Sewerage authority to conduct dye testing
BULLSKIN TWP. — The engineer for the Bulllskin Township Connellsville Township Joint Sewerage Authority will conduct dye testing as early as next week to several homes along Buttermore Boulevard in Connellsville Township experiencing water problems.
The authority on Wednesday heard from David and Jessica Ryan, who said their basement has continued to flood through the floor drains about five times during the seven years they have lived there.
The Ryans claimed three of their neighbors also have the same problem.
“It’s interesting,” said Pat Stefano, authority chairman.
Stefano was surprised when Ryan said that backflow preventors put on the sewage line appeared to have no bearing on the problem.
David Ryan went on to say that the flooding tends to occur every time there is a hard rain, which has caused the couple to lose everything in their basement.
“The issue is the basement drains that tie into the overflow of the water line that comes out,” said Ryan.
According to the Ryans, the main pipe along the road seems to be unable to handle the water flow, causing it to vapor lock and go into his floor drains and shoot about three feet in the air.
“Where that line goes is the key to whose problem it is and what the solution is,” said Glenn Wolfe, vice president of Widmer Engineering.
Wolfe said the problem could be related to a wildcat sewer system in that area that would have been connected to the storm sewer line prior to the installation of the authority’s sanitary sewer lines.
Jessica Ryan said she had a video of the water shooting a manhole cover off in front of Miedel’s Restaurant from the last rain.
Stefano said he had a bad feeling that someone may be tapped into the storm drain, which could be contributing to the flooding.
“Hopefully, we’ll find out where (the dye) goes,” said Wolfe.
In other business, the authority learned from Julie Paull, office manager, that 903 customers were billed at $43,350 with no delinquencies for July.
The authority also entered into an agreement with the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County for water shut-offs.