West Penn works to resolve Andreas sewer system problem

West Penn Township officials continue to do their part to help neighboring property owners who live near a malfunctioning sewer system in the Andreas area.

Many residents attended a meeting held specifically on the matter Monday before the start of the board of supervisors regular meeting.

Reached this morning, board Chairman Tony Prudenti explained where the situation stands.

“What we kind of came up with was a couple people had volunteered to take care of some of their issues,” Prudenti said. “It was a gray water thing, more of a plumbing deal.”

Prudenti discussed the township’s next course of action.

“We are going to send out maps and letters again to everyone in that area to see if there’s any way we can help them with Community Development Block Grant funding, low-interest loans, to see whatever we can do to help them square up that problem,” he said. “Then we are going to start going after some of the other areas in the township that are problem areas, we are going to send out letters to everyone.”

Prudenti said the goal is for property owners with similar issues to try to do their part to correct the issue.

“We’re trying to make it that we don’t have to put in a sewer plant,” he said. “That’s our hope, anyway.”

Last month, supervisors held a special meeting attended by several neighboring property owners who live near the malfunctioning sewer system in the Andreas area.

Supervisors said at that time those residents should agree to work together to help the township cut down on the cost to correct the issue.

Prudenti said at that meeting there were three alternatives under the Act 537 plan for the Andreas area: An on-lot sewage management program ($67,600); a packaged wastewater treatment facility ($1.4 million); and a community on-lot disposal system ($1.1 million).

In the meantime, a holding tank has been put in as a temporary solution, supervisors said.