The new sewer plant in Honesdale is expected to be under construction in the spring of 2009 and take 18 to 24 months to complete, said Ed Petroski, consulting engineer with Entech Engineering and under contract by the Borough of Honesdale.
A conditional use hearing was held Monday at City Hall to give neighbors, and the Council, a chance to ask questions and give input on the possible impact from the expanded treatment facility.
Petroski said that the plant will be built with technology only 20 years old as opposed to the current facility, using technology as old as the plant which went into use in 1953 or 1954. He said that the new plant will meet current codes and will not adversely impact the neighbors.
David Lamberton, who lives across the river from the plant at the end of Bucks Cove Road, said the treatment plant has been a “good neighbor” but odor can be an issue on warm, humid summer nights/ “You get a ‘wet sweater effect’,” he said. There is also some brief but irritating equipment noise in the afternoon, which he hopes will be eliminated.
A new, higher degree of sewage treatment should address odors, said Petroski. Oxygen will be added to mitigate the smell.
Petroski stated that equipment will be housed in buildings and designed for significant sound reduction.. “We anticipate less sound than from the existing facility,” he said.
A neighbor to the plant, George Guida, asked assurance should any blasting be needed. Petroski said that test boring showed that there was not any rock bed that would require blasting. Furthermore, should blasting be required, controls would be needed to protect the sewage plant facility, which in turn would protect neighboring structures.
Jeff Southerton questioned if there would be a buffer zone of trees, or other border. Petroski replied that a fence would be put up as there is now, although trees could be planted in the future.
Lighting, Petroski added, would be directed within the plant and would not need to be on every night unless there were emergency repairs to do.
Council had questions about preservation of an area for the Honesdale Fire Department training grounds. Attorney Anthony Magnotta said that this issue has been addressed by the Central Wayne Regional Authority (CWRA), which now operates the plant. Petroski explained that the expansion required taking part of the grounds on the south end used by the Fire Department, but an area on the northwest end on the other side of the stream, will be available. Magnotta said he would advise the CWRA to pass a resolution at their next meeting designating this area for the Fire Department.
The new, $18 million treatment plant is being built under order of the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) signed four years ago, after a history of storm water infiltration problems. The existing plan is insufficient for future needs, said Petroski. In anticipation of area growth, the CWRA was organized this year, with a board representing the Borough of Honesdale, Cherry Ridge Township and Texas Township, which presently utilize the plant, and nonvoting members from Bethany Borough and Dyberry Township which may use the sewer in the future. The new plant will handle up to 2.2 million gallons per day, a 400,000 gpd increase.
Borough Council agreed to convene on Monday, December 1 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, to vote on whether to approve the conditional use application, with or without conditions.
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The new sewer plant in Honesdale is expected to be under construction in the spring of 2009 and take 18 to 24 months to complete, said Ed Petroski, consulting engineer with Entech Engineering and under contract by the Borough of Honesdale.
A conditional use hearing was held Monday at City Hall to give neighbors, and the Council, a chance to ask questions and give input on the possible impact from the expanded treatment facility.
Petroski said that the plant will be built with technology only 20 years old as opposed to the current facility, using technology as old as the plant which went into use in 1953 or 1954. He said that the new plant will meet current codes and will not adversely impact the neighbors.
David Lamberton, who lives across the river from the plant at the end of Bucks Cove Road, said the treatment plant has been a “good neighbor” but odor can be an issue on warm, humid summer nights/ “You get a ‘wet sweater effect’,” he said. There is also some brief but irritating equipment noise in the afternoon, which he hopes will be eliminated.
A new, higher degree of sewage treatment should address odors, said Petroski. Oxygen will be added to mitigate the smell.
Petroski stated that equipment will be housed in buildings and designed for significant sound reduction.. “We anticipate less sound than from the existing facility,” he said.
A neighbor to the plant, George Guida, asked assurance should any blasting be needed. Petroski said that test boring showed that there was not any rock bed that would require blasting. Furthermore, should blasting be required, controls would be needed to protect the sewage plant facility, which in turn would protect neighboring structures.
Jeff Southerton questioned if there would be a buffer zone of trees, or other border. Petroski replied that a fence would be put up as there is now, although trees could be planted in the future.
Lighting, Petroski added, would be directed within the plant and would not need to be on every night unless there were emergency repairs to do.
Council had questions about preservation of an area for the Honesdale Fire Department training grounds. Attorney Anthony Magnotta said that this issue has been addressed by the Central Wayne Regional Authority (CWRA), which now operates the plant. Petroski explained that the expansion required taking part of the grounds on the south end used by the Fire Department, but an area on the northwest end on the other side of the stream, will be available. Magnotta said he would advise the CWRA to pass a resolution at their next meeting designating this area for the Fire Department.
The new, $18 million treatment plant is being built under order of the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) signed four years ago, after a history of storm water infiltration problems. The existing plan is insufficient for future needs, said Petroski. In anticipation of area growth, the CWRA was organized this year, with a board representing the Borough of Honesdale, Cherry Ridge Township and Texas Township, which presently utilize the plant, and nonvoting members from Bethany Borough and Dyberry Township which may use the sewer in the future. The new plant will handle up to 2.2 million gallons per day, a 400,000 gpd increase.
Borough Council agreed to convene on Monday, December 1 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, to vote on whether to approve the conditional use application, with or without conditions.
