Recent Wastewater Discharges in Allegheny River

The City of Olean is aware that wastewater discharges to the Allegheny River during significant wet weather events causes the community a great deal of distress, we can assure the public that we do everything in our power to reduce the frequency, duration and impact of these events. As unfortunate as these events are, it’s an acceptable emergency measure taken to protect public health by keeping this material out of homes, businesses and public occupied spaces. The city continues its efforts to mitigate inflow and infiltration by allocating $250,000 annually to lining the sanitary sewer infrastructure, this along with the enforcement of city code to disconnect roof drains and sump pumps from the sanitary sewer brings us in compliance with the DEC consent order issued 2001. Our most recent calculations of the bypass event which was originally reported at an estimation of 186,000 gallons has come in at an actual 46,500 gallons of untreated wastewater which was diluted by 139,500 gallons of stormwater.

The SPDES permitted discharge from the wastewater treatment facility was, is and continues to be in full compliance with all parameters of its permit. The city has invested $22,000,000 in the upgrade and expansion of the treatment facility to ensure compliance with all parameters of its permit including but not limited to the amount of flow it processes.

The City of Olean takes public health and environmental compliance very seriously, we strive to continually assess our practices and facilities to utilize public funds in the most practical manner possible to achieve wastewater treatment and environmental compliance at a rate that is affordable for our community.