DEP proposes Brownsville authority enter new consent order
BROWNSVILLE – The state Department of Environmental Protection is proposing that the Brownsville Municipal Authority enter into a new consent order. Solicitor Ernest DeHaas said it will be the third agreement that the authority has had with the DEP since the state agency ordered the authority to either flood-proof its existing treatment plant or construct a new one outside of the flood plain. The authority needs to make other upgrades to comply with the DEP requirements, including reducing the amount of storm water entering the sewer system and ascertaining that the pump stations throughout the system can handle the amount of wastewater flowing through them.
DeHaas said he still hasn’t received a first draft of any proposed new consent order.
He noted that Brownsville Borough has an ordinance prohibiting roof drains from going into the sanitary sewer system. Notices are being sent out to residents who are in violation of that ordinance. Under the law, violators have 45 days to remedy the situation before facing legal action.
Engineer Rusty Mechling said a flow meter has been installed at one of the pump stations, as required by the DEP. The state agency also is asking the municipal authority to get more information from Pennsylvania-American Water Co. regarding the company’s sludge discharges, which the authority treats.
Plant manager James Knisley said the only area of Brownsville that still needs to be smoke tested is the downtown. Authority Chairman Fred Provance said the DEP was concerned about the possibility of the roof drains from the downtown buildings possibly being connected to the sewer system. Knisley said the testing probably would be done next week.
At the request of the authority, Fayette Engineering will present an overview of the system upgrades and new plant plans at the authority’s next meeting, scheduled for 1 p.m. Feb. 5.
Under reorganization, the authority decided to continue meeting twice a month, on the first Wednesday at 1 p.m. and on the third Thursday at 7 p.m., though the February evening meeting will be held at 5 p.m.