LETTER: Unhappy with Middle Interceptor Plan

To the Editor:

The Lower Perkiomen Valley Regional Sewer Authority (LPVRSA) was required to hire an environmental agency to do a habitat study for the Lower Providence Township side of the Perkiomen creek in order to put the Middle Interceptor sewer line there. The environmental agency has just recently finished their study and has reached the conclusion that the sewer line is best suited for the Upper Providence side of the creek.

Unfortunately, the LPVRSA is still insisting on wreaking havoc on Lower Providence Township's neighborhood. The LPVRSA said they would run the sewer pipe in the existing trench on the Upper Providence side only long enough to pass Hoy Park, and then cross the creek and slam up the rest of the land on Lower Providence side.

Well the community has a few problems with that and a few questions to ask, LPVRSA.

One big question is WHY? If you can run the pipe in the original trench for that distance, WHY would you pull the pipe out of the existing trench and make a 90 degree turn, blast 20 feet under the creek bed requiring damming of the water in the most deepest and widest part of the Perkiomen Creek, run the sewer pipe under the creek, then crash right into two residents private docks, install a  stinky inverted siphon, use Hoy Park as an access way, virtually destroying it any way, condemn 16 residents properties, cut a 70 foot wide swath of mature 100 to 200 year old trees, go thru a massive historic stone wall, possibly destroy two houses where the pipe will literally be five feet from their house, then make another 90 degree turn, AND cross the creek again with another inverted siphon 20 feet under the creek bed ONLY 2000 feet up stream FROM THE FIRST CROSSING!??

Excuse me, but what engineering school did this engineer go to? There is a straight line and an existing trench right where the original pipe is, which just happens to be the plan DEP approved in the original Act 537 Plan in 2001; to install the sewer pipe in the "preexisting right of way in previously disturbed areas," and it is the only true gravity alternative without inverted siphons!

So we ALL have to ask the question again (last time the LPVRSA chairman refused to answer) what is the rationale for this decision? Why are they deviating from the approved plan, and causing such unnecessary destruction? There has to be a reason. They use to say it was cost, but that has back fired. They recently acquired three contractor estimates that when averaged together the prices for either side are essentially identical!

Is it engineering skill? Does their engineer actually not know how to install it? It was installed back in 1972 without today's modern technology, how difficult can it be now?

It can't be environmental reasons, the rocky slope on the UP side acts as a natural rip rap creating a natural erosion barrier – LP side experiences extreme flooding – which will create severe erosion during and after construction. We have wetlands, UP side does not – There would be two major creek crossing with the LP side plan, the UP side has none, and there are no private residents on UP side, LP has 16!

We can all draw our own conclusions on what LPVRSA's reasons are, but we definitely know it’s not common sense or what will most benefit the public. We deserve straight answers!

So as many of you that can, please come out on 6/13 @ 6pm to attend the LPVRSA meeting to try and get answers.

Sincerely,

Cathy Beyer

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