Henry County cited for sewage pollution

NEW CASTLE — The state of Indiana has filed a notice of violation accusing Henry County government of polluting a creek, residential properties and the grounds of a swimming pool in White Estates subdivision.

Inspectors from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the county health department on Feb. 17 saw sewage flow from a storm sewer to a small stream through a vacant lot, along Southview Drive, and across the property of several homeowners before reaching Eliot Run Creek, which flows into the Big Blue River, according to the notice.

"The stream was observed to be in a highly polluted condition, containing visible sewage debris, the characteristic color of raw and septic sewage, and producing abundant and offensive odor," IDEM reported in the recently released notice.

The state agency then responded to complaints in the subdivision south of New Castle on March 15 and on April 12.

During the first of those incidents, in a sewer cleanout in the back yard of a residence on Judy Avenue, an IDEM inspector saw backed-up sewage in a sanitary sewer line due to an apparent clog.

The second complaint indicated sanitary sewers at White Estates Swimming Pool had backed up and overflowed, flooding a building and part of the grounds of the pool. During an inspection, the sewers appeared to be operating, but there was evidence that sewage had recently overflowed from the structure, according to IDEM.

Henry County is responsible for the violations because the subdivision's sewage handling system, county ditches and storm drains are not owned by any developer, corporation, business, municipality or homeowner's association, the state says.

"We are working with the city trying to come up with a resolution."Henry County Commissioner Kim Cronk told The Star Press. ""Funding is always the issue. IDEM is trying to help us pursue grants."

Some properties in the subdivision have septic systems, while some don't, and some are connected to city sewers, Cronk said, adding, "It's a mess." He estimated the subdivision was built 40 to 50 years ago.

Contact Seth Slabaugh at (765) 213-5834