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WARMINSTER, PA —The Warminster Municipal Authority has outlined its capital expenditures for the year and touted that its water is three times cheaper than Aqua.
During a presentation before Warminster Township Supervisors at its June 20 meeting, WMA officials explained
Daulton George, the WMA’s assistant general manager, provided supervisors with an update on the agency’s capital expenditures for the year.
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George stated the WMA had $2.3 million planned and received an additional $1.8 million from FEMA for repairs on three locations damaged by Hurricane Ida in 2021.
The first three sites —Decker Lane, Cloverly Road, and Roberts —were set to begin work last month.
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George expressed gratitude for the FEMA funding, saying it will not come from ratepayers’ pockets.
The WMA also received a $912,000 grant from State Rep. Brian Monroe and State Sen. Frank Farry for the Tennis and Whittier Basin retrofit, which George said is a “significant accomplishment” for the project.
George also discussed cost savings and improvements at the plant, emphasizing safety and environmental efficiency.
The WMA discussed several stormwater management projects, including expanding a sediment capture project, replacing deteriorated pipes, and encouraging resident participation. They also mentioned ongoing projects like hydrant replacement, sewer lining, and the Sewer Lateral program.
One plan calls for replacing deteriorated pipes under Tennyson Drive and from the headwall to Stratford.
The township has held public participation events, such as tree planting events and a public education event about new fertilizer laws, to reduce stormwater fees for residents. They have completed projects like adding catch basins and storm drains to address standing water and algae issues.
The township is exploring trenchless options for pipe replacement to minimize disruption. They encourage residents to report any stormwater issues and have a repair request form on their website.
The township had a zero water usage charge in the last quarter of 2023 and plans to reduce rates for a longer period in quarters 2 and 3 of 2024.
The WMA touted its water fees for residents as well, saying that rates for Warminster and Ivyland residents cost $39 a month compared to Aqua’s $115.
A WMA contest winner, John Lydia from Warwick Elementary, will have a hydrant installed near the drive-thru.
Capital improvements worth $9 million are underway, including the replacement of water mains in 11 streets and a waste gas burner replacement project at the Wastewater Plant.
The WMA emphasized safety as the driving factor for these projects and aimed to find a use for the excess heat produced before retirement. The UV disinfection system replacement at the wastewater treatment plant is also mentioned as an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient improvement.
Various cost-saving measures and improvements were made at the plant, WMA officials said.
The biggest rebate received was over $12,000 for reduced energy use, and an additional $20,000 is expected for LED bulb replacements.
WMA officials also addressed the issue of laterals that do not meet the standards.
The laterals, which connect properties to the main sewer line, can allow bad bacteria to enter the wastewater treatment plants, reducing their effectiveness.
To address this, the crew is installing equipment to separate bad bacteria from good bacteria and introducing new media into the wastewater tanks to support bacterial growth.
WMA officials also mentioned the importance of maintaining valves and hydrants, as well as the need for a Sewer Lateral U program to fix cracks in laterals and prevent groundwater from entering the treatment center.
An example is given of laterals in Hardman Lane that had to be fixed before the main sewer line could be lined, resulting in water squirting out onto the street instead of going into the sewer.
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