Paying for the pipes

From the Daily News:

Hook up or pay up.

Today is the official deadline for residents of Meadowmere and Warnerville to connect to the city's sewer system.

And city officials said it won't be extended.

Residents of these little-known neighborhoods on the Queens-Nassau border have waited decades for the city to offer them a sewer system.

But times are tough and only about 25% of the approximately 89 property owners were connected as of Friday.

Plumbers have been charging $5,000 and up for the job.

Queens Borough President Helen Marshall gathered residents and officials from the city Department of Environmental Protection last week to see if the deadline - already extended once - could be moved.

"Everybody's scared because of the deadline," said George Moschatos, who owns Argo Boats on Rockaway Blvd. "They made us wait 40 years for the sewers, and then they give us 10 months?"

Homeowners received letters from the city last August saying they could face steep fines of up to $10,000 for failing to connect to the sewers.

DEP officials said homeowners will receive warning letters before being slapped with violations. They also urged homeowners to look into government grants and loans that could help them pay for the work.

Property owners are still waiting to hear how much they will be charged for spurs installed on their property by the city during sewer construction. The spurs provide a connector between homes and the main sewer lines.

Marshall promised help for local residents, who have complained for years they are ignored by city officials and shortchanged on city services.

She asked the city to consider payment plans if they perform any emergency hookups in the future. Her topography unit is also looking into concerns that some streets in the area are not included on city maps.

Photo from Forgotten-NY