Township engineer Drew Null points to preliminary plans for Connoquenessing Township's sewer system during a board of supervisors meeting on Wednesday, March 4. William Pitts/Butler Eagle

CONNOQUENESSING TWP — After months of work, township officials are moving forward with a revised Act 537 sewer plan ahead of the September deadline to resubmit one to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Township supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday evening, July 1, to approve advertising the new plan. With this approval, a 30-day public comment and review period is tentatively set to begin July 8.

The approval follows an informational meeting hosted by the township Monday regarding the sewer plan.

Supervisor Mark Williams said officials chose the Alternative D-1 plan, which uses a gravity system and lift station to service 127 equivalent dwelling units.

“The prior plan was the $53 million plan that involved 800 EDUs. We are specifically looking at narrowing down the scope to only what the DEP is asking for and that’s only 127 EDUs. So with less EDUs, it still makes it expensive. However, when we go after grants or loans, we have a much better opportunity to cover the cost of that $9 million plan,” Supervisor Angela Fleeger said Wednesday.

They also decided to defer implementation of the Alternative B2B plan, which also uses a gravity system and lift station to service 115 equivalent dwelling units.

“Initial infrastructure investment (Alternative D-1) is targeted to areas of largest identified needs and can be implemented independent of other alternatives,” the presentation, which was uploaded to the township’s website, read.

The two chosen plans will minimize impact on agricultural areas while providing for anticipated growth, the presentation read.

Alternative D-1 is anticipated to cost $9.15 million, with the township looking to have the lion’s share covered by PENNVEST and other state grant and loan programs.

For affordability concerns, a key point in the prior plan’s denial, the township targeted a user rate of $120 or 1.7% of the average township resident’s median household income to $200 per month or 2.8% of the MHI.

Based on analyses included in the presentation, the township would need $6.1 million in grant funds to reach a monthly cost of $142.64, or 2% of the median household income. To lower that monthly cost to $107.04, or 1.5% of the MHI, the township would need $7.5 million in grants.

The presentation estimates approval in January 2027, PENNVEST funding awarded in April 2028, bidding in October 2028, construction beginning in March 2029 and completion in September 2030.

Work began on a township sewage plan in 2023 when the township received a letter from the DEP stating it was in violation of the 1966 Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act for failing to implement public sewage.

In July 2025, the board voted 2-1 to submit a plan that faced backlash from residents. However, the plan was rejected in December of that year — primarily due to high resident costs and agricultural impacts.

The department initially gave the township until July 1 to submit a revised plan, but the township was able to request and receive an extension through Sept. 1. Since then, Fleeger and two new township supervisors, Williams and Ray Kroll, have been working alongside the municipality’s engineer to craft several potential plans.

Public comments on the plan will be accepted by email or in-person at borough offices during the public comment period, which is tentatively set for July 8 through Aug. 7. A special meeting is expected in August to approve the plan and submission to the DEP.