With detailed planning underway for public sewer improvements along Summit and Prospect streets, Bud Newton, of Newton Engineering, presented Coplay Whitehall Sewer Authority with a new concept at the authority’s regular meeting Jan. 17.

Newton represents developers who are interested in an age-qualified development on Mauch Chunk Road and Schadt Avenue. The proposed development is a town house subdivision near Fellowship Community. The new development is not served by CWSA, and the developer proposes tying into CWSA’s system at an end-of-the-line manhole on Schadt Avenue.

The sewer system run by CWSA is gravity operated so sewage flows to its collection station with limited need for pumping stations. The new development is in a location that requires pumping assistance.

To meet the needs of the development, Newton proposed a low-pressure system. Each of the 33 units in the development would have a small grinder pump that the homeowner would be responsible for maintaining. The effluent from the house would be pumped to a main line that connects to CWSA. There are capacity restrictions on the amount of flow that can be dumped into the public sewer incorporated into the design.

The main sewer line would be run by the homeowners association. The board’s biggest concern is what happens if the association folds. CWSA could be required to take over the system. Attorney Jack Stover will include language that keeps the units separate and defines potential terms in case the association is terminated.

Another concern expressed by board member Paul Geissinger was system maintenance. Although homeowners will have responsibility for maintaining their pumps, maintenance problems will likely be encountered. Geissinger wants to ensure that replacement pumps are readily available. For the system to work efficiently, all the pumps need to be online.

Darryl Jenkins, the authority’s engineer, is familiar with low-pressure systems. There are known problems, and corrective actions are available. One problem is that sewage is always in the line. During the early stages of the development, when the system is underutilized, there may be odor problems. These can be addressed by flushing the line, which could occur frequently as the units are sold or leased.

The CWSA board was not intimately familiar with these types of systems and, after some extensive questioning, indicated they would be willing to look at the system providing they had input into the final design.

The developers still need to navigate the obstacles of the land development process, but Newton wanted to be sure that the low-pressure concept would be acceptable.

As Chairman John Schreiner suggested, there may be other applications in CWSA’s system that would allow homeowners to be served with public sewers using a similar low-pressure design.

Newton said he will move forward with his proposal to Whitehall Township.

The Jan. 17 meeting was the first meeting of the year, and the board appointed its officers. There are no changes to the positions held by members of the board: John Schreiner, chairman; James Hahn, vice chairman; Paul Geissinger, secretary; Joseph Bonshak, treasurer; Joseph Marx, public relations officer; Paul Boyle, assistant treasurer; and James Roth, assistant secretary.