History

Much of the sewer collection system was built circa 1938 as can be seen forged in manhole lids around the Borough. The first treatment plant was located immediately north of Boyertown High School, near the lower parking areas. The Borough built a new treatment plant at its current location, on Bartman Avenue, in 1963.

Passage of the Clean Water Act in the 1970's [http://www.epa.gov/r5water/cwa.htm], and other environmental concerns, raised the bar on the quality of the water allowed to discharge into waterways of the Commonwealth. Today, the PA Department of Environmental Protection issues and enforces treatment plant effluent discharges. The Borough applies for a discharge permit every five years, which the Department issues with generally tighter quality standards.

The Borough has responded by adding treatment improvements and technical know-how.

In 1978 the 'activated sludge' process was added to breakdown ammonia, and in the 1980's, sand filters were added to improve removal of suspended solids. A belt filter press was installed in 1990 to dewater sludge and lower sludge disposal costs. In 1994, the Borough contracted with a professional water operations company, Inframark, to manage the wastewater system.