History

The 1968 Project and the Phase 1 Project

    The Township is situated within two watersheds; Ridley Creek Watershed and Chester Creek Watershed. The 1968 Project involved sewer construction in the Chester Creek Watershed, which encompassed Lima, Lenni Heights, Glen Riddle, Riddlewood, Wyncroft (west), Black Horse Acres, Williamson and the commercial portion of Baltimore Pike.

    With the proceeds of the Series of 1968 Sewer Revenue Bonds, the Authority undertook the construction of approximately 15.6 miles of branch wastewater collection lines, 4.3 miles of interceptor sewer lines, and three pumping stations with force mains.

    The 1968 Project was designed to transport all wastewater from 700 residential and commercial customers in the west central area of the Township via the Chester Creek Interceptor to the Southwest Delaware County Municipal Authority treatment plant located in Aston Township, Delaware County, for treatment and discharge into Baldwin's Run, a tributary of Chester Creek.

    Since the completion of the 1968 Project, the Authority has been granted ownership of additional sewer collection lines installed by developers. The Authority estimates that approximately 15 miles of such collection lines have been received to date.

    The Authority's Series of 1978 Bonds funded an additional 50,000 linear feet of wastewater collection lines and two pumping stations were also constructed to aid the flow of wastewater (the "Phase I Project"). Upon completion of the Phase I Project, 465 additional residential Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDU's) were served by the Sewer System. These new users contributed approximately 175,000 gallons of sewage a day to the Sewer System. 

The 1984 Project (Phase II)

    The 1984 Construction Project involved the extension of the Authority's existing sanitary sewer system into additional sections of the Township within the Ridley Creek Watershed.

    The Phase II project consisted of approximately 53,800 linear feet of 4" to 10" diameter wastewater collection lines, with wastewater flowing by gravity from various sub-drainage districts to pumping stations. Five pumping stations are required to lift sewage flows to the existing sewage collection system in the Chester Creek Watershed.

    The Phase II Project serves approximately 617 residential dwelling units and 100 non-residential EDU's. Sewage flows through the collection lines currently average 160,000 gallons per day. The neighborhoods serviced by the project included High Meadows, Knowltonwood, Middletown Heights, and Bortondale.

The 1989 Project (Phase III)

    The Phase III project consisted of the construction of approximately 37,000 feet of wastewater collection lines and five pumping stations with force mains which linked Lenni/Lima, Highpoint, Elwyn/Indian Lane, Hunting Hills, Willowgate and Foxcroft with the existing wastewater collection system.

    Upon completion of the project in 1990, 327 additional EDU's in eight different sub-drainage districts were added to the Authority's sanitary sewer system bringing the total number of equivalent dwelling units serviced to 5,854.

The 1993 (Phase IV) Project

    The Phase IV project involved the installation of approximately 54,000 feet of main line gravity sewer lines, two sewage pumping stations, and 3,000 feet of force main in various sections of the Township, including Old Forge, Hunting Hills, Indian Trails, Glenwyn, Elwyn/Linville, Cloverleaf and Old House.

    Upon completion of the project in 1994, 317 additional EDU's in six different sub-drainage districts were added to the Authority's sanitary sewer system bringing the total number of equivalent dwelling units serviced to 6,171.

The 1995 Project (Phase V)

    The Phase V project consisted of the construction of approximately 14,715 feet of wastewater collection lines and two pumping stations with 2,850 feet of force mains which link with the existing wastewater collection system.

    Upon completion of the project in 1995, 103 additional EDU's in the Glenwood Farms/Darlington area of the Township were added to the Authority's sanitary sewer system. These connections along with new connections from housing and commercial growth bring the total EDU's to 6,911.

The 1997 Project (Blackhorse Lane Pump Station and Glen Riddle Pump Station By-pass)

    This project was undertaken to update and improve two pump stations installed as part of the original 1968 Project. No EDU's were added as a result of the project, however, upgrades and long term maintenance were eliminated. 

    In order to accommodate the increasing flow to the Blackhorse Lane Pump Stations as a result of the Heilbron Subdivision and the Authority's Phases III and IV projects, a new wet-well mounted pump station was installed along with a new 6" force main and stand-by generator. The new pump station was sized to handle all current and future flows in the drainage area.

    This project also included construction of the Glen Riddle By-pass line. An expansion of the Southwest Delaware County Sewer Authority's sewer system gave MTSA the opportunity to eliminate an old pump station in need of upgrade. A total of 1500 feet of 12" gravity line with two 6" inverted siphons under Chester Creek were installed to carry wastewater to the Southwest system in Aston Township near King's Mill.

1998 - Fair Acres Pump Station Upgrade and Phase-out of the Pennell Place Pump Station

    A joint venture between the County and the Sewer Authority resulted in the successful completion of a project to expand capacity in the county owned Fair Acres (300 gallons/min.) pump station at the Delaware County Institutional District located in Lima; phase out a 14-year-old pump station at the Pennell Place/Middletown Crossings Townhouse Communities and reduce the volume of flow at the Authority's pump station at Country Village near Penncrest High School.

