Date: Fri 22-Dec-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

sewers-Main-St-WPCA

Full Text:

WPCA Approves Drilling Technique For Main St Sewers

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) members have approved using an

innovative drilling technique to install gravity-powered sanitary sewers along

a large section of the east side of Main Street.

WPCA members December 18 approved using directional drilling to install sewers

to limit damage to the stately trees along the east side of the thoroughfare.

The decision ostensibly concludes a longstanding controversy over where sewer

lines for the east side of the street should be placed.

In early 1993, WPCA members expected that sewers would be placed beneath the

street. But after learning of state reservations about such a placement for

technical reasons, WPCA members opted to place the sewers beneath the turf

area lying between the street and houses.

But the Borough Board of Burgesses complained that placing sewers there could

damage stately trees along the street through root damage caused by open pit

trenching. So, WPCA members then decided to place the sewers in backyards. But

last summer, some residents objected to that placement and urged that the

sewers be placed beneath the street. The WPCA then investigated directional

drilling as a sewer installation method.

In directional drilling, a continuous length of plastic sewer pipe is inserted

into a bore hole drilled between two pits, eliminating the need for open pit

trenching. Directional drilling limits tree root damage because sewer lines

are installed in bore holes lying beneath the tree roots.

At their December 18 session, WPCA members decided to use directional drilling

to install a sewer main from the west side to the east side Main Street near

#49 Main Street. They also agreed to use directional drilling beneath turf

areas from a point from just south of East Street to Church Hill Road and then

down a short section of Church Hill Road; and also from Church Hill Road to

Glover Avenue.

The WPCA approved conventional open-pit trenching for sewer installation

beneath the turf area on the east side of Main Street from Hanover Road to

East Street.

Peter Grose, sewer project manager for Fuss and O'Neill, the town's consulting

civil engineers, said the engineers would like additional information from

Main Street residents on where they want the sewer installers to place stub

lines. The stub lines extend from public sewer mains onto homeowners'

properties. In the future, the homeowners will alter their plumbing to direct

their wastewater into the stub lines.

Alteration

Borough Warden Joan Crick asked that the WPCA alter its sewer installation

plans to protect tree roots near the Kenyon residence at 62 Main Street.

After discussing the matter and considering the extra cost, WPCA Chairman

Peter Alagna said "I think we've done everything possible to protect the trees

along Main Street."

Public Works Director Fred Hurley said the decision to use directional

drilling for sewer installation means the town will have to obtain easements

from private property owners. Some easements will be needed for the excavation

of drilling pits, he said.

Mr Alagna said directional drilling will be used to install sewer hookup lines

to private properties, where necessary.

Bid specifications for the directional drilling work will be prepared. The

firm chosen to do the work will be selected through a competitive bidding

process.

Mr Grose said the engineers hope to start installing sewers along Main Street

in the spring.

The directional drilling technique was pioneered to extract the maximum amount

of petroleum from oil fields. It is used to install sewers in areas where

there are restrictions on excavation work to prevent site damage.