St Michael The Archangel
SEWER ISSUES
The proposed septic plan presented 4-2-12 includes two 2000 gallon
holding tanks for the dining hall and a 1000 gallon holding tank for the
dwelling. ( earlier tanks were designed to be 500 rather than 2000
gallons......with all those credentials, how did the septic designer go so far
off the mark of what the DEP and Health Dept would require? Am I
misunderstanding something here? ) The system is supposed to be built for
peak use which is described as 209 dining hall residents on Friday and 10
people in an office meeting plus the dwelling 2590 gals per day .
But the field was not built to take that much effluent - instead only half
of the effluent will be meted out each day and the holding tanks were designed
to manage these numbers instead of a larger field.
as of 3-12 . Included
is
placement of the septic field right behind
properties some of whom have had flooding problems and had to remediate.
Sump pumps in the problem properties will take the water in now so it is still a
concern as to whether this system is built big enough and the correct numbers
are being given . himOne remediated property had a leak anyhow and
had to redo the remediation . The soils have been approved by
the Montgomery County Dept of Health who now has the rest of the "module" to
approve before it goes on to DEP.
As of 3-12
St Michael's has a plan to propose using an on
site septic - the first presentation we will have for this will be 3-21-12 at a
meeting Commissioner Gaglianese is proposing . We are asking to have
details of the plan posted on the website and emailed around.
Since our earlier postings, we have learned that St Michael's was approved
conditional to getting the EDU's needed to connect to the Cheltenham system.
While residents were NOT notified that these EDU's were
unavailable, the Township and St Michael's both knew it at the time of the
approval.
As of 11/11
St Michael's has an application
picked up to fill out for on - site septic -- they were unable to obtain the easements
needed to pump back to Kingsley and there is a moratorium on the
line at Fox Chase Rd that goes ultimately through Cheltenham.
Of particular note-
we learned that St. Michael's had been quite aware of
Cheltenham's inability to provide service - even back at the time of
the Preliminary waivers .
On 12-4-09 a resident was notified that St
Michaels was not even on the Cheltenham waiting list - despite their
presentation of a plan to supposedly use those sewers ....
So knowing they were not even on the wait-list it seems to beg the question of
whether there was ever really an intent to go that way? It seems implausible they would spend
this much $ on so many fine details and yet omit the important step of signing
up for EDU's ....? Just seeking to understand....
Below are a few relevant links to the septic system - it has
been suggested that perhaps if they put porta-
potties in during events, they might not be required
to get a septic system for the many hundreds that might be
using it during their larger events, festivals, banquets,
weddings etc.
Septic Guidelines can be found in
EPA's Title 25
Chapter 71, 72 & especially
Chapter 73 for septic
Title 25
Chapter 105 Environmental
or
health concerns
Here is the form they are going to have to fill
out – if you give it a 5 second glance you will see what kinds
of considerations will be given by the DEP who will have the
final say, as I understand it. http://www.elibrary.dep.state.pa.us/dsweb/Get/Document-55124/02%203800-FM-WSFR0352%20Form.doc
This
is the main DEP site that has all the sewage issues you ever
stayed up late wondering about
J
http://www.elibrary.dep.state.pa.us/dsweb/View/Collection-9501
We are still looking for good links to learn about septic
systems, if any of you would like to share some .
_________________________
Township Sewers and Sewage Codes--
http://www.ecode360.com/9007865
Map of the Sewer Lines There is apparently a pumping station at
Township line and Meetinghouse which pumps sewage back up Meetinghouse to
Kingsley. Note the arrows at Kingsley that show the direction of the flow
. At Kingsley the flow goes off in 3 different directions but
ultimately across Huntingdon Pike somewhere and then into Philadelphia. The line
however that is next to Pond View Drive goes down into Cheltenham .
We do not know if there are any possibilities of St Michael's connecting into
the line at Fox Chase or Meetinghouse & having it pumped up to Kingsley
from there.
Originally they were planning to go out the Crosswicks side near Kipling and up
Crosswicks to Kingsley. No easements have yet been obtained in that area as of
9-15-11.
THE
INTERCEPTOR
At the 8-11 Board of
Commissioners meeting , the Board announced that it would be
paying approximately 1/3 ( 1/2 million $ approximately ) for
it's share of the Interceptor that the DEP is requiring
Cheltenham to install. This will not make any
difference to the need for the 1 or 2 pumping stations at St
Michaels - there is still a moratorium .
We will bring more details as they are known and
welcome your comments
to share either anonymously or with your name attached with
your fellow Abington residents.
____________________________
If you have any updated information, or something you
would like to share, please
Send your the
information to:
lel@abingtoncitizens.com
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