Regional Sewer Authority to Elected Officials: 'Bug Out'

The Lower Perkiomen Valley Regional Sewer Authority (LPVRSA) is sending a letter to elected officials in the area – and statewide – asking them to stop interfering with the proposed interceptor project, according to Richard Kratz.

Kratz is the Perkiomen Township representative to the LPVRSA, which provides wastewater treatment to Lower Providence, Upper Providence, Perkiomen and Skippack Townships, and Collegeville and Trappe Boroughs.

“Outsiders are trying to get involved in this and be helpful,” Kratz said during the meeting August 7 Perkiomen Township Board of Supervisors meeting. “All it does is cause more confusion than we already have.”

The letter, which was obtained on Tuesday exclusively by the Perkiomen Valley Patch, highlights the history of the board, created in 1987, and occasional conflicts. According to Kratz, he drafted the letter with Perkiomen Township Manager Cecile Daniel, and it has been approved by the LPVRSA board. It will go out to all six municipalities in the region, as well as all sewer authorities, elected officials, and the Governor Tom Corbett.

“As in any situation, there have been times when not all parties have been in agreement with the final decisions made by this Authority,” the letter states. “Those tough decisions were made for the benefit of the group as a whole and not the few.”

This letter comes on the heels of a joint meeting on July 30 between some staff and attorneys for the LPVRSA, the DEP, State Senator John Rafferty and State Representative Mike Vereb, in an attempt to work out issues concerning the Lower Providence portion of the Perkiomen Valley Interceptor.

and township officials oppose the planned interceptor, as they believe it will cause environmental damage and safety issues at the Perkiomen Creek near Hoy Park in Lower Providence.

According to Kratz, the alternative would be to add a pump station in the area that could cost the LPVRSA as much as $10 million and $300,000 in yearly operating fees.

While the letter does not specifically outline all of the issues related to this middle interceptor, the board is very clear about its decision-making process.

 “There will be those who disagree with the final decision to move forward with the installation of the middle interceptor in the location where it is presently being proposed,” LPVRSA says in the letter. “Interference by others in trying to intervene in this matter creates more confusion to a situation that is already stressful. As a result, for those individuals that feel their interference is intended to be of assistance, STOP.”

“The regional board is running this show and until we ask for help, we won’t accept it,” Kratz said.

Kratz did tell residents to “keep your eyes out” for local town hall meetings in each of the six municipalities at which the LVPRSA will discuss the issues and solicit feedback directly from residents.

Editor's note: You can view the letter from the LPVRSA in its entirety in our media section above.

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