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Westtown Township Draft Act 537 Plan
BACKGROUND
Act 537 Plans
2006 - Westtown Act 537 Plan
2007 - Act 537 Plan Implementation Meetings
2007 – 2010 Township Considers Options
2011 – DEP Consent Order and Agreement
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OVERVIEW OF DRAFT
ACT 537 PLAN TOPICS
Area Studied
Evaluation of Existing Conditions
Identification of Areas Needing Public Sewer
Sewer System Alternatives
Projected Costs
On-lot Sewage Management Program
Projected Timing
Next Steps
Westtown Township Draft Act 537 Plan
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EXISTING CONDITIONS
EVALUATED
Soils
Age of Neighborhoods
Lot Sizes
Chester County Health Department
Records
Westtown Township Draft Act 537 Plan
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IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS
NEEDING PUBLIC SEWER
Overall Results of All Four Conditions Evaluated
Soils
Age of Neighborhoods
Lot Sizes
CCHD Records
Additional Factors Considered
Feasible Project Size
WWTP Capacity
Limit Risks to Residents
Westtown Township Draft Act 537 Plan
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SEWER SYSTEM ALTERNATIVES
Gravity Sewer System
Low Pressure Sewer System
Westtown Township Draft Act 537 Plan
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GRAVITY SEWER SYSTEM
8” and Larger Pipes
Pipes Installed by Open Trenching
Manholes Needed at Regular Pipe Intervals
Large Pumping Stations Needed Where
Gravity Flow Cannot Continue
Westtown Township Draft Act 537 Plan
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GRAVITY SEWER INSTALLATION
Deeper Excavation
Shallow Excavation
Westtown Township Draft Act 537 Plan
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LOW PRESSURE SEWER SYSTEM
Smaller Diameter Flexible Piping
Generally Installed by Directional Drilling –
Very Little Excavation Needed
Shallow Pipe Depths – Can Follow Ground
Contour
Pressurized by Individual On-Lot Grinder Pump
Units
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COMPARISON OF GRAVITY AND
LOW PRESSURE SEWER SYSTEMS
Cost
Neighborhood Disturbance
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Right of Way
GP
Westtown Township Draft Act 537 Plan
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NEIGHBORHOOD
DISTURBANCE
LOW PRESSURE
SEWER SYSTEM
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GRINDER PUMP HOMEOWNER
CONSIDERATIONS
Electric Costs - $22/Year Average
Maintenance
Power Outages
Westtown Township Draft Act 537 Plan
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SELECTED PUBLIC SEWER ALTERNATIVE
Low pressure sewer system to serve identified areas due
to much lower costs
All homes within 150’ of road R.O.W. required to
connect
Homes greater than 150’ from R.O.W. may choose to
connect
Grinder pumps will be owned and maintained by
property owners
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TOTAL PROJECTED COSTS
Upgrade Existing Sewers - $3,800,000
Install Neighborhood Sewer Systems -
$8,500,000
Total Project Costs - $12,300,000
All costs are preliminary estimates. Actual costs may vary.
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PROJECTED HOMEOWNER COSTS
Initial Township Fees – approx. $6,000
Annual User Fees - $800 to $900
Septic system abandonment, grinder pump and
lateral installation - $4,000 to $5,000
Township will provide list of qualified
contractors
Westtown Township Draft Act 537 Plan
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COST COMPARISON
2007 vs. 2012
2007 Gravity 2012
Sewer Project* Act 537 Plan
Initial Fees $11,000 - $13,000 $6,000
Other Homeowner Costs $2,750 - $10,000 $4,000 - $5000
Total initial costs $13,750 - $23,000 $10,000 - $11,000
Annual User Fees $1,100 - $1,300 $800 - $900
*2007 costs - 2012 equivalent would be higher due to inflation
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ON-LOT SEWAGE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
All Township residents who will continue to be
served by on-lot systems will be required to maintain
their systems
Required system pump-outs at least every 3 years
Visual inspection by pumper at time of pump-out
Township will provide educational materials to assist
with understanding maintenance needs
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PROJECTED SCHEDULE
September 2012 – Submit Act 537 Plan to DEP
February 2013 – DEP Approval Estimated
April 2013 – Start Design Work
August 2013 –Start On-Lot Sewage Management Program
Summer/Fall 2014 – Start Construction*
Fall 2015 – Public Sewer Connections Begin
2018 to 2023 – Additional Act 537 Planning
*Township will present updated information to residents before construction starts
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ACT 537 PLAN NEXT STEPS
April to July - Township Considers Your Comments
July - Draft Act 537 Plan Finalized
July - Public Notice in Daily Local News Allowing for 30 day
Written Comment Period for all Residents
July to September - Required Agency Reviews
Westtown Planning Commission CCPC CCHD
September - Final Plan Adopted by Board of Supervisors and
Submitted to DEP
Westtown Township Draft Act 537 Plan