Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sewer Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Longswamp engineer outlines Act 537 options; pump station may cost roughly $1 million
Summary
Township Engineer Jill Smith told the Board on Nov. 11 that options under the Act 537 plan include connecting some areas to Topton (pending easements), installing a conventional pump station (roughly $1 million) or using low‑pressure grinder pumps costing about $20,000–$25,000 per property; grants and talks with Topton will be necessary before implementation.
Township Engineer Jill Smith told the Longswamp Township Board of Supervisors on Nov. 11 that the township's Act 537 planning is underway and that several technical and cost options remain on the table.
Jill Smith said some neighborhoods could potentially connect into Topton’s sewer if easements can be obtained, but low points — including Park Ave. (Group D) — would likely require either a pump station or a low‑pressure system that depends on grinder pumps at individual properties. Smith described a grinder‑pump alternative as roughly $20,000–$25,000 per property plus collection costs and said a conventional pump station would be “roughly a million dollars.” She said her office is developing cost estimates for each option and is researching archived property surveys to inform routing and easement needs.
The engineer recommended pursuing grant funding to reduce costs and initiating talks with Topton officials about their willingness to accept township connections. She said that, because of topography and infrastructure limits, the township can likely serve only a limited number of properties without substantial capital work.
Board members asked for timing and cost details; Smith said she hopes to present a more complete set of plans and cost estimates at the December Board of Supervisors meeting and emphasized that grant applications will probably be necessary before any major construction begins.
Next steps: Smith will continue cost estimating and outreach to Topton; the board did not take formal action on a preferred route at the Nov. 11 meeting.
