The Department of Environmental Protection Monday approved a Sanitary Sewer Overflow  Abatement Plan for the City of Johnstown, to relieve the overload conditions that are the main cause of sanitary sewer overflows in heavy rains.

“Johnstown is to be commended for devising a stormwater control plan that will serve the city and surrounding communities for years to come,” said Susan Malone, DEP’s Southwest Regional Director. “Eliminating sewer overflow is one of the best ways to ensure clean water for the people of Johnstown and their neighbors downstream.”

During rainy weather, water can leak into the sewage system through leaks in pipes and deteriorated connections. The extra water overwhelms treatment facilities, forcing bypasses that result in raw sewage flowing into waterways.

Federal and state regulations mandate that all communities drastically reduce or eliminate sewage treatment bypasses. Johnstown was required to develop the plan under a Consent Order and Agreement signed in July of 2010.

The Abatement Plan is intended to relieve the heavy water runoff conditions and eliminate SSOs from the city’s system, and the system owned by the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority, which provides water treatment for the city and 20 surrounding communities.

Portions of the system will be completely rebuilt, while other sections will be refurbished. Under the Abatement Plan all construction must be completed by November 30, 2022 and all SSOs must be eliminated by December 31, 2022.

When construction is complete, the system’s flow will be monitored to ensure that the reconstructed system meets the flow levels outlined in the plan.

The City and the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority determined that the complete replacement of the sewer system, including private connections, was the most cost effective long-term solution to eliminate SSOs.

For more information, visit the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority CSO/SSO webpage.

NewsClip:

Op-Ed: Crumbling Water, Wastewater System Require Action

9/7/2015