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County sewer authority to aid South Side with MS4 regulations

The Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority officially contracted Wednesday with the Williamsport Sanitary Authority, acting on behalf of South Williamsport Borough, for the purpose of carrying out certain goals related to Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, or MS4, regulations as they continue to roll out.

The entities subject to MS4 are the City of Williamsport, DuBoistown, Montoursville and South Williamsport boroughs, Pennsylvania College of Technology and Fairfield, Hepburn, Loyalsock, Lycoming and Old Lycoming townships. Several are partnering with the county or city authorities throughout the permitting process.

The county authority already has contracted with DuBoistown and had aided South Williamsport with documents necessary to apply for its permit last fall, but the deal was sealed with the contract approved Wednesday.

“It’s an excellent example of a cooperative, regional solution for a very complicated set of regulations, so we’re pleased to be part of that partnering,” said Christine Weigle, executive director of the authority.

The MS4 mandate instills new regulations for storm sewer systems, or any system that collects or conveys stormwater via roads, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels or storm drains.

John Bickhart, engineering services manager for the Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority, said the current MS4 permit cycle, which lasts five years, may bring many changes to participating municipalites.

He added he has advised municipalities to wait until later in the permit cycle before starting any projects, as regulations and potential funding sources may change.

In another matter, the authority approved the final payments totaling $8,794 to Tra Electric Inc. for work related to the Fairfield Tank project, which is now in working order. Another payment of $71,471 was approved for DN Tanks Inc., also for work related to the project.

All that remains is landscaping and other aesthetic work, which is weather-pending, said Erin Threet, water and wastewater engineer.

In other business, the authority said a heartfelt goodbye to board member Frank D. Forscha, who has retired. Forscha was given the honor of moving to adjourn his final meeting.

The next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. April 11 at the Water and Sewer Authority, 380 Old Cement Road, Montoursville.

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