The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

July 20, 2012

Solving sewer woes going to be costly

By Tom Davidson Herald Staff Writer

SHENANGO TOWNSHIP — The latest sewage news in Shenango Township stinks for people not affected by the fact that the state is mandating an $18 million sewer system overhaul there.

Supervisors, still awaiting state Department Environmental Protection review of the sewage-management plan they approved in June, on Thursday discussed what will happen to residents who have on-lot septic systems and won’t be required to tie in to the public sewer system.

When the septic systems are inspected, the results aren’t going to be good, two pumping service operators told supervisors.

“Ninety percent of your houses are going to fail,” said Homer Johnson of Lang Inc., Hermitage.

Doug Romo of Romo Septic Service, Brookfield, agreed.

And the fix could cost about $20,000 per house, they said.

Supervisors have no choice in the matter, however, said Tom Hubert, who chairs the five-member supervisors board.

DEP has been after township officials for about 10 years to address a problem that goes back several decades. Land in Shenango Township isn’t suitable for septic systems and the public system doesn’t cover all of the township.

Supervisors last month approved a state-mandated sewage plan that binds them to make about $18 million in improvements that include updates to the treatment plant and some lines by 2018.

Paying for those improvements may cost sewer customers an extra $77 a month on top of the $57 they now pay. Those who need to tap in to the system will have to pony up about an additional $1,000 fee.

But those unaffected by the improvements will have to put in pricey new on-lot systems if their current systems fail the mandated test.

The consensus among supervisors was to require as little as possible to meet state guidelines.

“The less inspection we’ve got, the better off we are,” said Supervisor Walter “Butch” Gelesky.

Township engineer Jeffrey Rober advised them against “burying your heads in the sand” on the issue.

“We have to address the problem,” Hubert said.

Supervisors are working on an on-lot sewage system ordinance they can enforce.

It would require septic systems to be pumped on a regular schedule – about every three years, according to a draft of the plan.

The township will compile a list of approved septic system pumpers, Hubert said.

“We’re taking one step at a time to me,” Rober said.

Johnson and Romo advised supervisors to focus on getting the systems pumped regularly and avoid inspections of each system unless there’s a complaint.

Many people aren’t going to abide by the ordinance if they know they’re going to be forced to make an upgrade, Romo said.

The township’s sewage inspector is Maurice Waltz of Waltz Consulting, Sharpsville.

Hubert also asked that there be some recourse for homeowners to get a “second opinion” if Waltz decides the system is failing.

“If a resident disputes it, where do they go?” Hubert asked rhetorically. “It seems to me the homeowner needs to be protected from the government. I hate to say it.”

Supervisors will take up the discussion on the ordinance again when they meet in August.

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