Council says no to Lancaster's pipeline, but it might come through anyway

This map shows City of Lancaster's proposed route for a 42-inch diameter pipeline to be run through Columbia Borough. The route would run down Manor Street, from 15th Street to 4th Street, then across 4th Street to Mill Street, over Mill and down to the existing station at the river. A 6- to 7-foot wide trench running the length of the line would need to be dug.

Columbia Borough Council has voted to send a letter of non-support for Lancaster City's proposed pipeline project that would require digging up most of Manor Street, a block of South 4th, and half of Mill Street. 

Tuesday's vote came after Borough Manager Steven Kaufhold told council that the City of Lancaster is urging support from Columbia Borough for the project. All municipalities affected are asked for letters of support to help Lancaster obtain a bond through a PENNVEST Application for Financial Assistance. As part of the application process, the City must provide documentation that the project is consistent with local land planning efforts, according to correspondence from a City of Lancaster representative. The project will span portions of Columbia Borough, West Hempfield Township, Mountville Borough, and East Hempfield Township.

Unfortunately, a letter might not be enough to derail the decision to go through Columbia. "It's a PUC. We may not have a lot of chances of stopping this," Kaufhold said, but added there are options: The proposed pipeline could run the same route as the existing line, and there are other areas where the line could be brought through. He said going through Columbia is just the easiest way for them to do it.

Councilman Kelly Murphy said, "They didn't really present what their other options were. 

It might be more cost for them, but going through some farmland, that's going to do a lot less disturbance than cutting through a whole town."

Kaufhold expressed frustration with the lack of information from officials, stating that some questions remain unanswered. 

"How are our fire trucks going to get out?" Kaufhold asked, noting that the line would run directly in front of the fire station. "Are we going to shut down Manor Street for weeks, months, over the winter? A lot of these questions we couldn't get answered," Kaufhold said. "In my opinion, we take the brunt of this with literally no gain. So, I can't support this."

Resident Sharon Lintner noted that pipeline construction could also affect the sale of the former McGinness Innovation Park.

Project Details
Lancaster is seeking approval to install a 42-inch diameter transmission line along Manor Street, from 15th Street down to 4th Street, then across 4th Street to Mill, over Mill and down to the existing station at the river. (Kaufhold estimated that a 6- to 7-foot wide trench running the length of the line would need to be dug.)

Phase 2 runs from Mountville to Columbia 

Phase 3 runs through Columbia 

The other end of the pipeline will run from 15th Street and continue east up Route 462 into Mountville. 

The project is scheduled to begin within two years, with the potential for Manor Street to be under construction for six months.

The pipeline is part of Lancaster's water system upgrade. Currently, a low service pump station in Columbia Borough at 10 Union Street conveys raw water through a 1.2-mile, 42-inch transmission main to the Susquehanna Water Treatment Plant. From there, treated water travels through a five-mile transmission main to serve the distribution system.