Committee recommends advertising ordinance to connect five Byberry Road homes to sewer

The Upper Moreland Township Community Development Committee voted on May 11 to recommend that the Board of Commissioners authorize advertisement of an ordinance to require sewer connections for five homeowners on Byberry Road.

Township Manager Patrick T. Stasio recapped that the Board previously authorized advertising on April 5 and that the Sewer Authority proposed a plan to connect houses between Orangeman Road and Betz Road. A total of eight Byberry Road homes lack sewer service; the five discussed would be required to connect to the new pipe if the ordinance is adopted. Three other houses in the area would connect to a different pipe under the plan.

Stasio told the committee the estimated cost to connect is about $53,000 per house, though actual costs can vary depending on frontage and site conditions. He said four of the five homeowners have agreed to make the connection and the fifth homeowner has declined; that homeowner had previously replaced their private sewer system a few years ago but, according to the ordinance as explained, would be required to connect if the ordinance is adopted.

The committee recommended the Board of Commissioners authorize advertisement of the ordinance at its June 1 regular meeting. No final vote on the ordinance was taken by the committee; any required connections and associated costs would be determined if and when the Board adopts the ordinance.

Why it matters: The proposal would require significant one-time costs for affected homeowners and may affect whether owners choose to remain on private systems or connect to municipal sewer lines.