In the Fall of 1999, the Borough of Edinboro purchased ten (10) American Sigma Flow and Velocity meters.  In February of 2000, these meters were installed in different locations throughout the sanitary sewer collection system.  These meters gather information about the flow and velocity of sewage and other water through a sanitary sewer collection line.  We use these figures as part of our Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Program.  Through time we get a baseline figure for the average flow and velocity in a particular line.  When there is a major rain or thaw event we can compare this data with the baseline data to see how dramatic, if any, an increase there was in the flow of a line.  Any peaks or spikes in the flow and velocity of the line are indicators of Inflow and Infiltration (I & I) in the collection system in that area.

        Inflow and Infiltration is the amount of extraneous water entering a sanitary sewer collection system.  Inflow is water that enters the collection system through improper or illegal connections to the sanitary sewer such as downspouts, sump pumps, areaway drains, and foundation/footer drains.  Infiltration is groundwater that enters the sewer system through leaks or cracks in sewer pipes or manholes in the collection system.  When this excess clear water enters the sanitary sewer it must be moved and treated like sanitary waste.  Too much of this clear water in the sanitary system can lead to backups, overflows, and surcharges of raw waste into the streets or homeowners' property.  This extra water in the collection system lines also adds to unnecessary increased treatment costs at the wastewater treatment facility.

        One way to deal with this problem is to reconstruct all or parts of the collection system to accommodate these increased flows due to Inflow and Infiltration.  This would involve installing larger or additional sewer lines and possibly increasing the size of the current wastewater treatment facility.  Unfortunately, it would be you, the customer, who would be paying for the unnecessary replacement of the existing facilities to accommodate this extraneous clear water flow.

        As an alternative to upsizing our already sufficient treatment and collection facilities, the Borough of Edinboro chose to begin enforcement of Borough Ordinance 36-5-7 (this number will change to 18-147 once codification of Borough Ordinances is complete).  This ordinance states:  "No person(s) shall make connection of roof downspouts, foundation drains, areaway drains, sump pumps, or other sources of surface runoff or groundwater to a building sewer."

        The Borough of Edinboro decided to use dye testing as a means to enforce this Ordinance.  Dye testing is a process during which Borough personnel come into your home to inspect the sanitary lateral connections.  Borough employees will monitor a closed circuit television in the main sewer line, while other personnel flush a non-toxic completely harmless dye down the toilet to confirm that we are at the lateral for your property.  After lateral verification is complete, we then inspect the basement for any sump pumps and their discharging location.  Sump pumps that collect gray water such as, water form sinks, tubs, washing machines, etc. may and should discharge into the sanitary sewer collection system.  Sumps that collect water from foundation/footer drains or roof downspouts and discharge into the sanitary sewer are NOT permitted and must be disconnected.  This water must be discharged to the outside of the house to a storm sewer, dry well, or onto the yard or street.  As part of the dye testing process, inspectors also walk around the property to verify the discharge location of roof downspouts or areaway drains.  Properties that are found to be in violation of Ordinance 36-5-7 are given ninety (90) days of construction weather to make all necessary corrections to any illegal connections to the sanitary sewer.  Extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis.  Property owners found in violation and refusing to comply with the ordinance are referred to the District Justice.  Homeowners also have the option of appealing to the Municipal Authority Board if they disagree with any of our findings.

        Dye testing began in the Adams Street Collection area of town in September of 2000.  In 2001, the focus of our dye test study concentrated on the Lakeside Drive collection area and the Chestnut Street collection area.  A total of five hundred and sixty three homes (563) have been dye tested in the Borough.  Of these, approximately ten percent (10%) were found to be in violation, having illegal connections of sump pumps or roof drains to the sanitary sewer.  In August of 2003 we will begin dye testing in the Valleyview/Shellhammer area.  The Borough Wastewater Collection and Treatment personnel plan to have all properties dye tested and all collection lines televised within the next three to five years.

        Besides requiring our customers to remove sources of inflow from the sanitary sewer collection system, we also have a proactive maintenance program to stop any sources of infiltration that may be entering the system.  Videotapes of the sewer lines are reviewed and a list of spot repairs is generated from these tapes.  Personnel in the field also make note of any defects they notice in the system.  In 2003, the Borough of Edinboro spent over one hundred thousand dollars (>$100,000.00) performing various spot repairs throughout the collection system.  As part of our Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Program we dye test an area one year and come back the next year to make any necessary repairs.  If there are major deficiencies found in the system , they are repaired immediately.

        The Borough of Edinboro appreciates and thanks its customers for the cooperation they have shown throughout this program.  We feel our efforts have been successful in reducing many of the peaks in wastewater flow associated with heavy rains and major thaw events.  We look forward to a future of serving your wastewater needs and working together to keep your sewer rates at a minimum.  If you have any further questions relating to this program or any other wastewater matter, please contact the Wastewater Treatment Facility at 734-1143 or the Borough Office at 734-1812.

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