An informal poll shows a majority of Burlington Highlands subdivision residents do not want sanitary sewer lines installed because they cost too much, officials say.
The 230 homes in the subdivision, which is north of Ogden Avenue near Downers Drive, are dependant on septic fields for sanitary systems. Sanitary sewer lines cannot be installed unless a majority of an area`s homeowners agree. The poll, conducted by the Downers Grove Sanitary District, showed 113 of the area`s homeowners against the sewers and 42 in favor of them. The others have not responded to the survey, district officials said.
Although officials have told residents that replacing overloaded septic fields with the sewers would ease the wasteflow, especially in wet weather, residents have argued that the cost is prohibitive. The average cost of sewer installation for homeowners of a $150,000 home could hit $3,000, not including annual user fees, officials said.
With many of the area`s older homeowners on fixed incomes,”that cost is unacceptable,” said Edward Mitchell, a Downers Drive resident. ”How can you justify paying that when you have to pay everyday living costs from a very limited amount of money that isn`t going to get any bigger? The septic tanks work, so I guess they`ll keep working.”
Of those who favor the sewer installation, most live along Lacey Road in the subdivision, the survey shows. If residents there want the sewers, the village can install them on Lacey and hook up other area residents later if they request it, officials said.
