PRINTER'S NO. 523
No. 60 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY EGOLF, REBER, BELARDI, READSHAW, NAILOR,
CAPPABIANCA, FICHTER, FAIRCHILD, MELIO, WAUGH, THOMAS,
RUBLEY, FARGO, PESCI, BROWN, GORDNER, HERMAN, CLYMER, SHANER,
E. Z. TAYLOR, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, YOUNGBLOOD, JOSEPHS,
STEELMAN, McCALL, TIGUE, LYNCH, LAUGHLIN, TRELLO, MAITLAND,
JAROLIN, STABACK, SURRA, KIRKLAND, SERAFINI, B. SMITH,
WOJNAROSKI, DeLUCA, BOSCOLA, HALUSKA, STERN, SAYLOR AND
COLAFELLA, FEBRUARY 12, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, FEBRUARY 12, 1997
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control
2 and Conservation Committee to study the issues concerning the
3 environmental, technological, economic and regulatory
4 constraints and problems covering hydraulically overloaded
5 municipal sewerage treatment facilities.
6 WHEREAS, Infiltration of groundwater into sanitary sewers
7 during wet weather is a serious, common problem shared by all
8 municipalities which depend on public sewerage systems for
9 treatment of wastewater; and
10 WHEREAS, This infiltration may often cause total flow to
11 exceed six or more times the normal dry weather flow conditions,
12 resulting in gross overloading of sewage treatment facilities;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, This infiltration often causes sewer system manholes
15 to overflow, discharging sewage onto land and streets and
16 allowing the sewage to find its way into underground aquifers
1 and surface waterways and creating a public nuisance and a
2 potential public health hazard by environmental pollution; and
3 WHEREAS, The abatement of this problem costs, or would cost
4 if all affected municipalities properly addressed the problem,
5 tens of millions of dollars each year, using presently available
6 repair techniques; and
7 WHEREAS, This problem is likely to recur continuously into
8 the foreseeable future and grow even worse with inevitable new
9 population growth and land development; and
10 WHEREAS, A much less expensive method of abatement is highly
11 desirable and thought to be possible; therefore be it
12 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
13 direct the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and
14 Conservation Committee to undertake a comprehensive study to
15 investigate and determine the exact extent and nature of the
16 problem; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That, to accomplish this goal, the committee hold
18 hearings, take testimony and make its investigations at such
19 places as it deems necessary in this Commonwealth; and be it
20 further
21 RESOLVED, That the committee during the conduct of its study,
22 solicit from private industry, academia, Commonwealth agencies,
23 individuals and any other organizations, recommendations as to
24 alternate techniques and procedures to abate or correct the
25 problem at significantly reduced cost; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That the committee submit a preliminary report
27 containing its initial findings by December 15, 1997, and a
28 final report containing its complete findings and
29 recommendations by November 30, 1998, to the Secretary of the
30 Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives.
A31L82VDL/19970H0060R0523 - 2 -