This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Is The Newtown Public Sewer Plan The Best That It Can Be?

Newtown Township is required to have a comprehensive plan for sewage facilities in the township.  This plan is reviewed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to ensure, among other requirements, that the township is committed to implementing the plan.  It is also supposed to be a plan which represents the best plan for residents including consideration for need and cost.  The Township just received approval of their latest version of this plan.

On the Township website, Manager Trio has posted a notice which, I believe, is misleading in its proclamation.  It seems to me that the notice attempts to self congratulate the current leadership and management as if they were heroes in this process.  In fact, the township officials, management and municipal authority together over the last five years has spent(or more accurately wasted) at least $800,000 on sewage facilities planning. 

And this latest approval is only the first step toward providing public sewers for some areas of the township.  There are still issues to be resolved, engineering and further planning and permitting before public sewers are a reality for those who need them. Current leadership has made a priority, in my view, providing sewage facilities for new development.  They have seemingly ignored the concerns of residents even though residents have attended meetings and written letters expressing concerns. Yet another plan as been approved.  But this plan, in my view, still needs work.
 
This plan expands the Camelot pump station(doesn't move it, doesn't rebuild it), just expands it to take on at least 4 times more flow.  This is the same pump station that the residents of Camelot Lane have repeatedly complained to the township about its noise, odor and malfunction.  This plan just makes it bigger.

This plan puts a pump station at the end of a cul de sac in my neighborhood of Echo Valley.  It puts a pump station very close to homes on Hunt Valley Circle. So, here we go again.  It is my view that NO EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD should have a pump station so close to their homes.  They didn't buy their homes with this next to them and undoubtedly this will reduce the value of their homes.

This plan turns the Springton Pointe wastewater treatment plant into a giant pump station.  It still has not been explained as to why this is the case.  There is another route. Current leadership just did not pursue it.  

Residents tried to get the current leadership to make this the best plan for all in this community.  When the changes needed weren't made, residents wrote comment letters to the PA Department of Environmental Protection hoping that the DEP would direct the township to make these changes.
How unfortunate that the DEP did not request that any of these changes be made. Residents have tried their best to participate in the process.

Let's hope the dialogue about this plan continues. Let's hope remaining issues with this plan are resolved intelligently and amicably. Along with others in the community, I believe that a competent, comprehensive plan for public sewers benefits the entire community. 

Read the attached approval letter.  If you have questions, contact Township Manager Trio and/or the Supervisors.  If you have concerns about a pump station near or next to your home, contact Township Manager Trio and/or the Supervisors.  Thanks to all who have participated.  It is my hope that  residents' participation and commitment continues so that this plan is good for all.

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