. A
Town Plumbing Inspector from the
Division of Buildings is to be notified for
inspection of the sewer connection. He
is present to regulate the Town Building
Codes. Once this is established, work
can proceed.
Within Bethpage, there is much
diversity in prices. Generally price
depends on the amount of digging to
reach the street. "Deepline" deter­mines
a portion of the overall cost. A
"normal range" consists of a full
dugout in the $650 to $750 range. In a
situation involving a high ranch home,
the deepline is not as extensive and
should cost in the proximity of $500.
If the cesspool is located in the back
of the house, the pipes from the back
must be revised to the front of the house
at two direct right angles. They must be
at access to the street and would imply
possible problems over the next few
years. The cost for this installation is
considerable.
In the situation involving an un­furnished
basement, the costs would be
lower as opposed to an older home
where the plumbing has matured. As a
result, plumbing in an older home is
more expensive.
The complete process is divided into
many distinct steps. The cesspool must
be pumped dry and sanitized with
hydrated lime. Next, it must be filled
with cleanfill. The pipes installed must
be five inches in diameter and placed
firmly in the ground. A hookup is then
made and following is a refill of soil.
The property is refinished with grass,
as prior to the task.
A reason for rising expenditures of
installing sewers is a debatable issue.
Many plumbers blame higher in­surance
rates and inflationary costs.
Homeowners should shop around and
not hesitate to impose questions on
various contractors.
Many people are astounded by the
increasing costs of the transition. Some
find it wise to sign up with a contractor
at present, to avoid continual climbing
prices.
As Ron Grimaldi states, "One way to
overcome the increasing cost is through
a 'group rate' ". The current base
figure is in the vicinity of $675. The key
idea is bargaining to maintain a low
price. Never sign a contract under
pressure. Usually a contractor will
charge less if he has contracts within
the same area. Search for specific
quotes on costs."
An experienced plumber will provide
a written assurance of guarantee for
the service. It is the homeowner's
responsibility to understand to what
extent the service will affect him.
As a whole, the rendering of the
process is a new experience for many
people. Yet with an open mind and
sense of determination, the situation
can be adequately handled.
For information on scheduled hook­ups,
you can call these Project
engineers: South of the railroad tracks,
Mr. Papa, 938-7124; North of the tracks,
Mr. Lodding, 822-5607; Interceptor Line
(Up Stewart Ave. to Burkhardt and up
Broadway) Mr. Dreyer, 822-0930. For
general questions call 535-3914. For
information on jurisdiction of con­nections
or hookups, licensing of
Plumbers, Tobay issues and license
permit numbers, call 922-5800.
Next week, the Tribune will interview
some homeowners who have been
connected for at least six months. We
will present their experiences with
contractors, and we will print the name
of contractors that these homeowners
recommend.
Article by Diana Pendas
In the top photo, Ron Grimaldi (c)
explains to the audience that the Civic
Association is not meeting to discuss
the turtle-like sewer construction in
Bethpage but to try and help inform the
town of the final phase, hook-up.
Members in the audience envisioned
many more gloomy months. (Bottom)
Leonard Austin was on hand to give a
report of his own. Austin is the
Democratic candidate for town
supervisor.
20 cents per copy