Sanitarian To Begin Compliance Audit On Some Northern New Sharon Residences

Mahaska County Courthouse

New Sharon, Iowa – Proposed expansion to New Sharon’s north side could bring about sewage system changes to that neighborhood.

Mahaska County Sanitarian Eric Dursky said Monday, at the board of supervisors meeting, that he would soon be looking into how the sewage of homeowners at some residences in the northern part of New Sharon are handled.

This process was started after some inquiries into a potential subdivision lead to questions on how sewage was handled in the area. A complaint was also made about the city storm sewer that drains into a resident’s yard that could also contain raw sewage Dursky said. “It was called community line.”

Dursky is finishing up on a similar situation that happened with the city limits of Oskaloosa along Carbonado Road.

“As soon as summer hits, I’m going to go out there and basically go house to house to see what we do have,” said Dursky. He explained that, just like on Carbonado road in Oskaloosa, the size of the lots make it difficult for septic systems to be in compliance.

Dursky is looking towards a possible lift station as one part of the solution. “The city could pick up some pretty good revenue for not a huge investment.” He also thinks that in conjunction with direction boring it could help the city provide the service at a reasonable cost.

Dursky will be working with the City of New Sharon on the problem, saying he spoke with them briefly about the issue, but that has been a couple of years ago now.