westtown act 537 pp 043012 - westtown township

Westtown Township

Draft Act 537 Plan

April 2012

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Westtown Township Draft Act 537 Plan

BACKGROUND

Act 537 Plans

2006 - Westtown Act 537 Plan

2007 - Act 537 Plan Implementation Meetings

2007 – 2010 Township Considers Options

2011 – DEP Consent Order and Agreement

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OVERVIEW OF DRAFT

ACT 537 PLAN TOPICS

Area Studied

Evaluation of Existing Conditions

Identification of Areas Needing Public Sewer

Sewer System Alternatives

Projected Costs

On-lot Sewage Management Program

Projected Timing

Next Steps


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STUDY AREA

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EXISTING CONDITIONS

EVALUATED

Soils

Age of Neighborhoods

Lot Sizes

Chester County Health Department

Records


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SOILS

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AGE OF NEIGHBORHOODS

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LOT SIZES

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CHESTER COUNTY HEALTH

DEPARTMENT RECORDS

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IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS

NEEDING PUBLIC SEWER

Overall Results of All Four Conditions Evaluated

Soils

Age of Neighborhoods

Lot Sizes

CCHD Records

Additional Factors Considered

Feasible Project Size

WWTP Capacity

Limit Risks to Residents


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PUBLIC SEWAGE NEEDS CONCLUSIONS

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SEWER SYSTEM ALTERNATIVES

Gravity Sewer System

Low Pressure Sewer System


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GRAVITY SEWER SYSTEM

8” and Larger Pipes

Pipes Installed by Open Trenching

Manholes Needed at Regular Pipe Intervals

Large Pumping Stations Needed Where

Gravity Flow Cannot Continue


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GRAVITY SEWER INSTALLATION

Deeper Excavation

Shallow Excavation


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LOW PRESSURE SEWER SYSTEM

Smaller Diameter Flexible Piping

Generally Installed by Directional Drilling –

Very Little Excavation Needed

Shallow Pipe Depths – Can Follow Ground

Contour

Pressurized by Individual On-Lot Grinder Pump

Units


LOW PRESSURE SEWER

INSTALLATION

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Directional Drilling

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COMPARISON OF GRAVITY AND

LOW PRESSURE SEWER SYSTEMS

Cost

Neighborhood Disturbance


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AVERAGE COSTS PER FOOT


Right of Way

Westtown Township Draft Act 537 Plan NEIGHBORHOOD

DISTURBANCE

GRAVITY SEWER

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Right of Way

GP


GP

NEIGHBORHOOD

DISTURBANCE

LOW PRESSURE

SEWER SYSTEM

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GRINDER PUMP STATIONS


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GRINDER PUMP HOMEOWNER

CONSIDERATIONS

Electric Costs - $22/Year Average

Maintenance

Power Outages


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SELECTED PUBLIC SEWER ALTERNATIVE

Low pressure sewer system to serve identified areas due

to much lower costs

All homes within 150’ of road R.O.W. required to

connect

Homes greater than 150’ from R.O.W. may choose to

connect

Grinder pumps will be owned and maintained by

property owners


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TOTAL PROJECTED COSTS

Upgrade Existing Sewers - $3,800,000

Install Neighborhood Sewer Systems -

$8,500,000

Total Project Costs - $12,300,000

All costs are preliminary estimates. Actual costs may vary.


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PROJECTED HOMEOWNER COSTS

Initial Township Fees – approx. $6,000

Annual User Fees - $800 to $900

Septic system abandonment, grinder pump and

lateral installation - $4,000 to $5,000

Township will provide list of qualified

contractors


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COST COMPARISON

2007 vs. 2012

2007 Gravity 2012

Sewer Project* Act 537 Plan

Initial Fees $11,000 - $13,000 $6,000

Other Homeowner Costs $2,750 - $10,000 $4,000 - $5000

Total initial costs $13,750 - $23,000 $10,000 - $11,000

Annual User Fees $1,100 - $1,300 $800 - $900

*2007 costs - 2012 equivalent would be higher due to inflation


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ON-LOT SEWAGE

MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

All Township residents who will continue to be

served by on-lot systems will be required to maintain

their systems

Required system pump-outs at least every 3 years

Visual inspection by pumper at time of pump-out

Township will provide educational materials to assist

with understanding maintenance needs


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PROJECTED SCHEDULE

September 2012 – Submit Act 537 Plan to DEP

February 2013 – DEP Approval Estimated

April 2013 – Start Design Work

August 2013 –Start On-Lot Sewage Management Program

Summer/Fall 2014 – Start Construction*

Fall 2015 – Public Sewer Connections Begin

2018 to 2023 – Additional Act 537 Planning

*Township will present updated information to residents before construction starts


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ACT 537 PLAN NEXT STEPS

April to July - Township Considers Your Comments

July - Draft Act 537 Plan Finalized

July - Public Notice in Daily Local News Allowing for 30 day

Written Comment Period for all Residents

July to September - Required Agency Reviews

Westtown Planning Commission CCPC CCHD

September - Final Plan Adopted by Board of Supervisors and

Submitted to DEP


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QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION

westtown act 537 pp 043012 - westtown township

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