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Salem supervisors fund Crabtree-area sewage feasibility study; no new plant planned
Summary
The Salem Township Board authorized an $8,515 transfer to cover a Morris Knowles feasibility study for Crabtree-area sewer expansion. Engineers propose pumping flows to 14‑mile run (currently ~30% capacity); Unity and funding options remain under review before public release.
The Salem Township Board of Supervisors on Oct. 16 approved transferring $8,515 from the Special Projects account to the Sewage Revenue account to pay Morris Knowles for a feasibility study on extending sewer service in the Crabtree area.
Kerry Jobe, a Salem Township supervisor, said the feasibility study is "almost complete. The PowerPoint presentation is complete. Everything looks promising but we must review it internally and discuss it with Unity before sharing with the public." The board voted unanimously to authorize the transfer.
According to the presentation materials summarized at the meeting, the current designs under consideration include Forbes Road, Coal Hollow, Crabtree and Hannastown; Totteridge would not be tied in initially. The plan does not call for construction of a new treatment plant. Instead, flows would be pumped to 14‑mile run, which meeting materials indicate is operating at about 30% of capacity; the study estimates the proposed connections would add roughly 22 percentage points of load to that system.
Residents asked about timing for a public meeting and about private funding options. Resident Ed Rebitch referenced a firm called Sustainability Partners and said private investment could finance projects off the township's books and be repaid through user fees; meeting minutes record that the board acknowledged such models as a possible funding route but that details remain to be worked out.
Next steps described by the board include an internal review and coordinated discussions with Unity (the municipal utility partner) before the township schedules a public presentation of the study findings. The motion passed unanimously (Bob Zundel, Kenneth Trumbetta and Kerry Jobe voting in favor).
