CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield Borough Council was updated on its smoke testing project by Engineer Todd Banks at Thursday night’s committee meetings.
Banks reported they identified 99 improper sewer connections, which were mostly roof leaders. He said there could be more that cannot be detected by smoke testing like some sump pump designs.
Street Commissioner Steve Biancuzzo said they hadn’t yet informed all of the violators. But once notified, they will have 60 days to correct it. However, he said winter weather had limited its ability to strictly enforce this. Biancuzzo said they’ll be starting another round of inspections to determine if the known violations had been corrected.
Borough Operations Manager Leslie Stott said residents had been receptive and proactive, so far as resolving these problems once they were called to their attention. She said roof leaders are correctly fixed once they’re removed from the connection, and the pipe, which leads to the sewers, is sealed with concrete to prevent easy reconnections.
The borough will be taking action toward direct and indirect points of storm water infiltration into the sewer systems. “The requirement right now is for us to do the inspection and file corrective action by April 15,” said Stott.
Stott suggested sending their findings to the Clearfield Municipal Authority on an official basis. Council members Tim Winters and Fred Wisor agreed.
“I think this is a show of good faith that we are taking corrective action where needed,” said Winters.
Biancuzzo said the smoke testing was conducted by borough street crew members and a CMA member.
“At no point, can anyone say we did not smoke test an area, or did not do it in good faith,” said Stott.