Raw sewage is backing up into ditches in Brookfield in violation of Ohio law, environmental officials told a standing-room-only crowd at Monday night's trustees meeting.

Officials from the Trumbull County Health Department, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Department of Transportation were on hand to explain the problem.

Frank Migliozzi, director of environmental health for the county health department, said odor, discoloration and the presence of fecal matter in ditches shows the township has "poorly treated sewers."

The fecal matter poses an environmental problem and is not in compliance with Ohio law, which states that "no house sewage-disposal system shall create a nuisance" and that "waters of the state such as ditches should be clear of nuisances."

Trumbull County Commissioners recently adopted a five-year program to bring the county into compliance with new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stormwater-management requirements. The federal program is needed to stop septic systems from draining into ditches and to curb the amount of contaminated runoff from municipal storm water, according to the Ohio EPA.

In July 2000, Brookfield Center was found in violation of Ohio EPA mandates due to high fecal counts in ditches. Samples were taken from ditches and deemed unacceptable by law, Migliozzi said.

Migliozzi showed slides of soapy water in catch basins, obviously discharge from someone's washing machine into open ditches. Other slides showed discharge flowing from septic tanks.

Migliozzi said tests showed 5,000 fecal counts per 100 milliliters of water in some places along state Route 7, Wood Street and Strimbu Drive. There were too many samples to count, he added.

"That sends up the red flag. We're dealing with a major sewage problem."

Now, the township must eliminate the problem to comply with EPA regulations.

Of immediate concern is the safety of ODOT workers who will be widening approaches and adding turn lanes at state routes 7 and 82.

Officials worry that ODOT workers, who'll begin in two weeks, will be exposed to possible diseases such as E. coli, salmonella and hepatitis from the waste. If those workers should happen to catch something, the state could get sued, Migliozzi said.

Noel Mehlo of ODOT said his department is more concerned about the road safety upgrades that aim to alleviate potential accidents.

"To me that's more important than worrying about a little poop," he said.

Remedial measures to fix the sewage problems include upgrading residents' septic tanks, which they would pay for with a receipt could receive at least partial reimbursement.

Residents will be required to have their tanks pumped every six months to reduce organic matter flowing through. After the required pumpings, residents would install a device to chlorinate their systems. Migliozzi said the chlorinator would make most sense for township residents because it has low initial and operating costs, requires no electricity is is low maintenance.

It will take two to three years to get the sewage project up and running and will cost residents about $300 a year for two years. Thanks to a $330,000 federal grant, they will be reimbursed for some of the cost.

Not all residents present were happy with what officials had to say.

Jared McBride, a retired Wood Street resident, was one of many to voice his opinion. He said there are only two people living at his house and they aren't there half the time.

"And we have to pump our septic tanks twice a year? I'm retired. I've been retired. Are they going to give me an extra $300 a year on my pension plan?"

Migliozzi explained that the sewage project should be considered a part of regular house maintenance.

While some residents thought something should have been done sooner, others complained they received letters stating their septic systems failed testing, but had never been tested.