Date: Fri 11-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

sewer-lawsuit-Knapp

Full Text:

Sandy Hook Man Sues To Avoid Sewer Hook-Up

A Sandy Hook man has sued the Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) in

seeking that it rescind its order for him to connect his home to the sewer

system.

In a lawsuit filed September 1 in Danbury Superior Court, James E. Knapp, Jr,

of 22 Oakview Road, alleges the WPCA was not mandated by the state to include

his property in the town sewer district. Mr Knapp maintains the WPCA placed

his property in the sewer district, levied a sewer assessment against it, and

issued him an order to connect to the sewer system without providing him with

proper notification.

Mr Knapp states he installed a septic system on his property with a greater

capacity than required to ensure trouble-free operation and an extended life

expectancy for it. The septic system is functioning well, has been properly

maintained, and has room for several more leaching fields, he states in the

suit.

The order to connect poses a financial hardship because its cost for the next

20 years will total at least $24,000, plus user fees every year after that, he

states.

Through the suit, Mr Knapp seeks to have the court order the WPCA rescind its

order to connect; to reclassify the sewer line running past his property as a

sewer transmission line, and that his property be removed from the sewer

assessment list.

The town has a September 22 court appearance date in the case.