Sewer Company News Spring 2023
YOUR SEWER SYSTEM
Hidden Springs Sewer Company cleans and inspects the sewer mainlines routinely. Phase 6 and Phase 8 are next in rotation and scheduled for this spring. Master Rooter has found a significant accumulation of fats and built-up grease in many of the lines cleaned in Phase 1-5 as well as the recent cleaning of the lift station in Phase 8. Please refer to information below regarding what SHOULD and SHOULD NOT be put down your drains. The Sewer Company is responsible for the sewer mainlines from the point of connection, usually located in the right of way at the property boundary.
Homeowners are responsible for their sewer infrastructure on their property. Every home is connected to the mainline at a point of connection usually located in the right of way at the property boundary. Buildup, debris left over from construction and even tree roots can cause back-ups as well as be extremely destructive to your plumbing pipes. Master Rooter has extended a special offer to Hidden Springs Residents while they are here cleaning the mainlines in May. Master Rooter will camera inspect individual residence mainlines from the outside clean outs to the sewer main for $150 a home, the normal rate for this service is $264. To take advantage of this special offer, call 208-888-9191 and schedule your inspection and cleaning now through 7/31/23.
THE HIDDEN SPRINGS SEWER IS ON A LOW-FAT DIET
Please keep fats, oils and greases (FOG) out of your kitchen sink! When poured down the drain, FOG can build up in pipes and equipment and cause significant problems in the sewer system and wastewater treatment plants. Problems such as sewer line blockages that cause sewer overflows are the result of improper disposal of FOG. Sewer overflows cause environmental health hazards and property damage leading to increased operation and maintenance costs which show up as higher sewer bills. What is FOG? FOG refers to Fats, Oil, and Grease from food preparation and kitchen clean up. FOG is found in meat fats, lard, shortening, butter, margarine, food scraps, baking goods, cooking oil, sauces and dairy products.
Why should you care about FOG? Residential households contribute FOG build-up in the sewer lines because of the amount of grease washed into the plumbing system, usually through the kitchen sink. Sewer lines in older neighborhoods are most at risk of sewer backup if residents don’t properly dispose of FOG.
What can you do? The easiest way to solve the grease problem is to keep FOG out of the sewer system by following these easy disposal tips:
- Never pour grease, fats, or oil down the sink or garbage disposal.
- Pour FOG into jars, cans, and plastic tubs or “Fat Trapper” container. Let contents cool and solidify.
When the container is full, throw away with your trash.
- Mix cooking oil with an absorbent material such as cat litter or coffee grounds, place in a lidded
container for disposal with your trash.
- For greasy pans, pour off the grease into a container mentioned above, and use a paper towel to
wipe out the remaining grease in the pan prior to washing.
WHAT’S FLUSHABLE AND WHAT’S NOT!
Pee, poop and toilet paper are all okay to flush. The following items don’t break down like pee, poop and toilet paper which clog household pipes, sewer lift station pumps, and cause sewer backups onto streets, businesses, and homes:
- Flushable wipes – Though advertised as “safe for septic systems and sewer,” flushable wipes cause many problems for wastewater treatment facility.
- Diapers (cloth, disposable, “flushable”)
- Facial tissues, cotton balls, swabs and pads
- Cleaning wipes of ANY kind (baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, moist wipes, etc.)
- Toilet bowl scrub pads
- Napkins (paper or cloth), paper towels
- Dental floss
- Hair
- Sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, or any non-organic material
- Wash cloths, towels, rags (any cloth item)
- Kitty litter
Clogged pipes and pumps require significant maintenance to ensure the pumps are working properly. If they can’t be repaired, they must be replaced. The solution to this expensive problem is to make sure that only toilet paper is flushed down the toilet!
SEWER COMPANY MEETINGS
Hidden Springs Town Association, Town Council Meetings are held once a month and open for residents to attend. Meetings start at 7:00pm and are held in the Community Clubhouse and on ZOOM. Hidden Springs Sewer Company business is addressed first and open to both Hidden Springs and Cartwright Ranch. Hidden Springs Town Association business is addressed second followed by an executive session (if needed). Meetings for the remainder of the year are scheduled for 5/23, 6/20, 7/18, 8/22, 9/19, 10/17, 11/9 and 12/5. The Annual Meeting is 12/12. Please check www.hiddensprings.com to confirm meeting dates as they are subject to change to due to volunteer personal and professional commitments. Approved and signed meeting minutes are posted on the community website.
Working on your behalf, The Hidden Springs Town Association Town Council and Staff
The News in Hidden Springs #170
NEW COMMUNITY WEBSITE
The Association launched a new website last week! Designed by Paul Frantellizzi, FFIL and Derrick Lawter, Funnel Construction, the new site is home to the same wealth of community information with easy navigation, user centered content, responsive and mobile friendly. Integrated with the new website is a community event calendar, easy direct HOA fee payment link to C-Property Pay, ability to share community photos along with an updated email and text messaging platform. Please visit www.hiddensprings.com and register today! Once you create an account you can opt in for emails and text messages in your account profile.
HIDDEN SPRINGS SWIM CLUB 2023 – Register Now!
