HOUSTON, TX (June 26, 2012) – Ground-breaking for an extensive water and sewer project to benefit the residents of 50 East Aldine homes took place Friday, June 22 near the corner of Bertrand and Shady Lane.
EAMD Mary Eleanor / Mary Frances Sanitary Sewer Phase 1 Groundbreaking Ceremony, Jun 22, 2012
from e-Vision 1 Productions on Vimeo.
Phase One of the Mary Eleanor/Mary Frances Sanitary Sewer Project kicked off with funding from a $1.19 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and $227,225 in leveraging funds from the East Aldine Management District (EAMD).
A new lift station and sanitary sewer collection system will alleviate health issues arising from the septic tank systems currently used to manage waste in the community that have contributed to higher bacteria counts in Halls Bayou, as monitored by the Houston-Galveston Area Council.
“The Number One priority is public health. This project takes away the issue of failing septic systems that have been a threat to children who play nearby,” said Scott Bean, director of infrastructure for the East Aldine Management District. “It’s also a big plus for homeowners in the District and for water quality downstream.”
Phase One of the project to service 50 homes is expected to be completed by October, Bean said, and Phase Two will begin in early 2013 to benefit another 150 homes.
The sanitary sewer project is just the fifth in a long line of similar projects that have benefitted nearly 500 homes in the District, and another dozen projects are in the planning stages that will serve another 1,500–2,000 homes, Bean said.
Dignitaries who participated in the ground-breaking on Friday included State Rep. Armando Walle, Precinct 2 County Commissioner Jack Morman, David Turkel of Harris County Community Services, EAMD President and CEO David Hawes, EAMD Chair Gerald Overturff, and board members Patti Acosta, Joyce Wiley, John Meinke and Gilbert Hoffman. The entire board of directors of the Sunbelt Freshwater Supply District also attended.
