Calling on the Streets and Services Committee to hold hearings on the Feasibility of Transferring Private Sewer and Water Systems to the City Sewer and Water System.

WHEREAS, In the City of Philadelphia there are approximately 2000 households that have municipal sewer and water service but which are not connected to the City's sewer and water system, instead they are connected to private sewers; and

WHEREAS, Of the City's 3,000 miles of maintained water and sewer system the Philadelphia Water Department estimates that there are approximately 72 miles of private sewers in the City and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia residents with private sewers typically are unaware that they are connected to a private sewer until such time the sewer fails by becoming broken, blocked, collapsed or damaged. The installation of public sewers constitutes a significant cost to the homeowner; and

WHEREAS, Due to the prohibitive cost of maintaining private sewers in some neighborhoods residents are forced to neglect and or abandon their properties when they do not have the wherewithal to pay for the costly water and sewer repairs; and

WHEREAS, A thorough study has never been performed to determine exactly how many miles of new sewers would be required to provide sewer and water service to City residents currently operating with private water and sewer systems as well as, the cost of connecting the private sewers to the public water and sewer systems; and

WHEREAS, The transfer of private sewers may ensure a better maintained, less polluting and more efficient water and sewerage system into the future; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby authorize the Committee on Streets and Services to hold hearings to investigate, examine and identify the Feasibility of Transferring Private Sewer and Water Systems to the City Sewer and Water System.

End