The authority is concerned about stormwater in Shippenville’s system overloading the authority’s treatment plant, but the latest data shows the borough has reduced the problem significantly.

Authority engineer Brian Sekula of the EADS Group ran the numbers: in 2005 Shippenville’s system had an average monthly flow of 37,000 gallons with a rainfall of 34.7 inches. In 2006, the flow was about 38,000 gallons with rainfall of 38.6 inches, and in 2007, the flow was 26,000 gallons with 42 inches of rain.

Cotherman said the borough did some work to reduce stormwater infiltration in September of 2007, and he was encouraged that a reduction for just one third of the year reduced the total annual sewer flows by more than 30 percent, while rainfall increased more than 10 percent. He said he is interested to see what a full year of data would show.

Assurances

Authority president Hunter McMeans said the results were encouraging, but he wanted assurances that the borough can keep stormwater reduced.

Cotherman said the borough has a lot of incentive to keep stormwater problems down, since the borough’s customers will pay based on the amount of drinking water used, as metered by Pennsylvania American Water Co.

But the borough will pay Paint-Elk based on the total amount of flow, including stormwater, into Paint-Elk’s system. “So it’s on our mind to avoid the extra burden and not waste money,” he said.

McMeans acknowledged this, but said some event could cause a large increase in stormwater flows from Shippenville, and this could cause unexpected costs for the sewage system. He asked if Shippenville would be willing to make a financial commitment to cover such costs.

Cotherman said he could not speak for council, but also said council is very interested in connecting to Paint-Elk, and would likely consider such a commitment.

Cotherman said he would find out the number of gallons the borough is charging for compared to the amount flowing into its treatment plant, along with other data.

Authority member Steve Smail asked if the authority could mandate that Shippenville would cover the cost of dealing with increased stormwater problems; Sekula said such an arrangement could be negotiated.

Rates and reductions

But the good stormwater numbers mean a higher estimated bulk sewage rate for Shippenville. Last month, at the higher flows, Sekula estimated the borough would need to pay $4 for every thousand gallons of sewage. At a lower flow, the rate increased to $4.95 per thousand gallons.

This is in addition to the roughly $1 million Shippenville would need to contribute to upgrade the Paint-Elk plant to handle the extra load from Shippenville.

Much of the treatment cost is based on the cost to treat sewage solids rather than stormwater and dispose of the sludge created; with a lower volume and a higher proportion of sewage solids, the cost per gallon rises.

Sekula recommended the authority not set a specific amount for the per-gallon charge, but to establish a formula to determine the rate.

Positive connection

Paint Township supervisors have expressed opposition to allowing Shippenville to connect to the system, saying this would reduce the capacity of the plant and limit development in Paint Township

But Authority member Gale Muir said the township supervisors “don’t have the right idea; they don’t understand that the extra money helps the system.”

McMeans agreed. “If we can make this thing run, we should do it.”

And Cotherman said then plan was much better than the alternative of completely replacing the borough’s treatment plant. The average homeowner’s sewer bill is now around $40 a month. Building a new treatment plant would push that up to as high as $90 a month.

“I see this plan as a better option for the borough financially and as a better option for our residents financially,” he said.

Elk Township supervisor Keith Etzel also favored the plan, as township homeowners along Route 208 both north and south of Shippenville and along Route 322 west of the borough would also be able to connect to the system.

Sekula said it would be much cheaper for those parts of Elk Township to connect through Shippenville than to run a separate line to the Paint-Elk treatment plant.

The board voted unanimously to move forward with the plan to connect Shippenville to the Paint-Elk system.