ZELIENOPLE — The borough may sell two pieces of property that are tied to its former water distribution system, the former water plant and the property that included its raw water storage reservoirs just behind North Gate Plaza in Jackson Township.

Borough council Monday night directed its solicitor Anne Sweeney to draw up the documentation to put the water plant, its equipment and property up for sale.

The council will decide at its next meeting whether to pay for an appraisal of the property that includes the water reservoirs and a portion of property that fronts Route 19 that includes its salt storage shed.

The borough began accepting all of its drinking water from the Beaver Falls Authority last fall and idled its former water distribution plant.

Councilman Russ Robertson was initially concerned about selling the water plant on North Green Lane because he said the only people who might be interested in buying an idled water plant are companies looking to treat wastewater from Marcellus natural gas well drilling.

However, borough engineer Tom Thompson said that scenario would be unlikely because it would take extensive work to bring the plant up to state Department of Environmental Protection standards.

He added the property is zoned for industrial use and that operation may not be permitted in that zoning district.

The property also is in a flood plain, which limits what can be built there, said Thompson.

The idled water plant flooded when the Connoquenessing Creek overflowed its banks from the major storm from the remnants of Hurricane Ivan in 2004. It cost the borough thousands of dollars to get it back in operation and was one of the deciding factors in the borough getting out of the water business.

Council also is looking to sell property where its water storage reservoirs are behind the North Gate Plaza. The storage ponds have been drained and will likely be filled later with dirt.

Council is determining if there is any value to the property and whether combining it with adjacent property the borough owns that includes the salt storage facility would make the property more attractive for buyers.

The salt shed may be relocated as council continues to study the possibility of building a new public works facility.