Wastewater Department Budget Narrative

The Wastewater Utilities Department is responsible for the continuous safe, environmentally protective and financially stable operation of the sanitary sewer collection system consisting of approximately 250 miles of pipe, 17 pump stations and the Fitzwatertown Road treatment plant in accordance with PaDEP and U.S EPA regulations, the NPDES permit, the DRBC effluent discharge Docket as well as several waste handling and material disposal general permits. The sanitary sewer collection system and the treatment plant are considered public utilities and are regulated similar to other public utilities such as water, gas and electric. The 2023 plant average annual flow was 2.963 million gallons per day (mgd), which is 76% of the plant’s 3.910 mgd hydraulic capacity. The 2023 annual average flow discharging to AQUA Pa (new owner of Cheltenham Township sanitary sewers) was 1.261 MGD, which is 17% of our average daily permitted capacity of 7.176 mgd. The third drainage area flows directly to the Philadelphia Water Department’s Pennypack Interceptor. The measured 2023 annual average flow for the Pennypack Area was 1.637 mgd or 55% of the 2.97 mgd permit limit.

Goal: All equipment and infrastructure will be maintained and operated in a manner that will ensure reliability and longevity. Predictive asset management is utilized to schedule required equipment maintenance, preventative routines, and repairs. (Focus Area: Sustainable Infrastructure (SI))

• Strategy #1: Personnel staffing. (SI 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5)
  • Method #1: The maintenance mechanics and electrician will complete all routine predictive maintenance and corrective maintenance work at the wastewater treatment plant and collection system pumping stations, as well as troubleshoot and calibrate motors, pumps, blowers, gear drives, mechanical collectors, dry and wet chemical feed systems, and electrical / electronic systems.
  • Method #2: The Collection System operators will regulate the various mechanical, hydraulic, physical, structural, and electrical operations of the collection system piping, manholes, and pumping stations. The operators will also complete all routine predictive maintenance and emergency repairs to ensure that all features of the collection system are functioning at their maximum efficiency. Contract for sewer pipe joint testing and chemical sealing to eliminate root intrusions into the pipe to prevent blockages.
  • Method #3: Continue to replace aging pump station electrical and instrumentation systems and upgrade to the current best available technologies for equipment protection monitoring and operational predictive maintenance.

Goal: Education to all property owners regarding the detrimental effects of flushing grease, fats, rags, wipes and other similar foreign materials as well as used drugs into the sewer system. (Focus Area: Excellent Public Services (EPS))

• Strategy #1: Teach people to be aware of and respect the sewer system that services their homes and businesses. (EPS 1 & 4)
  • Method #1: Provide informative information on the Township website including that sanitary sewer pipes are small and sized only for water flow. When foreign objects such as cleaning hand wipes, baby wipes, cloth rags, paper towels, plastic items, garbage from kitchen disposals and cooking oils and grease are flushed down the drain or toilet, the pipes will get clogged. These items must be disposed in the trash.
  • Method #2: Post information on the Government Access Channel, social media, and other direct message media to the public to NEVER flush any of these objects down the drains and wipe all oil coated cookware with a paper towel and dispose in the trash prior to washing.
  • Method # 3: Direct messages and information notices to NEVER flush medicines or supplements down the drain. The pills will dissolve and eventually pollute the streams and contaminate downstream drinking water intakes. Drop off sites are available at most pharmacies to properly dispose of un-used medicines.

Goal: Inspection of sewers in off road areas as part of the Wastewater Department’s asset management efforts. The intent of the project is to locate and open each manhole for a visual inspection of the conditions of this important Township asset. This inspection is essential for condition monitoring, maintaining the sewer system and preventing issues, such as blockages and back-ups. (Focus Area: Sustainable Infrastructure (SI))

• Strategy #1: On site access clearing, flushing sewers and location of manholes and their visual inspection. (SI 1 & 3)
  • Method #1: Property owners are sent a letter and a door hanger notifying them that their property is within twenty (20) feet of a sanitary sewer line and Township personnel may need to cross their property from the road or through their rear yard, for access and then inspect sanitary sewer manholes.
  • Method #2: The same information in the letter is posted on the Township’s website with question and answers and a graphic map.

Goal: Continue our participation with the Wissahickon Clean Water Partnership’s efforts to investigate the Sandy Run creek and the Wissahickon Watershed to provide information relative to identifying the criteria effecting the stream’s Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) and to propose methods to improve the habitat. (Focus Area: Sustainable Infrastructure (SI))

• Strategy #1: Measure and evaluate the water quality in the watershed as an alternative to the May 2015 EPA Draft Total Phosphorous TMDL for the Wissahickon Creek Watershed. (SI 4 & 5)
  • Method #1: The Partnership submitted a draft Water Quality Improvement Plan to the EPA on September 30, 2020. PaDEP responded with comments in July 2020. The Partnership has continued to develop more detailed analysis of the hydrology of the watershed and is utilizing information from similar urban watersheds in Chester County to prioritize the features of most concern in the Wissahickon Watershed. Several meetings with PaDEP and EPA specialists are ongoing to more accurately pin point the planning for improving the watershed.

