Speaking

The Summit County Department of Sanitary Sewer Services and Burgess & Niple (B&N) designed a new sanitary collection system and wastewater treatment plant for the Village of Peninsula, Ohio, to combat longstanding failing septic systems. The Village of Peninsula is unique due to its location being surrounded by a national park, presenting both challenges and opportunities. The village has faced challenges, including residents who fear that the new infrastructure could lead to unwanted growth and a change in the community’s historical character, while others advocate for the project to resolve the environmental and public health issues caused by failing septic systems. The project's success relies heavily on Summit County’s desire for close collaboration between all stakeholders, including the National Park Service, to ensure the WRF's placement and design respect the natural and historical integrity of the area.

This presentation will explore the importance of managing costs and balancing the community's desires and needs while preserving the village's historic character. It will detail the process and story of a project integrated within a community resistant to change.