Customers Must Test All Water Going To Johnstown Sewage Plant

The city of Johnstown has been threatened for some time with federal fines and penalties if it doesn't fix sewage problems. But it's not just people who live in the city who now have to make changes.

Many municipalities are linked into the Johnstown sewer system, which means thousands of homes have sewage running into Johnstown's Sewage Treatment Plant. Now, all of those municipalities' water must be tested to see if they're part of the problem.

"What they have to do now is pressure test any line that's underground, under slab...under the basement floor that goes into the sewer system," said George Burkey of the Jackson/East Taylor Sewer Authority.

Thursday morning, officials with the Jackson/East Township authorities said they are doing just that. They're making sure there are no cracks, breaks or extra water lines leaking into the system because that water runs into the Conemaugh River.

While the test itself isn't that expensive, the results could be.

"The redevelopment authority is going to surcharge us for every drop of rainwater that goes into their system," Burkey said.

Homeowners have until the end of the year to do the tests and people can contact their local sewer authority to get a list of people qualified to do it.