Town of Preeceville Water Table Briefing Note

Town of Preeceville Water Table Briefing Note

 

PURPOSE:

Preeceville has a high amount of groundwater and storm water entering our sewer system. Many homes have water that is dumped into the sewer system through improper connections, such as downspouts and groundwater sump pumps. The second main problem is groundwater that enters the sewer system through leaks in the sewer pipe itself. So the town has a problem and the homeowners have a problem.

 

CURRENT SITUATION: (BACKGROUND)

Systems: (2) Our storm sewers look after water on the surface of the ground. Rain and/or snow runoff along with our ground water should flow into this system and not into the waste water system. All of the storm water that gets into the sewer system is treated like sanitary water which cost all of us money. Often in wet years this water will cause sewer backups and treatment problems.

 Our main system is the sewer and is designed to transport wastewater inside our house and business.  Improper sewer connections are downspouts, sump pumps, foundation drains or any other ground/rain water problems. Our regulations require this water to be diverted to storm sewers or one of our drainage ditches.  Our sewer lines  will handle domestic wastewater flow from up to 150 homes but add in sump pumps and downspouts in only a few of these homes and we will have an overload problem.

 

 NEXT STEPS:

Considerations by homeowners:

·         Installation of a check valve in the basement sewer line

·          Removing improper connections to the sewer system

·         Install season drainage line to the street

 

Considerations by town:

·         Commissioned an Engineered Storm water  Plan

·         Review  permission from Department of Environment to divert storm water from  low areas during yearly runoff and rain fall

·         Identify and reduce storm water infiltration into sanitary system from all sources

·         Enforcement of sanitary/storm water separation regulations in new homes

Emergencies:

 Additional pumping equipment in case of emergencies is on hand and our Fire Department and works department will assist as needed

 

Outcome:

“Commissioned an Engineered Storm water Plan” “with the goal of lowering the overall water table in the town of Preeceville” “Save funds that we are spending on our waste water treatment” “Enable housing development of low areas of the town “  Mayor Harris

 

Draft Feb 2014