A recycling video is available at the township hall, if you would like to see the recycling process at work. Recycling Changes

Effective April 1, 2000, Mister Rubbish will no longer accept green and/or brown glass as part of the recycling service. Please discontinue recycling this product. Clear glass will continue to be recycled.

NOTICE

Media One Customers
Emergency Alert System

This past May, residents were upset when storm notices interrupted local programming. The notices, both visual and auditory, blocked out the local telecast for as long as five minutes. Media One has asked us to advise our residents that Media One is required to comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Emergency Alert System (EAS) guidelines. The EAS allows national, state and county authorities to communicate directly with the public in case of an emergency (such as tornadoes, winter storms, chemical spills, nuclear accidents or other emergencies) requiring citizen action. Media One cannot interfere with this interruption. They have no control over the frequency or duration of the tests or warnings conducted by government authorities. Neither Genoa Township nor Media One set the standard for these broadcasts. Persons wishing to see a change to this procedure should contact the FCC at 445 12th Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554 Attention Cable Services Bureau. (Ph. 1-888-225-5322). Volunteer Fire Fighters Needed The Brighton Area Fire Department and the Howell Fire Department are in need of volunteer fire fighters for the Brighton and Howell fire service areas. Chief Lane has openings for as many as 25 paid on-call fire fighters. Training will be provided by the respective fire departments. Personnel will be paid an hourly wage depending on training. For more information call Chief Lane at (810) 229-6640 or Chief Reid at (517) 546-0560. The Huron River Watershed Genoa Township recently joined the Huron River Watershed Council. It is the oldest Watershed Council in the State, established in 1965. For the last year the Council has been implementing a model plan to educate citizens about how they can prevent the seemingly incidental pollution that comes from everyday activities. Did you know that the storm drains in our streets connect to the Huron River system? They are a small part of the 581,120 acres of land located in southeast Michigan that is a tributary to Lake Erie. You can make a difference in the quality of this vital body of water by following these guidelines:

• Maintain your car so it will not leak oil, anti-freeze or other fluids.
• Properly dispose of household hazardous waste.
• Report dumping into storm drains to the County Drain Commission
• Use pesticides and fertilizers carefully.
• Compost yard waste.
• Leave grass clippings on your lawn. They put nutrients back into the soil.

Maintaining Your Septic System

by Polly Skolarus

As new residents move into the rural areas of the township, they are faced with a new form of sewage disposal - A SEPTIC SYSTEM. To replace your septic system, should it fail, may cost as much as $10,000.00. It costs between $100.00 to $150.00 every three years to have your septic tank inspected and pumped. The septic system is made up of two parts. The first part is a double holding tank where the wastewater from your home goes. The second part is the septic field where the water from the holding tank flows after the sludge sinks to the bottom of the holding tank. The sludge from your holding tank should never enter the septic field. That sludge will destroy the septic field.

Here are a few suggestions to assist you in protecting your septic system investment:

• Use less water. Spread your laundry washing over the week to avoid putting a lot of water into the system at one time.
• Avoid using chemicals that kill the bacteria that break down the sludge in your septic system. Use soaps and detergents that are biodegradable. An alternate drain cleaner is 1/2 cup of baking soda, followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar (let that sit for a few minutes), followed by boiling water
• Don’t dispose of anything other than toilet wastes and water from laundry, bathing and dishwashing into your septic system. It cannot handle wastes such as diapers, coffee grounds, tampons, cigarette butts, grease and other food products. Limit the use of your garbage disposal.
• Never drive or build anything on the drain-field portion of your septic system. Soil compaction and paving prevents oxygen from getting into the soil. The majority of the water in your field evaporates into the air.
• Pump your system every two to three years to avoid having to replace the septic system.

REMINDER