Freeport seeking more grants for sewage plant to lessen expected rate hikes

Freeport officials are grateful for the recent $11 million state grant for their new sewage treatment plant. But with a $16.9 million price tag, there’s more work to do.

The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PennVEST) awarded the $11 million grant last month. Borough council is seeking to pay for the remaining plant cost with a combination of more grants and a loan to bridge the $5.9 million gap.

Kevin Creagh of KLH Engineering presented council with an updated analysis last week. At present, the average customer’s water/sewage bill is $36 a month. With a $5.9 million loan at 3.18% interest, the monthly bill would more than double, rising to $85 a month.

An affordability study said the average customer could be expected to pay $70 a month. That’s based on the $42,250 median household income of Freeport residents. Two percent of that median income is expected to pay for its sanitation usage.

Council members said they will continue to pursue a grant so borrowing can be reduced, allowing average rates to be set at $70 a month.

The current facility is unable to process all of the material sent to the plant, with some raw sewage spilling into Buffalo Creek near its junction with the Allegheny River.