At Coplay Whitehall Sewer Authority’s regular meeting Aug. 16, the stage was set for a review of the bid for a solar array to power the Eberhart power station. The PennBid paperwork showed the lone bid from RER Energy at an expected $127,000, plus an additional $5,000 for ancillary work. The total bid should be $132,000, which was tabulated in one section of the bidding document.

The total bid price column showed a number closer to $300,000.

One purpose behind computerized bidding is to reduce mathematical errors. Darryl Jenkins, the authority’s engineer, was at a loss to explain the problem. Jenkins will go back to PennBid and the bidder, RER Energy, to rebid the project. The board anticipates resolution in time for the next meeting in September.

A customer brought up a sewer backup problem at the meeting. David Harleman, the authority’s manager, met with the homeowner before the meeting. The heavy rains caused a backup when the system was hydraulically overloaded in certain sections. Based on a previous problem, the homeowner installed a ball valve in his sewer line to prevent sewer backups. In this instance, the water built up enough to enter the plumbing’s venting system. A check valve closer to where the customer’s lateral line enters the main line appears not to be working.

There were some suggestions made for plumbing repairs, and the homeowner will follow through with his preferred plumber. CWSA agreed to inspect the lateral line. There is suspicion the existing lateral line was connected to an on-site system years ago. The lateral might need to be reset to best get sewage into the main line.

Concerns over repairs to Front Street in Coplay continue. Front Street started out with an unknown batch of subgrade soils, and things went downhill from there. The project was four months behind a revised schedule in May - and still has problems.

The latest is the pavement is wavy. The contractor, C.E. Ankiewicz Construction and Excavating, was on site for a test of patching equipment that is designed to allow for patches that blend into the new pavement. The patches are designed to remove the wavy pavement concerns and reduce ponding on the roadway.

Board member James Hahn was not happy with the results. His peer, Paul Boyle, who also runs Coplay’s public works department, was somewhat disappointed with the results and did note Hahn saw the repairs before they were completed. A project completion has not been determined.

Harleman reported work is underway relining manholes. The project relines porous brick manholes to prevent ground water from infiltrating the sewer system. Heavy rains can seize up the system, but infiltration from old manholes is a significant source of daily ground water infiltration. CWSA is on a long-term project to line all of its manholes. This is the third year of the project.