Act 537 Planning and Pennsylvania's Antidegradation Requirements: A Case Study

F. X. Browne, Inc. has performed numerous municipal sewage facilities planning projects in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We recently completed a Special Study to support the Middle Smithfield Township (Monroe County, PA) Act 537 Sewage Facilities Plan. Because of the poor soils in the township and Pennsylvania's Antidegradation requirements, the Study required a re-evaluation of the service area to an existing centralized wastewater treatment plant. 

The goal of this project was to refine the boundaries of the service area to allow for individual or decentralized wastewater treatment and disposal in accordance with  DEP's Water Quality Antidegradation Implementation Guidance Handbook and to receive approval for the expansion of the existing treatment plant to provide for the wastewater needs of the remainder of the service area.

Based on a detailed alternatives evaluation, a detailed analysis of the soils in the Special Study Area, and a detailed evaluation of decentralized drip irrigation systems for targeted portions of the Special Study Area, we found areas that could be deleted from the treatment plant's service area. We evaluated decentralized options for those areas using GIS mapping and field testing. Decentralized wastewater was also examined on a township-wide basis. Each soil type was evaluated to determine what type, if any, wastewater system could be installed in that soil type based on limiting zone, seasonal high ground water table, depth to bedrock, and slope. Some larger areas were designated as suitable for a community drip irrigation system, and other areas were found to be suitable for community on-site systems such as sand mounds or spray irrigation systems. 

F. X. Browne, Inc. worked closely with the Township and the DEP to develop a Plan that would allow for the rapid growth in the Township and still meet the stringent DEP Antidegradation regulations. The Special Study Area is located in three different major drainage basins. Portions of the Township were in high quality watersheds while other areas of the Township were not in high quality watersheds. The Plan was prepared, presented to the public and approved by the Township and the DEP.

F. X. Browne, Inc. is currently working on a similar project in Palmyra Township, PA to implement complete decentralized wastewater throughout the township. For more information on Act 537 planning, decentralized wastewater planning and design, municipal engineering, wastewater design, soil suitability analysis, GIS, or other related services, please contact us at info@fxbrowne.com.