Fudge- Sludge- and Cloudy Water

ED NOTE : It was TWO years ago this old neighborhood was given the pleasure of new technology ( yes I am being sarcastic) of the “sludge sausages”. – We were told they were temporary .

You will see the post I wrote back in May 2009 below. It seems that those “sausages of sludge” and their final removal from 1st and Oberlin – 18 months later has caused more turbidity and not just in the water.

http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2011/05/10/lorain-water-plant-workers%e2%80%99-punishments-rescinded/

Everything thing we do has a ripple effect – I cannot address the who did what , who said what on this blog at the moment.

BUT I will say these “sludge sausages” were a surprise to residents two years ago – no one was told of this added attraction in our village-

Would this have happened in a more affluent neighborhood we asked without residents and businesses being informed.

We fought for over 18 months to have this temporary fix fixed. I thought it may be an appropriate time to re post the concerns of the residents back then. In the equation of the City of Lorain – The Utilities Dept there is also another “the residents”.

BY Loraine Ritchey

SOURCE

Firstly my apologies for the twist on an excellent product “Dunlopillo”

For those not familiar with the Charleston Village neighborhood of Portside – we have suffered various set backs since the 1975 “study and plan” that stated this neighborhood should be embraced and preserved- the fact that it was at that time nearly 100% owner occupied.

We have struggled, helped preserve Lorain’s oldest green space – fought blight designation- preserved and are preserving Charleston Pioneer Cemetery

tried to make the best of things, tried to keep Lorain’s oldest neighborhood alive- even when the odds and economic climate turned against us and no one was listening to our pleas

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/a-tale-of-two-houses-beginning-of-the-end/
Charleston Village Annual Report and links to previous annual reports found here
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/charleston-village-annual-report-2008/

2nd street as most are by now aware lost 19 trees to clear cutting policy by the energy companies after the big blackout.
BEFORE

AFTER

Phase One of an alternative to “detraction” is now being completed.

It has taken so long due to storage and sewer works in the area. Once again the neighbors were patient, even though one of the neighbors literally encased the front of their house in sheets of plastic to stop the dust from the piles of gravel etc which blew constantly at his home.

We took another step forward this past week with the 2nd street carving site. The traffic that goes by that corner was very surprising. Not as surprising though as the
Giant bags filter silt: New geotube system may save Lorain money by Alan Ingram
http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2009/05/28/news/mj1098464.txt#blogcomments
NOTE SEE ARTICLE FOR PHOTO

The city has been using geotubes along West First Street for about two weeks as it cleans out one of the two major water treatment basins, he said. Two of the bags they’re using measure 75 feet by 20 feet, and one measures 100 feet by 20 feet.

As the water is going through them, city workers need to occasionally beat on the bags to knock the solid material out of the drainage holes, Hoholski said.

They are no longer pumping water into the bags but they are being allowed to sit so the remaining water drains. The process is a trial, Hoholski said, but added that if it proves viable, it may be used more in the future.

As I have said we have put up with a lot in this old neighborhood, and we deserve some smiles, and I surely got them watching the antics of grown men and women walking up and down for hours , beating the bags and doing the dance of the “bagging bounce”. I must say not the modern technology I have come to expect in the 21st century .Hopefully these giant “sausages of sludge” will be removed soon. There is a definite odor at times as noticed by those on 2nd street as we worked on the “tribute and carving” – the “sausage of sludge” aren’t attractive, unless you are a “tween ager” with a lot of time on your hands ( I have grave misgivings that these aren’t going to be “un” attractive to them) and the residents have already put up with a lot from the utility companies.

So I am really glad this is supposedly saving us some money , giving us some amusement BUT if the “sausages of sludge” are going to be more than a temporary fixture – they need to be moved away from that corner and the residences.

UPDATE!! SINCE THE EMAIL AT THE CITY OF LORAIN HAS BEEN DOWN FOR THREE DAYS I AM PUBLISHING THE EMAIL SENT HERE :

I realize that the City has had to come up with an alternative solution BUT please realize that this is still a residential neighborhood, there is an odor and these are eyesores and magnets for the “tween agers” I have had complaints from residents and therefore I would like to draw your attention to the following on my blog today – please follow the links embedded you will see this neighborhood has put up with a great deal in the past 4 years alone and we have tried to make the best of bad situations however we keep getting more thrown at us . I would like your assurance this is temporary and a time line for their removal please Thank you Loraine