During the late 1990’s Mehoopany Township began the process that resulted in the establishment of the Township Sewer. The Sewer serves the more populated area of the township, the village proper, Walnut Ridge, North Mehoopany and the Schoolhouse Hill neighborhoods. There are over 200 dwelling units served by the township sewer.
The township fully operates the sewer, through a Sewer Fund, there is no Sewer Authority. The township has a part time work crew that serves customers through a regular maintenance and on-call emergency service.
Because this is a small rural sewer system, one aspect that really helps keep costs down, is when users promptly pay their bills. Currently, service is billed quarterly at $195.50 per quarter per equivalent dwelling unit. Please do your part and remit your payment promptly.
If for some reason, you do not receive a bill, the quarterly payment is still due. Please contact the Township office 570-833-2030 advising that you have not received a bill. A new bill will be furnished to you.
For customers that fail to remit prompt payment, the Township has adopted a robust collection policy to ensure that delinquent accounts are made current and stay current.
Another aspect that customers may assist with is proper care of their grinder pumps which will extend life expectancy. Proper care also reduces maintenance associated maintenance costs on the grinder pump.
GENERAL INFORMATION
In order to provide you with suitable waste water disposal, your home is served by a low pressure sewer system. The key element in this system is an Environment One grinder pump. The tank collects all solid materials and effluent from the house. The solid materials are then ground to a small size suitable for pumping as a slurry with the effluent water. The grinder pump generates sufficient pressure to pump this slurry from your home to the waste water treatment receiving line and/or disposal plant.
CARE AND USE OF YOUR GRINDER PUMP
Grinder pumps are capable of accepting and pumping a wide range of materials. Regulatory agencies advise that the following items should not be introduced into any sewer, either directly or through a kitchen waste disposal unit:
- Glass
- Diapers, socks, rags or cloth
- Metal
- Plastic objects (toys, utensils, etc.)
- Seafood shells
- Sanitary napkins or tampons, condoms
- Goldfish stone
- Kitty Litter
- Bathroom Wipes, even though they are labeled “flushable”.
In addition, you must NEVER introduce into any sewer:
- Explosives
- Strong chemicals
- Flammable material
- Gasoline
- Lubricating oil and/or grease
- cooking oil/grease
It is strongly recommended by the Township Supervisors that only liquid soap detergents are used. The Township has found that the use of powdered soap detergents builds up in the grinder pumps and cause what would otherwise be unnecessary maintenance issues.
PERIODS OF DISUSE
If your home or building is left unoccupied for longer than a couple of weeks, perform the following procedure:
Purge the system. Run clean water into the unit until the pump activates. Immediately turn off the water and allow the grinder pump to run until it shuts off automatically.
Duplex units. Special attention must be taken to ensure that both pumps turn on when clean water is added to the tank.
CAUTION: DO NOT DISCONNECT POWER TO THE UNIT.
POWER FAILURE
Your grinder pump cannot dispose of waste water without electrical power. If electrical power service is interrupted, keep water usage to a minimum.
PUMP FAILURE ALARM
Your Environment One grinder pump has been manufactured to produce an alarm signal (120 volt) in the event of a high water level in the basin. The installer must see that the alarm signal provided is connected to an audible and/or visual alarm in such a manner as to provide adequate warning to the user that service is required. During the interim prior to the arrival of an authorized service technician, water usage must be limited to the reserve capacity of the tank.
FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE PLEASE CALL 570-690-7326 If your call is not immediately answered, please leave a message. Please include your name, phone number, and location, as well as what type of problem you are experiencing. You will be contacted, and a crew will be on-site as soon as possible.