The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Thursday, September 5, 2002


DEP defends sewer order


Raw sewage overflowing into river

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By Sherris Moreira-Byers

Herald Staff Writer

The state isn't trying to make Hermitage residents "miserable" by demanding the city upgrade its sewer treatment system to the tune of $13 million, according to a Department of Environmental Protection spokesperson, it's trying to protect the public.

City commissioners last week voted unanimously to raise the average customer's sewer rates by about $100 over three years -- a 44 percent increase -- to help foot the bill for the $13 million plan to correct violations outlined by DEP.

Commissioner James "Pat" White voted for the increase but complained about DEP's order to correct the violations. "They have a gun to your head," he said. City Manager Gary Hinkson said the city was ready to correct problems on its own timetable but DEP "determined they want those things now."

The main problem is that deteriorating sewage infrastructure allows too much ground water to flow into sewer pipes and overwhelms the treatment plant, DEP said. As a result, untreated sewage flows into the Shenango River.

"This is not just a regulatory procedure to make communities' lives miserable," said Freda Tarbell, community relations coordinator for DEP. "Our job is to protect the community."

Ms. Tarbell said the latest violations are the result of increased overflows at the plant on Broadway Avenue and part of an ongoing process for the agency and the city.

"From January 1999 through April 2002, 96 million gallons of sewage has either been inadequately treated or not been treated at all because the volume was too much for the plant to handle," said Ms. Tarbell. "We see a marked increase in the volume that was being released to the river."

In 1998, after determining the city's present and future sewage needs, Hermitage developed a $28 million plan to improve its treatment plant and pipelines, Ms. Tarbell said. The plan, which was approved by DEP in 1999, was supposed to be fully implemented by 2010.

After the plan was approved, Ms. Tarbell said, "the discharge of the system began to increase and the infrastructure began to deteriorate more quickly," she said. "This is something they (the city) had recognized for years and tried to address, but their monthly reports began to indicate to us that they were in significant non-compliance ..."

DEP issued the violations July 15 to make the city revise its plan, she said. At a meeting with city officials, DEP suggested "they adjust their schedule, rethink it or come up with another alternative," said Ms. Tarbell.

The city turned in a corrective action plan to DEP last week that calls for: replacing basins that hold water to be treated; installing mechanical screens and grit removal systems; a new pump station; improvements at the treatment plant and Bobby Run sewer line; and extensive testing to find out where water is coming into the system. The plan, which is supposed to address the immediate violations, is expected to implemented over three years.

DEP is reviewing the city's plan, Ms. Tarbell said. Hermitage isn't alone in having problems with too much water flooding its sewer system. Sharon has similar problems.

"This is a very, very common problem throughout the eastern United States," Ms. Tarbell said.



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