by Bill Curtis

Let me clarify some things, I’m not for or against the sewer system. I’ve reported on the merits of the AirVac system because of what I’ve learned from meetings, and studying the CD describing the system that I obtained from the AirVac company.

If the AirVac system seems expensive to install it is the best bet for the price. The other option would be a gravity system, which would entail major disruptions to our community and be many times more expensive than the AirVac.
The AirVac system is a simple easily installed system compared to the gravity system that I had observed being installed in the Rockaways that tied up each street for months.

In the Rockaways, the City was required to separate the sanitary system from the existing storm sewer system. Both being gravity systems. Because I grew up there I became interested in how it was to be done. It was a major operation entailing tearing up the whole street. The new rigid cast-iron pipes had to laid in a trench that was protected from cave-ins by sheathing so workers could work in the trench.

As the piping progressed from the ocean end towards the bay, the trench got deeper and deeper and required a de-watering system to keep the water level in the excavation down to where workers could continue to work laying the rigid pipes. The job went very slowly, first sheathing, then excavating down to water, then de-watering until workers could work in the trench, then repeating this over and over till the goal of the seawall at the bay was reached.

The AirVac system is not a gravity system, it’s very similar to having Cesspool Man emptying your overflowing cesspool.
With the AirVac system up to four homes would have their waste pipes connected to a small centrally located underground tank called a valve pit, which was in turn connected to a vacuum source leading to AirVacs pump house. When the level of liquid waste in the small tank raised a float to a certain level it would open a valve that would allow the vacuum line to empty the tank. Just as if Cesspool man was always there waiting to remove the waste.

All the piping for the AirVac system would be buried just deep enough to not be affected by freezing weather. The pipes would not be required to follow straight lines if obstacles were encountered. Sidewalks and roads are not obstacles to laying the small diameter pipes. For long straight runs a mechanical trench digger could easily dig the trench with no sheathing required, and since the depth of the piping were above the water table, no very expensive de-watering would be necessary.

Comparing a gravity system to AirVac system. Normally a gravity system rarely has a stoppage and requires no maintenance. If it has lift stations which would probably  be required in the Coop’s system, they could cause trouble.

In an AirVac system a certain amount of maintenance is required. In the 3 pump houses there are vacuum and pressure pumps, each backed up with spares. Each pump house would require a standby electric generator that would supply the system with power in the event of an outage. And a few trained maintenance persons would have to be available for normal maintenance of the pump house and to correct individual home valve pit problems.

Gravity System: Trouble free, extremely expensive, great disruption to our community. AirVac System: Possible minor problems, reasonably priced, minimal disruption to the community. The sewer vote will be for an AirVac system. If you feel the need for sewers vote yes, otherwise vote no.