- Mon Mar 26, 2007 4:43 pm
#154534
Ever since moving to East Norriton in 1992, we have watched our East Norriton sanitary sewers overflow into Stony Creek after every heavy rainstorm. Over twenty years ago a resident observed sewer overflows when working on the west end of East Norriton. The township supervisors have known about the problem for years. Finally, after being faced with fines and a moratorium on sewer permits from the DEP, plus increased sewage disposal expenses, the township hired ARRO Consulting in 2005 to analyze the causes of the sewage problem. ARRO engineers have found root infestation and broken pipes in the laterals from individual homes to the main sewer line. More details can be found on the township web site at http://www.eastnorritontwp.org/works.html#sewer
The township has required individual residents to repair their lateral sewer lines at costs ranging around 3 to 10 thousand dollars. At the February township meeting some residents protested that the Abbonizio Contrators, retained by the township for the purpose of sewer repair, required full payment 30 days before work was to begin. The township supervisors told the residents they were free to hire their own contractor. Residents claimed that the expensive sewer repairs are hard on household budgets and they wished that they had more than the 90 days allowed by the township to find a contractor and arrange financing.
Just as we replaced our roof, we will repair our sewer laterals, if necessary. We will face the financial pain by reminding ourselves how this will improve the water quality in our watershed, preserve the value of our house and neighborhood and help to lower the sewage waste disposal charges for township residents. However, my neighbors and I can’t help but wonder why our sewer laterals built in the 1970’s lasted less than 20 years before they caused a visible infiltration and overflow problem. We wonder if they were properly installed and inspected during construction? What can we do to make sure our repairs last longer this time? Township residents were told that the contractors do not warranty their repairs for any length of time.
The township has required individual residents to repair their lateral sewer lines at costs ranging around 3 to 10 thousand dollars. At the February township meeting some residents protested that the Abbonizio Contrators, retained by the township for the purpose of sewer repair, required full payment 30 days before work was to begin. The township supervisors told the residents they were free to hire their own contractor. Residents claimed that the expensive sewer repairs are hard on household budgets and they wished that they had more than the 90 days allowed by the township to find a contractor and arrange financing.
Just as we replaced our roof, we will repair our sewer laterals, if necessary. We will face the financial pain by reminding ourselves how this will improve the water quality in our watershed, preserve the value of our house and neighborhood and help to lower the sewage waste disposal charges for township residents. However, my neighbors and I can’t help but wonder why our sewer laterals built in the 1970’s lasted less than 20 years before they caused a visible infiltration and overflow problem. We wonder if they were properly installed and inspected during construction? What can we do to make sure our repairs last longer this time? Township residents were told that the contractors do not warranty their repairs for any length of time.
Last edited by Virginia Fitzpatrick on Sat Mar 31, 2007 9:48 am, edited 1 time in total.