• Abington owns and operates a wastewater treatment plant located on Fitzwatertown Road, which receives sanitary flows from the western third of the township. The continued 100% reliability of all process equipment must be maintained to ensure our final effluent is sufficiently clean for discharge to the Sandy Run Creek.
  • The areas east of Edge Hill Road are conveyed directly to the Philadelphia Water Department’s (PWD) Pennypack interceptor and the southern areas of the township flow into the Cheltenham Township interceptor system, which is also conveyed to PWD.
  • Abington Township provides bulk wastewater treatment service to the Townships of Cheltenham, Springfield, Upper Dublin (Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority), Lower Moreland, Upper Moreland, the Borough of Rockledge and a small portion of Jenkintown Borough. The coordination of sanitary services with all adjacent municipalities and the preparation of annual financial reimbursement invoices is our responsibility.

• The Wastewater Treatment Plant was issued an updated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No. PA0026867 in May 2022. The permit lists all water quality parameters the treatment process must achieve for the effluent discharge to the Sandy Run Creek in Watershed No. 3F. The permit requires the following:
  • Authority is governed by the Clean Water Act with more detailed regulations under 40 CFR Code § 122, 25 PA Code §§ 92 and Delaware River Basin Commission Docket D-1973-191 CP-5.
  • Preparation of the annual Municipal Wasteload Management Report in accordance with 25 PA Code Chapter 94, which is prepared by the Director rather than consultants.
  • Employ Best Management Practices (BMP) for all activities on the plant site.
  • Proper disposal of all Wastewater biosolds and residual wastes generated by the treatment processes.
  • Conduct continuous measurement and representative sampling of influent and effluent flows and prepare and preserve composite samples for laboratory analysis on a biweekly, monthly, and quarterly schedule.
  • Complete the electronic Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) each month and report any non-compliance, process bypassing, equipment failures, and sanitary sewer overflows within 24 hours; with a written report submitted within 5 days.
  • Employ operators that are required to be certified in accordance with the Water and Wastewater System Operators Certification Act (63 P.S. §§ 1001-1015.1)
  • Cooperate with PaDEP and EPA officials during plant and sewer system inspections.
  • Continue to sample the raw influent wastewater at the treatment plant for the Pennsylvania Department of Health for COVID-19 monitoring. 

• Review and approve new land development and residential, commercial, and institutional sanitary improvements and connections to the sanitary sewer system in Abington and adjacent municipalities. Obtain management’s, Planning Commission, and Board of Commissioners approvals and submit properly completed applications to PaDEP for their review and approval.

• Coordinate and assist all departments with land development, new projects, and renovation of existing properties with respect to providing proper sanitary sewer disposal.

• Coordinate with Federal, Pennsylvania, and Montgomery County governing agencies, developers, private consultants, legal advisors, and property owners in all sewer matters within Abington and associated adjacent communities.

• Promptly respond to questions from the public, developers, schools, and governing agencies. Participate with the PaOne Call Utility notification system.

   
• Assist the Finance and Tax Departments with the preparation of the annual sewer bill portion of property tax bills. Prepare reports, calculations, and approvals to adjust improperly billed properties and properties with water water-related metering errors.

• Prepare annual operating, capital, and revenue budgets for the Wastewater Department.

• Coordinate the management of daily operational expense accounting and documentation with the Finance Department and the Office of the Township Manager.

• Prepare Board Action Requests and supporting documentation for approval by the Board of Commissioners as required during the year. Prepare and submit proposed revisions to Abington’s regulations regarding sanitary sewer system construction specifications and operation.

• Research and prepare applications for Federal, State, and County grants associated with sanitary sewer operation, rehabilitation, and new construction.

• Represent the interests of Abington relating to Federal, State, and County legislation on proposed regulatory and environmental matters.

• Maintain and enhance the safety of the sanitary system and treatment plant properties relating to employee safety, awareness, and training.

• All equipment and infrastructure will be maintained and operated in a manner that will ensure reliability and longevity. Predictive asset management is utilized to schedule required equipment maintenance, preventative routines, and repairs.

• Research and compare various equipment manufacturers for improvements in design, controls, electrical efficiency, operation, and maintenance at equipment replacement.

• Participate with the Wissahickon Clean Water Partnership’s efforts to investigate the Sandy Run Creek and the Wissahickon Watershed to provide information relative to identifying the criteria affecting the stream’s index of biological integrity (IBI) and to propose methods to improve the habitat.

• Pursue efforts at the treatment plant to enhance the biological operation of the treatment processes to improve the removal of nutrients in the effluent.

• Operate, maintain, and calibrate the seven permanent meters at the AQUA Pa (Cheltenham) connection sites. Continue the financial accounting and billing for the unmetered properties bordering Cheltenham Township along Mt. Carmel Ave. and the area of Township Line Road and Zane Avenue.

• Continue operation of portable open channel flow meters installed in strategic manhole locations throughout the township to monitor wet weather flows. Prepare and administer rehabilitation contracts for the reduction of I&I throughout the Township. Coordinate and apply for connection credits with AQUA, Pa (Cheltenham Township) and PaDEP and administer Abington’s portion of the Connection Management Plan (CMP).

• Proactive prevention of sewer line obstructions caused by cleaning wipes, root, and grease accumulation will be affected by the use of flushing, televising, and source control.

• Prompt emergency response to sewer line blockages and assist property owners and their plumbers with locating private sewers for cleaning and repairs.

• Assist the Public Works Department with storm sewer obstruction removal and cleaning. Continue the coordination of adjusting manhole castings associated with paving projects. Provide assistance to the Parks Department for building sewer operations.

• Assist Emergency Management with potential environmental effects from spills. Provide assistance with planning and response for electrical power interruptions with our portable generator to warming centers.

• Provide guidance for Community Development and Engineering projects regarding sanitary sewer system construction requirements, planning, design, installation, and rehabilitation.

Table of Contents

Budget Message

Sewer Fund