Westmoreland County municipal authority takes over East Huntingdon sewer plant

The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County on Wednesday finalized a deal to take ownership and operate a tiny sewer system in East Huntingdon that serves about 700 township residents.

The deal transfers ownership of the township’s 250 million gallon treatment plant to the county authority. Officials said the 20-year-old facility needs about $2 million in repairs and upgrades. The authority will move ahead with an $11 million project to expand sewer service to another 700 township residents. Construction for the expansion is not expected to begin until 2022.

The sale does not involve any exchange of money. East Huntingdon will retain about $500,000 in cash on hand earned from the sewer operation, township officials said. Sewer rates for East Huntingdon customers will be frozen for the next two years as part of the deal.

“We’re excited. It will be a good acquisition and ties in with our operations,” said authority manager Michael Kukura.

East Huntingdon supervisors approved the deal earlier this month.

Joel Suter, chairman of the township board of supervisors, said Wednesday that local residents are expected to receive better service through the sale of the sewer system to the county authority, which already serves as the township’s water provider.

“The water authority already did our billing, so this made sense. And, the township will save a considerable amount by not operating the sewer plant,” Suter said.

Once exclusively a water company, the county authority in 2001 branched out into the sewer business with the purchase of the wastewater operation owned by Avonmore Borough. In the last two decades, the authority has purchased 14 sewer systems and, with the East Huntingdon acquisition, the county utility will have about 30,000 sewer customers in addition to almost 122,000 water customers in five counties.

“Wastewater is our second-largest revenue source and our fourth-largest expense. We are making a good acquisition and we want to grow and keep our rates steady,” said MAWC board chairman Randy Roadman.