Water Treatment in HSV,
June 26th, 2011
How each of the 284 subdivisions in Hot Springs Village works.

Gravity, ah.. wonderful gravity. It covers a multitude of sins and removes most of the smells. :).

Ok, let's face it no one really wants to talk about sewage waste disposal or the toilet.
But the cold fact is that for over 2000 years, since the Romans brought us plumbing and civilization, we've been all week we've all been great appreciators of gravity and what plumbing can do. Much as the same force has assisted us in Hot Springs Village.
The 284 subdivisions that cover the Village are all unique and seldom could not all be gravity fed.

In 1970 when Mr. John a Cooper began building Hot Springs Village,
many of the first few subdivisions were easy to plum using gravity fed sewers systems.
Even at that, there were still several lifts stations that had to be built to take the solid waste push it back up to an elevation that let it flow back down to other spots. At the time there were disposal pits or processing stations at what is now Lake Cortez. These facilities were bulldozed over and the
Mill Creek processing station was built on the OTHER side of the Lake Cortez Dam.
The "catfish pond" as some un-trustworthy salesmen reportedly called it in the day.
Mill Creek is only 1/2 of the Village Sewer treatment solution.

Most villagers do not recognize that part of the Village basically LARGE tracts of 5 acres and larger plots exist. Between Lakes Cortez and Lake Lagos, just north of that there tracks that are enormous those tracks (and VERY steep and rugged) in those subdivisions facilities are not not included in the sewer system. Those lots / and homeowner will have qualify for the septic systems in those areas. The Gomara, Nevado, etc,. areas are responsible for testing and permitting their own systems those divisions are the only ones that are not inside the Hot Springs Village sewer system. If you care to take a tour up though those areas... you will see why and how difficult the area is to naviagate and "plum". Some of the streets lead all the way down to the Saline River.. and are simply stunning.
One home owner in this area has taken liberties and
added a twin court Tennis Court on his 5 acre plus lot.

241 of the 284 subdivisons are much "tamer". They have grinder pumps that hold the solids and grind them and then push them to the street and the main pressurized system.
Employees say that they most common enimy is hair, and mop string,
but that said, the do find everything.. and we mean EVERYTHING.

I think we should all tip our hats to the hard working Public Works Department,
for all that they do... silently...and consistantly.

Please remember ... LOW Phosphate soaps please...
it is more important than you may know.. and can say you (and hence the Village) MILLIONS.
more on that story next time.

 


Photo by Jeff Meeks


By Dennis Simpson. Dennis@hsvpp.com

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