Bowmanstown samples sent to DEP

Bacteria used to treat sewage at the plant in Bowmanstown died after something entered it by way of raw sewage, a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection official clarified Thursday.

The plant’s operator noticed last month that treated sewage being discharged was “questionable,” said Colleen Connolly, community relations coordinator for DEP’s Northeast Division.

Connolly said the operator then examined the sequential batch reactor, a piece of equipment used to treat waste.

“All biological life was dead in that equipment,” Connolly wrote.

The Bowmanstown plant had been experiencing lower flows, and as a result, was operating just one of its two sequential batch reactors. So, the operator turned on the second reactor.

Connolly said as of Wednesday, life was returning to the reactor, and the quality of treated sewage was improving.

“We will monitor the plant and ensure that the effluent continues to improve,” Connolly wrote.

“As for finding a cause,” she added, “we will wait and see what Bowmanstown’s samples reveal.”

Bowmanstown Borough Council discussed the death of bacteria at the sewage plant at its March meeting, held Tuesday night.

After a resident reported an odor on Hamilton Street, Councilman Rob Moyer said the issue at the plant was to blame.

“The operator’s statement is that when the sewer plant’s operating correctly, you shouldn’t smell anything,” Moyer said. “So, that’s a sign there’s a problem.”

Darren Thomas, a member of Bowmanstown Borough Council and chairman of its sewer, sanitation and authority committee, said wind Tuesday morning actually spread the smell throughout Bowmanstown.