Authorizing the Committee on Streets and Services to hold hearings on the feasibility of transferring private sewer and water systems to the City sewer and water system.

WHEREAS, Approximately 2,000 households in Philadelphia are connected to the City’s sewer and water system through pipes that currently sit outside the purview of the Philadelphia Water Department, about 72 miles in all; and

WHEREAS, These homes, mostly located in Northwest and Northeast Philadelphia, are Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) customers and pay for their monthly water usage and cover fees for sewer maintenance and stormwater management; and

WHEREAS, Pipe maintenance, however, is largely uncovered for these homeowners and while PWD will perform some basic cleaning at no cost to those customers, they do not cover more serious cleaning efforts or sewer repairs that require a private contractor; and

WHEREAS, These residents are typically unaware that they are connected to a private sewer until such time the sewer is damaged, and due to the prohibitive repair costs of maintaining private sewers in some neighborhoods residents are forced to neglect and/or abandon their properties when they do not have the financial means to pay for repairs; and

WHEREAS, A comprehensive study has never been performed to determine 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; and

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

RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia authorize the Committee on Streets and Services to hold hearings on the feasibility of transferring private sewer and water systems to the City sewer and water system.

End