Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

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1 Q1. Why is this project being performed? Frequently Asked Questions and Answers The project, located on Smokehouse Lane, Garalyn Road, Cotswold Drive, and a portion of Appletree Road, is being performed to remove infiltration from the sanitary sewer system as required under a Corrective Action Plan approved by PA Department of Environmental Protection. Infiltration is groundwater and snow melt that is entering into the sanitary sewer system through pipe cracks, misalign pipe joints, broken pipe, and leaking manholes. Infiltration can occur in sewer mains, manholes, and private sewer pipes. Q2. Do I have to participate in this project? No. But if you are unwilling to participate and your private sewer pipe is determined to be leaking, the cost to repair or replace the private sewer pipe will be your responsibility in accordance with the Authority s Rules/Resolutions and the Township Ordinances. If you are not willing to participate, we ask that you promptly communicate this decision to the Authority. Q3. I cannot remember if I signed the agreement to participate in this project. How can I find out? Please contact the Authority office at or the Authority s engineer, GHD, Kevin Fox, at Q4. I am a new property owner in the project area, how do I participate in this program? Please contact the Authority office at or the Authority s engineer, GHD, Kevin Fox, at to request a Consent and Release letter. This letter describes the project and contains a consent and release form. After your review of the letter and understanding of the project, please mail your signed consent and release form back to the Authority. Q5. What is meant by the service lateral and building sewer (private sewer lateral)? The service lateral is the sewer pipe that is located from the sewer main to the curb/ road right-ofway line. The building sewer is the sewer pipe from the curb/ road right-of-way line to the outside wall of your building (e.g. home, business). Collectively, the service lateral and building sewer are known as the private sewer lateral. The service lateral and the building sewer are owned by you, the property owner. The property owner is responsible for the repairs and maintenance of the private sewer lateral. Susquehanna Township Authority owns, operates, and maintains the sewer mains; not the private sewer laterals. Q6. When will the contractor know if my private sewer pipe needs to be rehabilitated? The contractor will not know if your private sewer pipe needs to be rehabilitated until your pipe is exposed at the curb/ road right-of-way line in order to determine the pipe material and the condition of the pipe.

2 Q7. How does the Authority determine of the building sewer is leaking, and how do they repair or replace the pipe? To determine if your building sewer may be leaking, the Authority s contractor will excavate at the curb / road right-of-way line to determine the condition and pipe material of your existing building sewer. Depending upon the condition of the existing building sewer an air test may be performed by the contractor on your existing building sewer from curb / road right-of-way line to the inside of your home/building. If there is a cleanout accessible in your basement or immediately outside your house/building, the line can be tested without additional excavation. If not, the Authority may need to make a second excavation of the lateral adjacent to your house/building to conduct the air test. If the air test passes then, the contractor will only need to construct a cleanout at the curb line and no other disturbance on your property will be required. A cleanout is a vertical pipe leading from the ground to the building sewer. If the air test fails, then the contractor will replace the existing building sewer pipe by excavating your property to dig down to the existing pipe and replace the existing pipe with a new plastic pipe from the curb / road right-of-way line to your home. The contractor will also construct a cleanout at the curb / road right-of-way line and immediately outside your house/building. Q8. Where is my private sewer pipe located in my yard? The Authority does not know the location of your private sewer pipe because the pipe does not belong to the Authority (Refer to Question 5). The Authority s contractor will not know the location of the pipe in your yard until they replace your private sewer pipe from the sewer main to the curb. Once the contractor replaces the pipe to the curb, they will enter your home, with your consent and with you present, to determine the location(s) where the sewer pipe exits your home. The sewer pipe may go in a straight line, in a slant, or a zigzag from the curb to where the pipe exits the home. Since the location of the private sewer pipe is not known prior to the work in your yard, existing bushes and trees between the curb line and the home may need to be removed. Prior to commencing the work by the Authority, you should remove from the yard, all trees, bushes, shrubs, ornamental plants and flowers that you desire to preserve. The Authority s contractor will not replant or replace trees, bushes, shrubs, ornamental plants or flowers. Q9. Do I have to pay for my private sewer pipe to be rehabilitated? The property owner does not need to pay for their private sewer pipe to be rehabilitated if the property owner signs and returns the agreement prepared by the Authority. The Authority s offer to perform this work for the property owner is only valid when the Authority is performing a sewer rehabilitation project in your neighborhood. Q10. Do I have to be at home when the contractor rehabilitates my private sewer pipe? No. However, the contractor will need to enter your home with you present prior to working on your property to locate the main sewer pipe that exits your home through the wall or floor. The contractor s foreman will be working ahead of the construction crew to visit the homes. Arrangements with the property owner will be made by the contractor to enter your home at a mutually convenient day and time.

