Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sewer System topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Olean for sewer transparency as dye tests find few catch basins tied to sanitary lines
Summary
Public commenters urged the council to disclose dye- and smoke-testing results and to publish a running list of catch basins disconnected from sanitary lines; councilors directed staff to maintain public updates and said a fuller update tied to DEC timetables may take about a month.
Residents pressed the Olean Common Council on May 13 to publish more detailed, timely information about sewer and stormwater work after recent sewage discharges into local waterways.
A public commenter who said dye tests are nearly complete told the council that “just a small number of those feed into the sewer system instead of the stormwater system, and even fewer feed into the three problematic lift stations,” and urged the city to move quickly to disconnect downspouts and to pursue smoke tests and code-enforcement actions where needed. The commenter said addressing downspouts could be “the cheapest, easiest, fastest” effective step.
Council members responded that the mayor and water and sewer superintendent have been working on a plan and that, based on the timetable discussed with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, a more meaningful public update could take about a month. Councilors asked the water and sewer superintendent, Brad Camp, and DPW to maintain a running, publicly accessible list on the city website showing catch basins tested, dye/smoke-test results, and the status of any disconnections or repairs. Officials said they will also include work orders and monthly updates to increase transparency.
During public comment additional residents asked that the city restore or provide its most recent water-quality reports; council staff said those records are available on request and encouraged residents to contact the water department for copies. Councilors emphasized the need for both near-term operational updates and a longer-term remedial plan tied to DEC guidance.
