Clean It! Lancaster's Combined Sewer Overflow Control Plan

In 2017, Lancaster reached a settlement, called a Consent Decree, with the US Environmental Protection Agency and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regarding discharges from the Combined Sewer System. The Consent Decree requires the City to update our Long-Term Control Plan, which is our plan to address the CSOs. The plan is being developed now.

Through this planning effort you will come to understand how City infrastructure connects to, and impacts the Conestoga River. You will learn what you can do to protect the river. And, most importantly, you can help us select the best and most cost effective solutions for reducing the City's impact on the river.

An Advisory Committee has been established to provide guidance and feedback to the City throughout the planning process. Members include: Derrick Burch, Tene Darby, Steve Garner, Zeshan Ismat, Willonda McCloud, Lori Pagan, Kathleen Carroll Sullivan, and Kristen Thomas. We need to hear from you too!

To learn more about the planning process and how you can be involved, review the Timeline below. Attend public meetings to stay informed and help us develop the best plan for Lancaster. Upcoming Events are listed below. Other details of our public participation process are outlined in the EPA approved Public Participation Plan which is attached below.

With your assistance, we will develop a long-term plan for controlling combined sewer overflows that provides the best water quality outcomes within the financial resources of the City and its residents. 

Background

What is a Combined Sewer System?

Lancaster has what is called a "combined sewer system." It collects and transports both domestic sewage, and rainwater from the City’s storm drains, into a single system of pipes. This type of sewer system is common in historic cities like ours.

Sewage and rainwater flow through the combined system to the City’s Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility where it is treated before being discharged into the Conestoga River. However, there are times when the system becomes overwhelmed, and sewage and rainwater are discharged directly into the Conestoga River. This is called a Combined Sewer Overflow or CSO.

Where does this happen?

There are five "outfalls" along the Conestoga River.

Each outfall has a sign beside it alerting people to avoid contact with the water during and immediately following an overflow. Each outfall also has a light calling attention to the sign and alerting people to stay out of the water when there are CSO events.

In addition to signs at the outfalls, signs like the one below are posted along the Conestoga River in Lancaster County Central Park warning people to avoid contact with the water during and following rainfall events.

Combined sewer overflows are regulated under the City's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for its wastewater treatment plant. The City is required by the Clean Water Act to have a plan for controlling CSOs (a Long-Term Control Plan), which must be approved by U.S. EPA and the Pennsylvania DEP. 

You can help protect the Conestoga River today!

Pick up litter or better yet, organize a neighborhood cleanup like this one organized by the Rivers Edge Fellowship as part of the City's Love Your Block program.

Plant a tree or install a rain garden or cistern. Increasing green infrastructure helps avoid combined sewer overflows by reducing the amount of stormwater that enters the combined sewer system.

Don't put fats, oils or grease (FOG) down your sink. This can cause sewage backup in your home. Put kitchen fats, oils, grease in a container with a lid and place it in your trash.

Don't put oil or other debris, such as sidewalk or street sweepings, down storm drains. For more information on proper disposal of motor oil and other special wastes, click here.

Post your idea, question or comment about CleanIt! Lancaster's Combined Sewer Overflow Control Plan here or submit to LTCPComments@cityoflancasterpa.gov.

Thank you for your interest in protecting our City and our River. Check back regularly for updates!

Stephen Campbell, Director, Department of Public Works