3 Q11. Do I need to move bushes, flowers, trees before the contractor performs work in my yard? Yes. Any plant, flowers and trees that the property owner would like to keep/protect are to be moved by the property owner prior to the contractor performing work on your property. Refer to Question 8 (Q8.) above. Q12. Will the contractor and/or the Authority replace the plants and trees that are removed as part of this project? No. This is the responsibility of the property owner. Q13. Can I use the facilities (sinks, showers, toilets, washing machine) when the contractor is replacing the sewer main and rehabilitating my private sewer pipe, if needed? When the contractor is replacing the sewer main in the street, you may use your facilities as you would normally do so. When the contractor is working on your private sewer pipe, however, we ask you to minimize your use until the work is completed on your property. Q14. How long does it take to rehabilitate a private sewer pipe? If the private sewer pipe is being replaced, it typically takes half a day to a day to complete. Sometimes the contractor will start to replace a private sewer pipe late in the day, temporarily connect it to the sewer main at the end of their workday and complete the work the next morning. If this occurs, the property owner may use their facilities during the evening as they normally would. Q15. Will I be able to use my driveway when they are working on my street? Yes. The contractor will work with you but there is a possibility that you may be delayed in leaving and/or returning because the contractor has to move their equipment, materials, or cover the excavation. The Authority asks the property owners to either minimize the number of trips in and out of your driveway or park on another street during the day. The Authority appreciates your cooperation and patience. When the contractor is working on your private sewer pipe (refer to question 5 for the explanation of the private sewer pipe), the existing private sewer pipe that is rehabilitated may cross your driveway or may be located under your driveway. If this is the case, you may not be able to use your driveway until the contractor has rehabilitated your private sewer pipe. The contractor will notify you before work is performed on your private sewer pipe. Q16. What kind of restoration will be performed after the contractor performs work in my yard, if needed? The Authority will, upon completion of the corrective work, perform rough grading and seeding to restore the area. It is responsibility of the property owner to water the restored seeded area.

4 Neither the Authority nor its contractor will return to water the seeded area. During winter months, final repair of driveways, grading and seeding cannot be completed. Consequently, a temporary cold patch material will be used in the interim for the driveways and grading and seeding will be performed in the spring. The Authority will only repair the actual areas of disturbance. The grading and seeding performed by the Authority will be a onetime final restoration and any future restoration of grading and seeding will be the responsibility of the property owner. The Authority will use all reasonable efforts to have such repair work performed in a good and workmanlike manner to minimize evidence of repair but, due in large part to wear and age, exact matching of repair work is not guaranteed. Q17. The contractor rehabilitated my private sewer. What are the white cap located near my home and the circular cast iron lid located near the curb / road right-of-way line? Can I cover these lids with grass/bark? These are known as cleanouts. A cleanout is a vertical pipe that leads to your private sewer pipe. If, in the future, you have a problem with a clog a plumber can use the cleanouts to unblock your sewer pipe. The Authority does not recommend covering the cleanout covers. However, it is the property owner s decision if they want to cover their cleanouts. Q18. Will emergency vehicles (e.g. police, ambulances, fire trucks) have access to our street, if needed? Yes. The contractor has steel plates which can be placed over the excavation so that emergency vehicles can access the area. In addition, the Authority communicates with Susquehanna Township Police, Fire Departments, and Dauphin County Control during the project. Q19. Will school buses be able to travel down the street? Yes. The Authority communicates with Susquehanna Township School District Bus Coordinator. If, however, it is necessary to close a street, the Susquehanna Township School District Bus Coordinator will be notified so that other arrangements can be made with the parents prior to the road being closed. Q20. After my private sewer is rehabilitated, if needed, will this solve my problems of having to call my contractor to unclog my sewer pipe? Not necessarily. If the Authority rehabilitates your private sewer pipe this may not solve your problem of having to call a plumber to unclog your sewer pipe. This is because the sewer pipe is either below your basement floor or the piping within your home may have problems. Q21. After this project is completed, is it possible to receive water in my basement? Yes. In the event your private sewer pipe is found to be leaking and the Authority repairs or replaces the pipe by either lining or replacing, the Authority advises that there is a possibility that a basement sump pump and/or water proofing of your basement foundation may need to be performed. This is due to the groundwater being removed from your private pipe and not being able

5 to enter into your rehabilitated private sewer pipe and the groundwater is now seeking another course. The entire responsibility for water proofing and/or sump pump installation is that of the property owner; not the Authority. Q22. If I have a question(s) about the sanitary sewer rehabilitation project that is not shown above whom should I call? Please call the Authority s office at or the Authority s engineer, GHD, Kevin Fox, at