WARMINSTER TOWNSHIP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - E-Library

Community FacilitiesAlthough wastewater facilities in Chalfont Borough are adequate for the population served, severalissues must be addressed to ensure adequacy into the future. Water conservation and inflow andinfiltration are factors affecting public wastewater facilities.Water ConservationWater conservation is an important issue in wastewater facilities planning because most water used in ahousehold or business becomes sewage, which must be treated. Any water not used presents a savingsin treatment costs. Encouraging the use of water conservation devices such as low flow toilets, faucetaerators, and providing educational information goes a long way in the effort to reduce water usageand the related wastewater treatment costs.Because the borough relies entirely on groundwater as a source, the issue of water conservation isparticularly important because the groundwater used is not returned to recharge the aquifer, but ratherexits the borough through sewer lines. Thus, conservation of water not only saves money spent ontreatment, but also helps to preserve essential groundwater resources.inflow and InfiltrationAs a sewerage system ages, groundwater infiltrates the lines through cracks and seams. Duringstorms, runoff enters the system through manholes and basement drains. All flows in a sewer line aretreated at the treatment plant; therefore, this extra flow which does not necessarily need to be treated isprocessed, resulting in unnecessary costs for borough residents. Consequently, in order to reducetreatment costs, reducing infiltration and inflow should be done on a continuing basis. This effort notonly reduces costs, but has the added benefit of providing additional capacity in the collection systemfor new development.Water SupplyAll residences and businesses in Chalfont Borough are served by public water facilities. The ChalfontBorough Water Department provides water to 2,115 customers including all borough residents andthose in portions of New Britain Borough and Township. All of the water is pumped from theborough’s five wells. Two of the wells are located in the borough: one on Hellberg Avenue andanother on Blue Jay Road. Two are in New Britain Borough along Butler Avenue and at Stephen Placeand one is along Park Avenue in New Britain Township. The water is stored in tanks at 500 NorthMain Street and at Dorset Way in New Britain Township. In emergencies the borough can utilize waterfrom the North Wales Water Authority. The NWWA Forest Park treatment plant was connected to theborough system when the plant was built. This plant treats surface water originating at the DelawareRiver.Groundwater resources are the only source of water for the borough. Chalfont is underlain by threedifferent geologic formations which bear potable water, Brunswick, Lockatong, and Stockton. TheBrunswick formation located south of Butler Pike yields 50 to 200 gallons per minute. The Lockatongformation underlies the borough center and in the northernmost portion of the borough yields 20 to48 Chalfont Borough Comprehensive Plan Update Draft