OPERATIONAL AND MAINTENANCE STATUS OF AUTHORITY SEWAGE FACILITIES
Sewage System Operational and Maintenance Status
The general performance of all Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority sewage collection, conveyance, pumping, and treatment facilities during Fiscal Year 2011 has been satisfactory. Management reports that all Authority facilities have functioned well throughout the year with no extraordinary operational or maintenance problems encountered.
Meadowbrook Road Water Pollution Control Plant
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a new five year NPDES permit effective September 1, 2008 and will expire on August 31, 2013 with no changes to the existing permit except for one change to the Total Residual Chlorine limit which went from 0.04 mg/l to 0.03 mg/l. Flows treated by this facility have been within the permitted design (4.9 MGD) limit and have averaged 4.20 MGD for the first nine months of 2011.
There were no major mechanical or electrical problems experienced at the Meadowbrook Road plant during 2011. All mechanical and electrical problems experienced were of the preventive and corrective maintenance type normally associated with the extended use of mechanical/electrical equipment.
Sewer System
Authority personnel conduct a thorough preventive maintenance program on the sewage collection and conveyance systems each year. During 2011, personnel routinely inspected various manholes and flushed various sewer lines to determine the structural integrity of the system and to locate any blockages or flow restrictions.
The Authority started a new infiltration/inflow program (sewer lateral inspection) in an effort to locate and remove sources of infiltration/inflow from the sewer system in 2010. During Fiscal Year 2011, (January through October), 189 homes were inspected, 38 failed and were repaired, and 8 are presently being repaired.
Pumping Stations
The sewage pumping stations owned and operated by the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority performed admirably during 2011. No major corrective maintenance tasks were necessary during the year; however, the force main for the main pump station is scheduled to be replaced next year. The same preventive maintenance program employed at the treatment plant is also utilized at the pumping stations.
Administration
There were no problems with the office as to billing or normal administrative work during the year 2011.
Permits
A NPDES Permit for the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority Meadowbrook Road Plant was issued on August 6, 2008, effective September 1, 2008. Below is a summary of the status of all pertinent Authority permits:
Plant NPDESPermit No. Expiration Date
Franklin Township Municipal PA 0025674 August 31, 2013*
Sanitary Authority APS I.D. No. 593546
Meadowbrook Road Sewage Treatment Plant
Franklin Township Municipal General Permit
* This new Permit is identical as the October 10, 2001 Permit, except that the total chlorine limit was reduced from 0.04 mg/l to 0.03 mg/l.
Recommendations for Operation and Maintenance During Fiscal Year 2010
After reviewing the operational and maintenance status of all Authority facilities with the Authority Manager, we recommend that the following items be addressed during Fiscal Year 2011. These items, if successfully completed, should result in the continued efficient and effective performance of Authority facilities and functions:
•Continue the infiltration/inflow remedial program conducted in recent years in an effort to locate and eliminate obvious sources of infiltration/inflow which presently enter the sewer system of the Authority.
• Initiate the implementation of Municipality of Murrysville's Act 537 Plan, mandatory cleaning of septic tanks.
• Work with Delmont and Salem on Salems Act 537 Plan.
• Work with Export on Combined Sewer Overflows and infiltration/inflow.
• Complete EPA Vulnerability Assessment.
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