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EPA awards grant to upgrade Cheltenham sewers

Release Date: 6/20/2005
Contact Information: Roy Seneca (215) 814-5567

Contact: Roy Seneca (215) 814-5567
PHILADELPHIA – The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $192,900 grant to Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pa, to help upgrade its sewer system and reduce sewage overflows into Tookany Creek.

“Old, inadequate sewer systems can be a major cause of water pollution in many communities. By supporting improvements to the Cheltenham Township sewer system, we can help protect local waterways and public health,” said Donald S. Welsh, regional administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.

The township’s sewage system, which is more than 70 years old, has pipe leaks and lacks the capacity to handle large volumes of runoff during heavy rainfall or when snow and ice are melting. During wet weather, the sewer lines will overflow and discharge raw sewage into Tookany Creek, a main tributary of the Delaware River.

The grant will be used to help pay for cleaning and grouting of sewer lines and installing manhole inserts in the Wyncote, Cedarbrook and Chelten Hills sections of the township.

The EPA grant will pay for 55 percent of the project costs, and the balance will come from the township. Construction is set to begin in October 2005.