General Information

Are You Insured for Sewage Back-ups?

Sewage back-ups can occur either in the public collection portion of the sewer system or the service sewer lateral connection. The Greater Greensburg Sewage Authority is only responsible for the operation and maintenance on the public portion of the sewer system, until recently this included only the sewer mains. A new policy was recently adopted by the Authority which is posted below.  The individual property owner is responsible for the service sewer from the main into the property unless it meets the conditons set forth in the new policy in which case the property owner is not responsible for the portion of the service sewer located in public paved streets.

The Authority is not liable for property damage caused by sewage back-ups that occur in the poperty owner’s service lateral. The Authority recommends that property owners review their insurance policy coverage with their insurance agent. If your policy does not provide coverage for sewer back-ups, it is highly recommended that all property owners consider purchasing such coverage.

Under state law, the Authority may also not be liable for property damages resulting from a sewage back-up in the public sewer system. The Authority is not liable for any sewage back-ups caused by factors or conditions that are beyond the control of the Authority such as flooding, or if the Authority had no prior knowledge of a condition that could cause a back-up. Under these circumstances, the property owner is responsible for the damages and sewer back-up insurance is again highly recommended.

Should you experience a sewer back-up, contact the Authority in order that we may determine if the cause of the back-up is within the public or private portion of the sewer system.

GGSA Service Line Maintenance Policy

Effective January 1, 2015 the Greater Greensburg Sewage Authority (GGSA) will revise its policy concerning the maintenance of sewer service lines which are located in paved public streets.

It has been the policy of the GGSA that the maintenance and repair of sewer service lines that connect individual customers to the main line collector sewer is the responsibility of the customer.

This responsibility includes the entire service line from its connection to the main to the structure regardless of the location of the main.

Realizing that it may be a hardship for individual customers to perform maintenance and repair of service sewers located in paved public streets, the GGSA will take on that responsibility under the condition that a suitable, watertight sewer cleanout is provided on the service line at or near the curb adjacent to the paved public street. The cleanout shall be suitable to provide the GGSA access to the service sewer in the street for closed circuit televising and for sewer cleaning equipment.

In the event that a customer is experiencing a service sewer problem that is perceived to be located in the paved public street and there is no cleanout available for the GGSA to access the sewer, the customer will be responsible for repairing the problem unless the customer provides accurate video evidence and a precise location of the problem before GGSA will attempt to remedy it.

Recent Capital Improvements

We are currently updating the SCADA System (estimated cost $350,000) at the Plant and the entire Headworks (estimated cost $8,500,000).  The Collection System Repairs currently in process are Contract No. 2023-01 Lynch Field Area Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project ($820,795) and Contract No. 2023-03 Beacon Valley Road Sanitary Sewer Relocation ($92,830)

Rates

User rates for customers of the Greater Greensburg Sewage Authority are $8.50 per 1000 gallons of metered water.   Minimum charges are for 1000 gallons per month, and a new system update fee of $3.00 per EDU per month with a maximum of $100.00 per month.

Residential customers are billed quarterly, a minimum quarterly bill is therefore $25.50 plus $9.00 system update fee.

Water usage is metered by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County and the meter readings are used to bill our customers.

Public Meetings

The Board of the Greater Greensburg Sewage Authority conducts monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is held at the business office located at 210 West Otterman Street in Greensburg. The Meetings are open to the Public. On occasion, meeting dates may be changed or special meetings may be scheduled. For all changes or additions to the meeting schedule, legal advertisement will be made in the Tribune-Review. The Public is urged to attend meetings to voice any concerns they may have with regard to the operations of the GGSA and to learn of ongoing storm water issues.

Policies

Dye Testing & Property Certifications

As detailed in Resolution 2005-1, before any real estate with improvements within the Greater Greensburg Sewage Authority system may be sold, a dye test must be performed to certify that the property is in compliance with the resolution. Anyone proposing to sell real estate must request a dye test 30 days prior to closing. In addition, a Property Certification (No-Lien Letter) with an estimated Final Billing amount, must be requested no less than 5 days before Closing.

Tap Fees and Permits

Tap-in permits are required for all new construction. Based on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) requirements, one tap-in permit is required for each Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) which represents up to 400 gallons per day. The fee for a tap-in permit is $1,500.  Please note the Exemptions (Post Cards) requests are not authorized for new land development proposals tributary to the Greater Greensburg Wastewater Treatment Facility.  Planning Modules must be submitted for any proposed project in accordance with the requirements listed in Chapter 71, Administration of the Sewage Facilities Planning Program.