Project Updates

The area served by the Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority is an older, highly developed urban area. Portions of the sewer system were installed many years ago. At that point in time, it was a common practice for the sewer systems in river cities such as Pottsville to be constructed as combined sewers. In combined sewers, sanitary discharges and storm water run-off are discharged into the same underground pipe. This pipe eventually discharges to the wastewater treatment plant. During periods of heavy rainfall, large amounts of storm water entering the system can overwhelm the wastewater treatment plant. Additionally, excess flows in the system can cause basement back-ups and overflow discharges to the Schuylkill River.

As the City and the surrounding communities evolved over time, separate storm sewers and sanitary sewers were often installed in the newer areas of the communities; however, the older sections of these communities are still serviced by combined sewers. Because of environmental and public health concerns about combined sewer overflows, including basement flooding and direct discharges of untreated waste to nearby water bodies, State and Federal environmental officials have pushed older communities to develop combined sewer overflow strategies to manage the environmental and public health risks associated with these overflows.

The Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority is implementing a two-pronged strategy for managing its combined sewer overflows. The Authority’s strategy includes upgrading and expanding the wastewater treatment plant to handle higher flows. It also involves undertaking sewer separation in select areas of the Authority’s service area. Sewer separation is the practice of separating combined sewers into separate sewers for sanitary discharges and storm water flows. This essentially involves installing dedicated pipes for each type of flow. In order to be successful, an effective sewer separation program involves more than just installing additional pipes in the street. It also requires the cooperation of homeowners and businesses in disconnecting storm water sources from the sanitary sewer. In the Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority’s service area, separation of the sanitary and storm water drains is required by ordinance.

Major sources of storm water in the sanitary sewer include catch basins/area drains, foundation drains, sump pumps, downspouts, and rainwater leaders from roof drains. Storm water sources such as these should not discharge into the sanitary sewer. Storm water should either discharge to the ground or be piped to a dedicated storm sewer pipe.

In most cases, disconnecting downspouts is a simple and inexpensive undertaking.  Disconnection is frequently accomplished as a do-it-yourself project using common materials available at many home improvement stores.  In cases where the downspouts or rain water leaders interconnect with the sanitary sewer line, a licensed plumber should be consulted.

Basement sump pumps which collect groundwater from around the building foundation and other basement sources should be disconnected from the sanitary sewer. If the sump pump discharge is rerouted to open ground, care should be taken to ensure that the discharge is not directed on to neighboring property or to low lying areas around the structure that could cause seepage back into the basement. A licensed plumber can help you choose the best location for the sump outlet.

In some instances, it may be necessary or advisable to plug basement floor drains. Plugs are plastic or metal devices fitted into floor drains to prevent water back-up.  They are useful to prevent flooding from backed up sewer lines. A licensed plumber can provide assistance in plugging basement floor drains.