Low Pressure Sanitary Sewer Systems – A Case Study

The Borough of Hopatcong, New Jersey undertook a major sanitary sewer collection system project to provide public sewer service to replace individual septic systems that were adversely affecting groundwater and surface water quality. The Borough was faced with a major challenge to provide sewer service to the many residential homes and businesses located along 6.9 km of lakefront shoreline in a cost-effective and environmentally conscious manner. A key component of the collection system was the utilization of low pressure sewers with individual grinder pumps along the lakefront.The low pressure sewers were instrumental in the success of the project, which provided a sustainable solution that resulted in improved surface water and groundwater quality. The project demonstrated that low pressure sewer systems provide a cost-effective and environmentally-sound solution for sewering challenging areas that include steep slopes, hallow depths to rock and groundwater, wooded areas, and dense development along small lakefront lots.