Lower Frederick Township supervisors recently viewed a presentation about the township’s sewer inflow and infiltration (I&I) program. I&I refers to water from sources other than domestic wastewater that enters the sewer system, thereby reducing the available capacity of the system. Excessive I&I increases the cost of wastewater treatment by increasing the amount of water that must be treated, chemicals needed, energy usage and wear on pumps. Supervisors are considering passing a private lateral inspection ordinance that would require the televising and repair of the lateral as a condition of property sales. The Suburban Realtors Alliance maintains that municipalities should encourage regular maintenance of public infrastructure items, such as sidewalks and sewer lateral lines — and avoid point-of-sale mandates that are arbitrary and ineffective. If Lower Frederick officials move forward with a plan to require point-of-sale lateral inspections, the SRA will review the ordinance prior to its passage to identify shortcomings and clarify its requirements.
Source: Town & Country; 7/31/2024