The Authority has also determined through extensive investigations
that a significant amount of inappropriate storm water and
groundwater is coming from private homes and businesses. Some
common sources of storm water infiltration and inflow (I&I) are private building sewer
pipes that connect structures to the sanitary system. In addition,
roof downspouts, sump pumps, and area drains connected to the
building sewer contribute to excessive sewer flows. To remove
inflow and infiltration from the sanitary sewer system coming from
these private sources, the Authority is working cooperatively with
identified property owners within selected mini-basins. All costs
associated with rehabilitation of private building sewers are now
being assumed by the Authority.
The Authority and its engineer determined in 1999 that the most cost
effective approach to eliminate overflows and reduce I&I is by a
systematic “total rehabilitation” of mini-basins. Generally, a mini-basin is a neighborhood of 150 to 200 homes. “Total rehabilitation”
is the replacement of all public sewer lines and private sewer lines
that fail an air test, thereby correcting the sewer system to new
standards. The program begins with flow monitoring of all the
mini-basins for “total rehabilitation” based on the flow monitoring
data during an overflow event and “total rehabilitation” of mini-basins in order of priority until the goal of eliminating overflows is
met.
Lower Paxton Township’s future sanitary sewer needs, including its
ongoing infiltration and inflow program, are detailed in a Sewage
Facilities Plan prepared in accordance with PA Act 537, and is further
described under the Sanitary Sewer I&I Status.
Our sanitary sewer system is a complicated maze of underground
pipes owned by private parties, by the Township Authority, and by
joint municipal partnerships. Lower Paxton Township is hard at
work maintaining and upgrading this system, providing for the
needs of its current customers, future development within our
community, and protection of our natural environment.