Registration is going on now and spots are filling fast with only 45 spots remaining until the Swim Club reaches capacity (125 swimmers). Registration is open now through 5/15 for Hidden Springs residents and opens to Cartwright Ranch residents on 5/16 until the Club reaches capacity. Find more information, the registration form and waiver on the website under Community/Community Amenities. Once the season is underway, practice will be at the South Meadow Pool, Monday through Friday mornings from 9:00am until 12:00pm, 6/1 through 7/28. The South Meadow Pool is unavailable for other uses during this time.
GIVE A PINT OF BLOOD Thursday 5/4
Valley Pies of Hidden Springs is sponsoring a Blood Drive on Thursday, 5/4 from 12:00 to 5:00 pm at the Community Club House, 5525 W. Hidden Springs Dr. Please sign up at https://www.redcrossblood.org/ (code: HiddenSprings) and help us support this great cause.
SEWER COMPANY OUTBUILDING PUBLIC MEETING Wednesday 5/17
You might recall mention (refer to Sewer Company Meeting Minutes 2022-2023 and the 2022 Annual Report) of the Outbuilding for housing flow and chloride content meters along the main sewer line from Cartwright Ranch prior to the connection to the main sewer line in Hidden Springs. Prior to submittal of a development application, Ada County Code requires a meeting between the applicant and neighbors within a 300’ radius of the project. Residents within the radius received a letter from Hillside Architecture. All interested residents are invited to attend the meeting, Wednesday 5/17 at 6:30pm at the Hidden Springs Community Barn.
GREAT OUTDOORS OF HIDDEN SPRINGS Saturday 5/20
An afternoon of family fun and a little education about the community’s open spaces, conservation, farm, fire safety, the Dry Creek Historical Society and more! Hosted at the Community Barn from 2-5pm, there will be activities, Pump Track Demo with Braydon Bringhurst at the Bike Park, music, food trucks, farmstead tours, give aways and more! Find more information on the website under News & Events/Events Calendar. For volunteer opportunities contact Pam Peters, atm@hiddensprings.com.
TOWN DESIGN REVIEW IMPROVEMENTS & REVIEW DATES
Reminder, ALL proposed exterior improvements (new or changes to existing) to home and landscaping must be reviewed and approved by the Town Design Review Board per the governing documents, Residential Design Guidelines, Section 5.0 and Master Declaration of Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions 6.1 and 10.47. This is not a new process or procedure and has been a requirement since the governing documents were drafted in 1997.
The Town Design Review Board meets monthly with the next meetings scheduled for 7:00am on 5/16, 6/13, and 7/11. Find review dates and forms on the website under Community/Town Design Review Board.
OPEN SPACE REMINDERS
No dumping, placing or storing trash, garbage or other debris in Hidden Springs Open Space parcels.
Do not extend landscaping or improvements beyond your property into Hidden Springs Open Space parcels. All improvements (trampolines, hammocks, play sets, garden boxes etc.) and landscaping materials including sod, grass
clippings, weeds, rocks, gravel, lumber or other similar materials must remain inside the residential lot. Refer to CC&R section 5.2 Use of Conservation Area, 5.5 Damages and 6.6 Nuisances.
Motorized Off-Road Vehicles including E-bikes are NOT allowed on trails or in Open Spaces. The use of motorized off- road vehicles (trucks, trailers, snowmobiles, dune buggies, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, golf carts, E-bikes or any other type of motorize vehicle) are not permitted in Hidden Springs Open Space Areas and trails per the CC&R’s, 3.1.9.3 Conservation Easement and 6.9 Vehicles and Equipment and the Conversation Easement Agreement Section 3.2.6. For more information about local trails, visit https://trails.idaho.gov/ for public trail information, designation, vehicle-type, season, etc.
Damage to and/or Dumping in Open Space. Per the governing documents, should any damage(s) occur including removal of dumped items or debris, or restoration be required on an Open Space parcel as a result of miss use, the cost shall be a Limited Assessment against the owners Lot. Refer to section 5.5 Damages and Section 3.1.8.1 Operation and Maintenance of Common Area, Restricted Area and Maintenance Property.
RECYCLED IRRIGATION WATER
The Association has pressurized the community irrigation for the 2023 season. In the community, 75% of the HSTA’s green common spaces are watered with recycled water from the wastewater reclamation facility with the remaining 25% watered with VEOLIA water. Residential lots are NOT connected to the recycled water system. If you need assistance with turning on your irrigation or with your sprinkler system, please contact a landscape professional.
Important reminders regarding the recycled irrigation water:
- Do not drink the reclaimed water. Reclaimed water is recycled wastewater from the Hidden Springs Sewer which has been treated to remove solids and impurities, disinfected and then discharged to irrigate the common areas. The water is NOT intended for consumption.
- Do not let your children or pets run through the sprinklers while they are activated. To help minimize the contact between the recycled water and residents, the HSTA attempts to irrigate as much as possible between the hours of 8:00pm and 8:00am. However, some areas like the farm fields and the orchard may be irrigated during the daytime hours in which case the residents are asked to avoid contact with the recycled water during the application times.
- Please report broken sprinklers to the HSTA. Text location and picture to 208-447-9427
Working on your behalf, The Hidden Springs Town Association Town Council and Staff