New Times / Letter To The Editor

And now a grinder?

I live in Los Osos, on a fixed income, as many of my neighbors do. I have long feared the costs associated with the sewer. I called local contractors to give estimates on what it would take to decommission my septic system and hook-up. I knew what it was going to cost. I planned for it, and then, all of a sudden, as tractors and trucks began to rumble down my street, I learned that I would need a “grinder pump.”

This was after I had been assured for months that I would not require a “grinder pump” and that the main line is not going to be at the depth as once designed and now my home will need a “grinder pump.”

Not knowing what a grinder pump was, I learned quickly: Waste from the household flows through the pipes to the grinder pump’s holding tank, then the pump will turn on, grind the waste, and pump it to the sewer. I tried contacting a local plumber recommended by the county and other local plumbers. I could not afford the fee they charge to come out to help resolve the problem of determining if I really need a “grinder pump.”

My home is older and will need a new electric breaker to accommodate this grinder pump. The cost of this pump, an electrician, and the plumber is far more than I planned for. There are ongoing electrical costs on top of the $140 per month the county claims the monthly sewer bill will be.

I’m not sure what I will do. If you have the same concerns, feel free to contact me at 534-2800.