EVANS CITY — The construction of the new sewer plant was impacted by the severe winter weather, but the water and sewer authority chairman says it will be finished by the Dec. 31 state deadline.

Tim Schoeffel said construction on the plant began in November, but the cold and snow slightly slowed up the project’s progress.

“We’re catching up now,” Schoeffel said.

He said contractors are working on the building and preparing for the holding tanks.

The new plant, which will remain at its current location off North Washington Street, is estimated to cost $8.5 million to $9 million and will be financed through an Evans City Water and Sewer Authority bond.

Schoeffel said the existing sewer plant has insufficient capacity and functions poorly during heavy rain. He said last year the state Department of Environmental Protection ordered a new plant be built by the end of 2014.

The new plant will have 40 percent more capacity so customers can be added. The authority now serves about 800 customers, Schoeffel said.

Sewer lines will be extended to add 30 to 40 new customers in Forward Township, Schoeffel said. Mandatory tap-in will cost about $1,100.

Schoeffel said sewer bills are based on water usage. He said the average residential bill is about $45 per month. That amount would increase once the new plant is operating, but he did not know by how much.

“That’s pretty low compared to (other authorities in the area,)” Schoeffel said.

Also, the authority’s billing ordinance is outdated, said Schoeffel, who added the authority board is reviewing it in hopes the borough council will update it.

“We want to bring it up to industry standards,” Schoeffel said.

He said customers who are 10 days late in paying their bills receive a late notice.

“We sent out more than 240 late notices last time,” Schoeffel told council at their March 3 meeting.

He also told council the authority would like to put a payment link on the borough website so water and sewer customers can pay their bill online or have their bill automatically deducted from their bank account.

The board voted to do that. However, council President Lee Dyer asked Schoeffel to provide the board with information that will make the payment link secure.

Dyer said the authority should be commended for its work in creating a treatment plant that will benefit residents for a long time.

“I am very pleased with the work the water and sewer authority is doing,” Dyer said on Monday. “This is a major financial undertaking, and the authority has spent countless hours putting this program together.”