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Brooke County Public Service District Receives Grant for Extension of Sanitary Sewer System

Release Date: 11/20/2001
Contact Information: Roy Seneca 215-8145567

Contact: Roy Seneca 215-814-5567

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $9.8 million grant to the Brooke County Public Service District, W. Va to fund extension of sanitary sewers to about 479 customers in the district that is adjacent to the town of Follansbee.

“It is a pleasure to approve this grant to Brooke County to help improve wastewater treatment and disposal systems, a significant cause of public health hazards in rural areas nationwide. Local officials know best which sewer upgrades will best protect public health and improve water quality. This grant will support that goal,” said Donald S. Welsh, regional administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.

The primary sewage treatment and disposal method for the area now is on-lot septic tank systems, and a few small package treatment plants. Most of the on-lot systems do not work properly due to poor soil conditions and inadequate room for septic tank leach fields. As a result, raw sewage is discharged into nearby ditches in residential areas, and eventually into local streams. This situation creates a public health hazard.

The sewer line extension will benefit customers in the Mahan Lane, Eldersville Road, and Bruin Drive areas, which includes service to Brooke High School. The improvement will eliminate the failing on-lot systems and take the small package treatment plants out of service.