Sewer System - Treatment Plant?

Question

Hi all. I'm looking at a deal with public water with Treatment Plant for the sewer. This might be an odd question, but is there a way to switch the sewer to public sewer? If so, what is the average cost? Many thanks!

Phillip Merrill · Answer

Treatment plant is somewhat of a broad term and is used for many types of sewer treatment systems each having different operating and cap ex costs and thus different investor comfort levels. It is worthwhile to do more research when a listing says treatment plant. What type of treatment plant does the park have?

Phillip Merrill · Answer

My assumption was that the property was a multifamily property (a mobile home park as that was where the post was) and that property was the owner of the treatment plant. I also assumed the treatment plant served a mhp with significant number of spaces. If that is not the case then disregard my comments. Hopefully the op can clarify if he would like additional feedback. If the property is a single family or does not own the treatment plant then @ Kelly Dewinter is correct no one really cares who they pay as long as the sewer keeps leaving.

Phillip Merrill · Answer

What is the yearly gross? There are really three types of parks with treatment plants in terms of economic viability which drives buyer pool. I think it is simpler to think in terms of gross annual revenue instead of number of spaces this is easy to translate into number of spaces for a specific market. The sub 150k, 200 to 250k and the 250k and up. In the sub 150k the buyer pool will be very very small. Better in the 200 to 250k and best for the 250k and up. Im sure you know that package plants are expensive to operate (skilled operator, sludge, chemicals, lab work...), have high replacement costs, and are subject to risk of increased regulations. Because of these high costs and regulatory risks the park needs to have the income stream to cover these costs and make the headaches worth it

Kelly DeWinter · Answer

no, it will not be a problem. ive sold property with Private Waste Treatment Facility, you just have to disclose that thats the hook up.

Kelly DeWinter · Answer

Not unless there is a public line nearby, which is doubtful. Even then you would have to go through zoning board, and if approved would cost 10's of thousands to connect to. What exactly are the issues you are having ? Im assuming the property is connected to a Private Waste Treatment Facility ?

Brent Tiano · Answer

If you don't want to deal w the WWTF, there are lots of private utilities looking to grow their client base. I would research who is in your area and then reach out to them. I know that Corix is actively seeking to purchase water and/or waste water systems. They buy the assets and take over the operations, maintenance and billing while mitigating your liability should something go wrong.

Charlotte Dunford · Answer

@Kelly DeWinter Respectfully, I want to say that I posted under the category of mobile home park, which should indicate the post is about mobile homes.

Kelly DeWinter · Answer

This is why people on BP need to post as much information as possible about the property/deal they want advice on. You spend time and effort trying to answer a question, then it goes from "can you switch up septic systems" assuming a single unit property , to "it is a mobile home park. And it is the owner of the treatment plant."In all likely hood (99.99% certain) , zoning required the Private Waste Treatment Facility, because existing Public Sewer is near or at capacity in that area.So the real and only answer to your question is "Go contact the zoning board" No one else will be able to give you the answer. Be prepared for an emphatic "NO".

Charlotte Dunford · Answer

@Phillip Merrill it is a mobile home park. And it is the owner of the treatment plant.

Kelly DeWinter · Answer

@Phillip Merrill Whether a property is serviced by public sewer or Private Waste Treatment Facility is typically not a factor in the purchase or sale of a property other then you may be required to disclose which it is. In Maryland your bill for public water and public sewer service is combined in your Water Bill The Water Meter tells the State how much water you recieve in gallons, it is assumed you then pass the same number of gallon into the Sewer and your bill is calculated accordingly in 1 Bill. The same applies to Private Waste Treatment Facility except you get a separate bill from two companies for water and sewer based on the same number. If you have a well and sewer with a Private Waste Treatment Facility you pay for sewer via a flat fee. Again people don't care HOW the wast is handled only that it IS handled.