MAELC Urges PA DEP to Require Stricter NPDES Permit Requirements for Wastewater Treatment Plants in Philadelphia

The Center recently participated in a public hearing in South Philadelphia urging Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection to tighten requirements on the Philadelphia Water Department’s permits for wastewater treatment facilities located in Northeast, Southwest and South Philadelphia that are proposed for renewal. Becky Lafferty, a legal intern with the Environmental Law Clinic, presented testimony on behalf of PennEnvironment and the PA Chapter of the Sierra Club.

The Philadelphia sewer system is an old system that combines both sewage and stormwater in the same pipes, known as combined sewer overflow. Such a combined system causes an overload to the pipes during wet weather events. Over the years, Philadelphians have experienced basement backups of raw sewage during wet weather events that pose significant health risks and have caused expensive repairs.

The Center’s testimony specifically urged PA DEP to modify the plant permits to include a stricter and more detailed section on combined sewer overflows including requirements for adequate warning and notification systems for affected residents as well as requiring DEP to assess the causes of backups and to take steps to reduce and eliminate backups. Additionally, the Center requested that there be adequate monitoring and testing procedures in place as well as requesting DEP to set specific limits for bacterial pollutants such as fecal coliform. The Center also noted that public participation in the commenting period is essential to the process of permit renewal. Following the public hearing the Center submitted supplemental comments to PA DEP for consideration when making final modifications to the proposed permits.  Currently, the draft permits as well as all comments submitted by the public are under review by PA DEP.