The Henry County Public Service Authority (PSA) Board of Directors approved a funding proposal Monday that will address inflow and infiltration issues with the Koehler Sanitary Sewer System.
The organization was recently awarded financial assistance from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund for the improvements.
As part of the project, the PSA will rehabilitate 80 sewer manholes and more than 9,000 linear feet of its sewer line in the Koehler Sanitary Sewer System.
The total cost of the project will be $3.56 million with approximately $1.07 million of that amount eligible for principal forgiveness. That would leave $2.49 million to be financed at a 0.5 percent interest rate for 30 years. The PSA will make an annual payment of $89,545.
Inflow and infiltration are common terms used to describe ways that stormwater runoff and groundwater make their way into sewer pipes. Inflow refers to stormwater that enters the sewer system through sources such as foundation drains. Infiltration can occur when groundwater gets into sewer pipes through cracks, leaky pipe joints or deteriorated manholes. When too much inflow and infiltration occur, this can overload the sewer system and cause overflows, backups and other problems.
This project aims to increase the PSA’s capacity by reducing sanitary sewer overflows within the system caused by inflow and infiltration.
In other matters, the board:
- Approved the write-off of uncollectible utility billing accounts for 2023 estimated at approximately $46,732.
- Accepted monthly reports.
