Amity OKs plans for water company’s plant upgrade 
Jessica Whitmore, Special to The Mercury
02/21/2006

AMITY -- The Pennsylvania American Water Co. is moving forward with plans to rebuild and upgrade a water facility at Nicholson Avenue. 
Two current wells will be upgraded with a new water treatment system, and a new building will be constructed to house the system and the wells. In a 3-2 vote, the Zoning Hearing Board granted the company a procedural variance allowing the project to proceed without going before the state Public Utility Commission.

The wells are being upgraded to meet new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations for arsenic levels in water. 

Previously, the EPA limit was 50 parts per billion. In January 2006, the EPA implemented a lower level requirement of 10 parts per billion.

"The previous EPA limits equate to 1 gram in a 6,000 gallon tanker truck," said Timothy Glessner, design project engineer of Gannett Fleming Inc. "The levels in the wells were less than half the old limit that has been in place for many years. The construction is to meet the new EPA limit. Our goal is to maintain a safe and reliable water source."

At last week’s meeting, local residents expressed concerns about the appearance of the new building, which will be built in a residential area.

"Pennsylvania Water Co. has been a good neighbor," said Brian Heisey, who lives near the current well location. "My concern is about the building sticking out in a residential area.We want a nice pleasant looking building."

Alfonso Rossi, project manager for the Southeast Region for American Water, reassured residents that the proposed structure will be built to fit into the residential area.

He said they have considered everything from lighting to the landscaping surrounding the building.

"I have talked to the immediate property owners to have them look over the proposed building appearance," Rossi said.

He also said there will be no odors, audible alarms or buzzers affiliated with the building and wells.

Several zoning board members questioned the reason for the variance. 

Utility companies typically are required to go before the PUC, which involves a three- to six-month process for the permits and hearings.

"This construction and upgrade is reasonable and necessary for the welfare of the public, and the continued process of hearings will only delay the project," Glessner said. 

If the request had been denied and the project delayed, Rossi said the wells would have been shut down until the permits were received. He said they would then lose 200 gallons a minute. 

"We need to keep the source running," says Rossi.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is also reviewing the plans. Glessner expects to receive a permit in May. The construction and upgrades are expected to be completed by the end of 2006.

In other business, the zoning board granted variances for the size of the sign for Douglassville Ace Hardware, for billboard removal and replacement by Lamar Advertising Company, and for the storage lot at HomeWorks New and Used Store.

©The Mercury 2006


reprinted with permission from The Mercury Newspaper