    The proposed new pump equipment produces 650 gallons/minute of capacity and can be expandable to 900 gallons/minute when required in the future. The new equipment is more efficient, requires less maintenance, and is safer for mechanics to work on then old station, where the equipment was 25' below grade. The Authority also offered to own and operate the new station in return for permission to tie the Pennell Place and Middletown Crossing Communities to the county pump station. Also, permission was granted for flows to be diverted to the Fair Acres pump station from approximately 600 homes in the northwest portion of the township, which were being conveyed by the less efficient Country Village Pump Station.

    In summary, the County saved over $60,000 in equipment replacement costs and the expense of future maintenance. The Sewer Authority was able to eliminate the Pennell Place Pump Station and save about $5,000/year in operating costs and reduce electricity and maintenance at the Country Village station by approximately $4,000/year. The Old Fair Acres pump equipment is still maintained as an emergency backup facility should the new equipment malfunction or is shut down for overhaul.

1999 Parkmount Pump Station Upgrade Project

    Parkmount Pump Station was last of the original Authority owned facilities built in 1969 to be upgraded. With its own maintenance personnel, the Authority installed a wet-well mounted station on the wastewater-receiving chamber. The new pump station increased that output of the station from approximately 100 gallons per minute to 270 gallons per minute. The new station minimizes the amount of confined space entry required of the mechanic and the old pumps have been placed on standby. In addition to upgrading and expanding the pumping capability, the Authority also purchased a diesel powered emergency power generator which is permanently connected to the Parkmount Station.  The generator is capable of being transported to any other pump station location in Middletown where it may be needed during a power outage. The total cost of the upgrade and generator was $58,000.

2000 Country Village Way Pump Station

    The Country Village Pump Station was constructed in 1979 with deep wells to house the high volume pumps.  A wet-well mounted pump station was installed at the cost of $50,000 to improve pump efficiency and for the safety of the mechanics.  The 1979 equipment serves as backup.

Sewage Facilities Plan   

     In March of 2000, Township Council directed the Sewer Authority to update the 1988 Sewage Facilities Plan. Public sewers service approximately 98% of all households in Middletown but there are several small areas that have not yet been serviced due to geographic and/or economic reasons.  The updated Sewage Facilities Plan was completed in 2003.

Infiltration and Inflow Program

     In 2002 the Sewer Authority initiated an Infiltration and Inflow Program to measure, locate, and eliminate excess groundwater and rainwater that enters the sanitary sewer system.  Approximately 15 miles of sewers have been cleaned, televised and repaired as needed in the Lenni, Glen Riddle, Lima, Riddlewood, Black Horse Acres, Old Forge, Country Village, Heilbron, Lantern/Spring Run, Hunting Hills, Pennell Place neighborhoods through 2010.  In 2011, about 3 miles of sewer will be inspected in the Glenloch and Alverno Valley Farm Communities. 

2004 Painter Road Pump Station

     The 1979 air ejection pump station located on the Tyler Arboretum side of Painter Road, opposite Carriage Drive, was replaced in 2004 with a Smith & Loveless wet-well mounted pump station at a cost of approximately $70,000.  The projected eliminated the previous station which was located totally underground.  The new wet-well mounted station eliminated the hazards of working in confined space and provides more capacity, efficiency and reliability. 

2008 Odor Control Solutions

     Two of the Authority’s larger pump stations receive flows from other stations which result in odors being generated in long distance force mains.  Bioxide injection systems were installed at the South Heilbron and Darlington Valley pump stations to oxidize the wastewater to prevent odors and system corrosion caused by hydrogen sulfide.  The cost of these successful projects was approximately $35,000.

2010 Darlington Valley Pump Station Force Main Relocation

     This pumping station was installed by the developers of the Darlington Valley PRD in 1994.  It was sized for surrounding existing community which received sewer service under the Phase V Project in 1995.

Since the pump station was installed there were several leaks in the mile long force main between the station at the end of Stephen Drive and the discharge point near Valley Road.  Most of the pipe defects were found in the easement area along the small stream that supplies water to the pond. The proximity of the force main to the Darlington Pond and Chester Creek caused serious concern for the Authority.  Using a processing involving directional drilling, developed by the oil industry, the Authority installed approximately 1,300 feet of 4” diameter force main under Stephen Drive with only about four small openings of the roadway.  The new main eliminated the portion of the old force main in the wooded section of the development where most of the leaks had occurred over the years.

The cost of the project was about $140,000 paid with funds from the Authority’s capital reserves.  This project was done on a voluntary basis to protect the community and the environment.  It was not a requirement of state or federal regulatory agencies.