Man faces jail for refusing sewage service

CECIL, Pa., July 14 (UPI) -- A Cecil, Pa., man said he is prepared to go to jail as part of his running battle to stop the city from forcing him to use the local sewage system.

William Williams, 78, said he refuses to use any public utilities and has previously been jailed for 30 days after he repeatedly removed a guy wire from an Allegheny Power utility pole on his property, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Monday.

He says the Washington County Sewage Council is after him for refusing to give up his septic tanks and tap into the sewage system.

"I don't like to see big outfits like this giving all this (hassle) to the people," Williams said. "These companies are trying to barge in on everybody."

If the council takes Williams to court, he could face a fine of up to $5,000 and up to 30 days in jail. Each day he fails to comply with a city ordinance requiring use of the sewage system can be counted as a separate offense by prosecutors.

However, Williams said he is prepared to argue his case in court.

"If they want to play hard ball, I'll play hard ball," he said.