Authority Eyes Movement on Plumbing Standards

The Pottstown Borough Authority approved the erecting of a $15,000 sign similar to this on the pump house property it owns on Armand Hamer Boulevard. It will be the third such sign in the borough.

So I went in to the Pottstown Borough Authority meeting not knowing what to expect.

After all, its not as if the agenda gives any clues about what might come up or be discussed. And lately, they have been pretty quick and pretty routine.

As usual, the staff and borough authority discussed routine items; the schedule of replacing sewer lines, the repair schedule on the sewer treatment plant dryer; where the various funds stand.

It wasn't until the end of the meeting that board member Aram Ecker, a licensed plumber, raised what was apparently a long-simmering point.

He said many professionals have expressed to him that the standards and materials required for water lines to the home and other items, are out of pace with the international code adopted by most municipalities in Pennsylvania.

Public Works Director Doug Yerger said experience demonstrated that the standards the borough requires, like using flared copper pipes to make connections, have proven more durable over the years.

To be honest, much of the conversation was technical and beyond my understanding. Best not to try to reproduce it at this point, given that the potential for error is rather high.

I will say that Authority Board Chairman Tom Carroll, who said pipe-fitting is his businesses, and he thinks the subject warrants further discussion.

So over the course of the next few meetings, they will apparently be discussing it some more.

In the meantime, here are the Tweets from last night's meeting.