Council authorizes solicitor to draft guidance for homeowners on pipe bursting and lining as sewer rehabilitation options

On June 19, the Manor Borough Council discussed proposed updates to sewer rules and regulations and authorized the borough solicitor to draft guidance that residents can use to complete sewer-lateral repairs using either pipe bursting or pipe lining.

Engineer Ed Antonacci told the council that pipe bursting had been successful on recent mainline projects in the borough, including a mainline replacement under a house on Atlantic Avenue completed without property damage; he also said recent projects using pipe lining had performed well. Council member Chuck Charrie raised concerns about bellies (depressions in a pipe) and said he wanted the discussion to focus on available options rather than prescriptive regulations. Borough Manager Joseph Lapia said the decision about repairing a sewer lateral should be the resident's responsibility and that it should pass inspection.

Council then authorized Solicitor Bob Zunich to prepare a document residents can use when choosing to burst or line a lateral; the motion was made by Chuck Charrie, seconded by Jim Vacha, and carried unanimously. The solicitor's guidance is intended to clarify responsibilities for property maintenance, inspection requirements and the distinction between police-enforceable property-maintenance matters and building-inspector responsibilities.

Council did not adopt a final revision of the sewer rules at the meeting; Council's authorization was limited to drafting resident-facing guidance and clarifying the scope of obligations and inspections.