Published: March 20, 2008 08:55 pm         

Generally Speaking

Being a frequent visitor to the History Channel, I am often amazed at how mankind has overcome obstacles by doing something that was at first undesirable, uncomfortable,or just too costly. They just wanted someone else to do it, did not foresee the situation arising, or they just plain screwed up and had to get themselves out of trouble. Possibilities arise when mankind is put under pressure to find solutions. Thinking becomes clearer under this kind of pressure, because less critical problems are pushed out of mind so we can focus. The crisis has the full focus and effort.

Lake Tansi Village POA has reached a crisis with providing its existing amenities with viable waste water management services to meet the increasing demand brought on by the ever-increasing population living in Lake Tansi Village year round. In order to expand the Thunderbird Recreation building, the disposal system must be improved to meet growing demand. Cabin Point must meet the increased demand on cabin rentals growing yearly (figures on the design parameters are calculated on peak demand and not average demand). The 19th Hole and Pro Shop facility are utilizing septic capacity that the Hiawatha West timeshare people need back, to meet their demand and improve their overall operation.

The building leased to Forte's has a long-standing problem with septic along with the Hiawatha Community Center. The POA office building is one of the oldest buildings in Lake Tansi with an equally old septic system. All of these systems are in need of improvement and, in most cases, in need of replacement.

The POA board has been put in a position where it must immediately resolve its sewage disposal problem. The historic solution has been to install a subsurface septic system. This tried and true technology relies on utilization of land. The amount of land depends on the type of subsurface system being used. Septic land cannot be used for anything but a grassy area as long as it is used for a subsurface septic system. The lands we would have to utilize for this purpose are, unfortuately, located in areas where land is very desirable and has the most value. It is a shame to tie up valuable real estate assets for such purposes, but if you do not consider the value of the land, the subsurface waste disposal system appears to be the most economical and the least cost.

The alternative to subsurface septic is to utilize cutting edge technology that will not only resolve today's sewage issues, but is expandable to address future waste water demand and can be put on land that is the least valuable. That is an investment in the future of the POA.

In summary, mistakes were made based on logical assumptions putting the POA in a situation that made its sewage disposal issues come to the forefront. The time schedule was compressed and a solution was needed immediately. When it comes right down to the nitty-gritty, there are two alternatives. The POA can pay the cost for subsurface waste disposal to resolve today's issue or invest in cutting edge technology to resolve not only today's issue, but the issue of future expansion. The cutting edge technology of the membrane batch reactor opens up a wealth of possibilities and very well can be the nucleus of a network of like systems that can provide sewer service to the entire community. In my role as manager, I have to agree that this last option defines the best investment for Lake Tansi.