By Tia Lyons
Staff Writer
EL DORADO — An El Dorado resident has reportedly spent thousands of dollars over the years on repairs for ongoing problems stemming from a decaying community service wastewater line that feeds her house.
On Wednesday, Alderman Mary McAdams pleaded the woman’s case with the El Dorado Water and Sewer Commission, telling commissioners that the woman has recently faced serious health and financial challenges, along with the costs of monthly nursing home care for her husband.
“She came home to her house flooded after having open heart surgery, and she’s been calling me, and I told her I would do the best that I can to get her some help,” McAdams said.
After considerable discussion, during which commissioners expressed sympathy for the woman’s plight, they concluded that the El Dorado Water Utilities could not assist the woman via its new policy and plan to begin tackling the expansive problem with community service lines.
Commissioner Bill Luther suggested the possibility of reaching out to the community to organize a fundraiser for the woman.
Mark Smith, general manager of the water utilities, said the latest round of repairs, for which the woman was billed $14,000, were largely completed by the time he learned about the problem last month and dispatched workers to the woman’s residence in the 100 block of North Broadway.
He said the situation was first brought to his attention during a meeting that was held on March 7 to bring El Dorado City Council members up to speed on the complex and pervasive problem with aging community service lines around town.
The water utilities does not accept responsibility for the private wastewater lines, which were installed in the early part of the 20th century by developers.
However, the utilities and city residents are dealing with the outfall of the failing lines.
The utilities has said many of the lines were installed haphazardly with subpar materials until they were outlawed in the 1970s.
Community service lines connect to multiple buildings, including houses and commercial properties, to one private line that eventually leads to the utilities’ wastewater main.
Smith previously said the lines were installed “without rhyme or reason,” making it difficult to determine which buildings are connected to them.
Most residents are not aware that their houses are hooked onto a community service line until a plumbing problem — often, an expensive one — arises, water and sewer commissioners have said.
McAdams homed in on that point Wednesday, telling commissioners that the woman and her family had experienced wastewater problems since purchasing the North Broadway house years ago.
“She’s paid out lots and lots of money — Norris Mechanical can attest to that — mostly because of the community service line, but they didn’t know,” McAdams said. “She’s asking for some consideration.”
It is a scenario that the water utilities has encountered many times over the years, and last month, the city council and El Dorado Works Board approved $50,000 of the city’s economic development tax so the utilities can begin addressing the problem this year.
Since the problems will take years to fix, city officials pledged to consider an allotment of $200,000 per year until the tax sunsets in 2025.
Also last month, the water utilities adopted a set of terms by which the work will be done since community service lines involve private property.
The plan applies to residential structures, and will likely provide some relief on exorbitant plumbing bills for citizens who encounter problems with community service lines.
For instance, customers will be responsible for installing, replacing and/or repairing their service lines to the wastewater main.
In such situations, the utilities will waive the tapping fee on a new main that is installed.
Regarding the request for assistance on North Broadway, Luther reiterated Wednesday that the majority of the plumbing work was done prior to the adoption of the policy.
“I don’t think we can go back and retroactively help someone,” he said.
“She couldn’t help it. If you come home to your house flooded after having open-heart surgery, wouldn’t you call someone ASAP?” McAdams said. “Waiting on us sometimes won’t get the job done when you need it. My heart goes out the lady.”
Commissioners and EWU employees said other houses in the area are tied onto the community service line, but the woman’s neighbors have said they are not experiencing any issues.
Commissioner Robert Rupp said the utilities will probably have to address similar issues for the neighboring properties in the future.
Rupp agreed with Luther that the utilities cannot apply its new policy to the North Broadway project.
“There are a number of other people who have had to repair community service lines who would also like some consideration,” Smith said.
“I ask you to keep that in mind, whatever decision you make. I feel for the lady, but I have a hard time seeing how we can help someone retroactively,” he continued.
“I just think it’s a shame,” McAdams said.
The utilities is awaiting word from the Arkansas Department of Health on plans to address another community service line issue that has caused a Sanitary Sewer Overflow in the area of Mount Holly and College.
The problem is affecting Liberty Baptist Association facilities and is causing sewage to seep onto the ground.
The utilities has said Ward Veterinary Clinic and a house across the street from the commercial buildings are also hooked onto the community service line.
“We have asked the (department of health) to speed it up since we’ve got (sewage) on the ground there, so we hope to get a quick response from them,” Smith said.
The project has been estimated at $20,000 to $25,000, and representatives from Liberty Baptist said the nonprofit organization cannot afford the repairs.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.