SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - The Schuylkill Haven Sewer Committee recommended the approval of a $1.24 million project to address an issue with full pipes.
The sewer system serves the western part of the borough and parts of North Manheim and Wayne townships.
"I think it will solve a lot of our problems down in that area," said Paul Bedway, chairman of the three-person sewer committee composed of two other borough council members, Jerry Bowman and Donald Gerber.
The council was shown a presentation by Donald Cuff, project manager for Entech Engineering, Pottsville, earlier this month about the proposal.
A wastewater conveyance study was done earlier this year, which recommended a gravity line of 24 inches. The line would be from the Stoyer's Dam area to St. Charles Street. The increased line would allow for 3 million extra gallons a day for the sewer plant. Graver said he did not know the capacity of the plant.
Also recommended was the replacement of an 8-inch line on St. Charles Street with a 12-inch line because the smaller size is limited in what it can handle upstream, Cuff said.
Five houses in the borough could also be connected as a result of the work, officials said.
In a 15-minute meeting Thursday, committee members asked questions of Cuff.
Mayor Mike Devlin, borough Manager Scott Graver, council President Marlin Berger Jr. and Richard Croneberger, water distributor and wastewater collection foreman for the borough, also attended the meeting. No members of the public attended.
Graver said the proposal for the project will be on the agenda at the borough council's November work session.
Berger said after the meeting that "it will probably be approved."
Funding for the project will come from a prior bond issue. Cuff said if the project is approved in November, it could go out for bid next year and possibly be completed by the end of the year. He said the construction will take about nine months.
Gerber said three previous proposals involved things like pump stations and other measures, and would require much more maintenance by the borough. He did not have cost estimates for those other proposals.
"It will give us the least cost down the road," Gerber said of the proposal by Entech.