Buckingham Buys Valve Exerciser

Buckingham supervisors on Wednesday approved purchasing a valve exerciser for the township’s water and sewer department.

The cost for the multiple-use piece of machinery: $48,500.

Jill Pistory, township finance director, said the township had included money in the budget to buy the equipment.

In order for underground valves to remain in good working condition, they need to be “exercised” periodically – opening and shutting them.

The township has about 2,000 valves in its system, according to Tom Kelso of Castle Valley Consultants Inc., the township’s water and wastewater advisors.

The equipment would locate the underground valves – “sometimes the hardest thing to do,” said Kelso, since many are located in areas that are paved over.

It also has vacuum equipment that would allow the valve box to be cleaned out.

Pistory said the pricing on a new valve exerciser was just over $64,000. The township is able to acquire a demo model through state contracts, used for only 20 hours, at the lower cost.

The demo model is six months old, still has six months left on the warranty and has more accessories than the new model, she said.

Graham Orton, director of the water and sewer department, observed it in use and was satisfied with the results, Pistory said.

Supervisor Henry Rowan, who said he has advocated purchasing a valve exerciser for the last 15 years, said he would like to see an accounting of valves that are exercised.

Kelso said recommendations are that valves should be exercised every five years as an important part of maintenance.

Of the 80 valves in the Cold Spring Hunt community, for example, seven are considered problematic, said Kelso.

The valve exerciser should “help speed up that process and make it more efficient,” he said.