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September 13, 2007
TO THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA:
I am returning herewith as disapproved Bill No. 070342, passed by City Council on June 14, 2007. This Bill would amend Section 14-1605 by adding a section for Special Regulated uses and adding overflow storage tanks, generally used for sewage, as such a use. The Bill also provides that no special regulated use shall be permitted within 1,500 feet of residentially zoned district (regardless of the actual uses contained therein), specifically, applying to the Sixth and Tenth Councilmanic Districts.
The passage of this legislation will make it difficult for the Water Department to maintain and protect the quality of the environment and provide treatment of the City's sanitary waste. This Bill also restricts the City's ability to comply with federal and state laws that require the proper management of our wastewater system. In short, this legislation restricts the City's ability to protect public health by eliminating a viable and proven technology used by many municipalities. Also, it limits the City's ability to address basement flooding due to intense rain events. Currently, the City has identified two locations where the sanitary system is overwhelmed during severe storm events, which results in sewage overflowing the system and flowing into streams. Through intensive hydraulic analysis, the Water Department has determined that capturing the overflow volume in underground storage tanks and subsequently, pumping the stored volume back into the system for treatment is a safe and effective solution. These storage tanks could be used in flood prone areas where properties get flooded during very intense rainstorms.
I am aware of the community concerns that residents have raised about these storage tanks. Residents believe that their property values will decrease, however, the presence of such a tank will have no more effect on property value than t...
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