During the record setting wet weather events throughout 2011, the Bergen County Utilities Authority’s water pollution control facilities, pump stations, and trunk sewers exceeded their capacities resulting in a number of sanitary sewer overflows (SSO’s).
The problem of SSO’s was attributed to excessive rain-derived infiltration and inflow (RDI/I) generated from the municipalities’ sanitary sewer systems. RDI/I is clean storm water entering into the municipal sanitary and storm water sewer system through cracked pipes, leaky manholes, illegally connected storm drains, roof downspouts, basement sump pumps and building foundation drains.
Excessive RDI/I substantially affects the cost of treatment at the Authority’s water pollution control facilities, and ultimately affects the sewer rate that local residents pay through taxes. Excessive RDI/I could result in costly infrastructure expansions and a self-imposed sewer ban in accordance with NJDEP regulations.
Chapter 252-9 of the Borough of Bergenfield Code prohibits leader drains, foundation drains, sump pumps or similar freshwater sources from flowing into the sanitary sewers or groundwater in whatever form or whatever source.
The Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA) is offering an amnesty program through December 31, 2012, for residents to remove illegally connected storm drains, downspouts, sump pumps and foundation drains. Homeowners and/or business owners who do not have the expertise to determine if their storm drains, downspouts, sump pumps and foundation drains are illegally connected should call the BCUA Environmental program Hotline at 201 807-5825. A “Homeowners Guide” can also be accessed at www.bcua.org/publications.
For the sake of the water environment, keeping the cost of water pollution control services affordable and preventing a self-imposed sewer ban, it is imperative that anyone with an illegal hookup into the sanitary sewer system take advantage of the Amnesty period and act immediately.