Sewer Authority Faces Funding Setback as Officials Won’t Back Grant

According to Collegeville officials, funding the upper portion of the Lower Perkiomen Valley Regional Sewer Authority’s $15 million middle interceptor project will be harder than once thought, as two local officials refuse to support the grant until the issues between the LPVRSA and Lower Providence Township can be settled regarding the placement of the sewer lines.

Collegeville Borough Council President Terrie Stagliano said that State Representatives Matt Bradford, Marcy Toepel and State Senator Andy Dinneman will support a $5 million PennWorks grant to go towards the $11 million price tag for the upper middle interceptor, but State Representative Mike Vereb and State Senator John Rafferty will not support the grant due to an ongoing conflict between the LPVRSA and Lower Providence Township regarding roughly 2,400 linear feet of sewer piping along the Perkiomen Creek.

The Perkiomen Creek Debate

Roughly six years ago, according to LPVRSA leadership, all municipalities served by the body – Lower and Upper Providence, Perkiomen and Skippack townships and Collegeville and Trappe Boroughs – agreed on the plan, which would place the lines on the Lower Providence side of the creek, parallel to the current pipes which sit on the Upper Providence side.

Beginning in 2009, 16 Lower Providence homeowners in the area – with support of the township –  publically opposed the plan, as it would disrupt an archeological site and would “destroy” Hoy Park.

The proposed solution was to create a pump station to install the pipes on the Lower Providence side of the creek, but to avoid the questionable areas, though at an expense of between $8 and $10 million according to the LPVRSA.

In 2010, it came to light that, due to a technical issue, the plan for the sewer line was rejected, requiring another unanimous vote in support of one of the plans, though Lower Providence was not in agreement with the other municipalities.

LPVRSA contends – in opposition to the Lower Providence residents - that the trenches are not big enough for the larger pipes to be installed on the Upper Providence side, and that the slopes of the creek will make the installation more difficult, and more expensive.

Five of the six LPVRSA board voted in April to amend the plan, which avoided the area of Hoy Park and the archeological site in Lower Providence, but did include some lines along the Lower Providence portion of the creek, which was not acceptable to the Lower Providence residents, who believe the pipes should stay on the Upper Providence side.

Lower Providence did not vote to approve the new plan, which will now be sent back to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for review.

As the need for increased capacity is becoming more pressing in the area, the LPVRSA’s stance is to finish the parts of the line that are agreed upon, including the upper-middle interceptor, so that when the middle-middle interceptor location is decided, the project will be all the closer to being completed.

A ‘Clash of the Titans’

Stagliano said that Lower Providence is interested in getting the upper part of the interceptor done, and that it is “not in contention” – but that is not enough for Vereb, who was told to “Bug Out” of the process by the LPVRSA in August.

“There is a clash of the titans coming and it will mean nothing more than lawyers battling the issues out in court, all of which will continue to cost the tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Vereb said.  “Speaking for myself, I do not object to bringing money to help with the project, but I cannot sign a letter knowing the taxpayers are being taken for a ride.”

Stagliano said that she did not know if Vereb and Rafferty, who are two of the more powerful officials in their respective caucuses, would end the chances of getting the grant.

The board did agree, however, that it could mean rising rates for constituents if the grand is blocked.