Water from the authority, sewer from the borough
Elizabethtown splits its utilities between two public bodies. Drinking water comes from the Elizabethtown Area Water Authority, which publishes an annual water quality report. Sewer service is the borough’s.
Knowing which is which saves time when something goes wrong:
- Water main break, low pressure on the street, discoloured or odd-tasting water: the water authority.
- Sewage in the street or a problem at the main: the borough.
- Leaks, clogs, water heaters and anything on your property, including the sewer lateral: a plumber.
What borough code says about owners
Elizabethtown’s sewer code ties responsibility to whoever holds the deed. The person named on the deed is responsible for sewer service charges, even if no application was ever signed. When a property is connected to the sewer, the owner funds a deposit covering the borough’s actual cost of making the connection.
Two practical takeaways:
- If you are buying, unpaid sewer charges and the condition of the lateral both become your concern at closing. A sewer camera inspection during the inspection period is inexpensive insurance, and our repair versus replacement guide helps if it finds trouble.
- If you own a rental, the tenant may pay the bill day to day, but the deed holder remains responsible.
A mid-century borough
Census estimates put the median Elizabethtown home at 1964, with about a quarter built in 1939 or earlier, close to half before 1960 and another fifth between 1960 and 1979. Around four in ten homes are detached houses and one in five is attached.
The usual repair list reflects that mix. Older houses near the centre bring clay and cast iron laterals and the occasional galvanized line; post-war houses bring ageing water heaters, worn shutoff valves, sump pumps and copper that eventually develops pinholes. If the water bill rises with nothing visibly wet, run the meter check in leak detection.
Reading your water quality report
The water authority’s annual report is worth five minutes even if your water seems fine. Look for:
- Hardness, which tells you how fast sediment and scale will build up in a tank water heater and on fixtures. Harder water means flushing the heater more often.
- Lead and copper results, and what the authority says about service line materials in its system.
- Any notices or violations and what was done about them.
If something in the report raises a question about your own pipes, a plumber can check the service line material and the condition of your heater on the same visit.
Planned replacements beat emergency ones
In a borough where much of the housing dates from the 1950s through the 1970s, the most common emergencies are predictable failures of parts that have simply reached the end of their life. A failing water heater, a seized main shutoff or a cracked washing machine hose can flood a basement in minutes. Replacing them on your schedule costs less than replacing them, and the drywall, after they let go.
The coldest winter lows on our list
The nearest NOAA station with temperature normals records roughly 122 nights a year at or below freezing and an average winter low near 21°F, the lowest average winter low of any area we cover. Deep cold is when pipes on exterior walls, in crawlspaces and over garages freeze, and when outdoor faucets left on in the fall split behind the wall.
Before winter:
- Shut off and drain outdoor faucets from inside.
- Insulate pipes in unheated spaces and seal gaps where cold air reaches them.
- On the coldest nights, let a thin stream of cold water run at faucets on outside walls and open the cabinet doors beneath them.
- Keep the heat at 55°F or higher if you travel.
If a pipe does split, shut the main and follow burst and frozen pipe repair. Cold incoming water also makes a tank water heater work harder, so winter is when weak heaters give out.
Drains and laterals
Repeat clogs in the main line point to the lateral rather than a single fixture; drain cleaning explains how to tell the difference, and sewer line repair covers the fixes once a camera has found the cause. Keep sump pumps and downspouts discharging outside, not into the sewer; see sump pump repair.
Local contacts
Water: Elizabethtown Area Water Authority. Sewer: Borough of Elizabethtown. Sources, including the borough code sections, are linked below.
Elizabethtown plumbing questions
Who supplies water in Elizabethtown?
The Elizabethtown Area Water Authority.
Who is responsible for sewer charges at a rental property?
Borough code places responsibility on the person named on the deed, even if no application was signed.
Who pays to connect a property to the sewer?
The owner funds a deposit that covers the borough’s actual cost of making the connection.
How cold does it get for pipes here?
Elizabethtown’s nearest climate station has the lowest average winter low of the areas we cover, around 21°F, with roughly 122 freezing nights a year.
My house was built in the 1960s. What should I replace before it fails?
The water heater if it is past its warranty, the main shutoff valve if it won’t close fully, washing machine hoses, and any galvanized sections. A camera look at the lateral is worth it if drains have ever backed up. Our how calls work page explains what to ask when you call.