BUFFALO TWP — The Municipal Authority of Buffalo Township, which provides the township with public water and sewage, was given the green light to begin work on a capacity expansion of its sewage treatment plant, located on Monroe Road.

The township’s board of supervisors gave its approval during its monthly meeting on Wednesday night, May 13.

According to Doug Siler, civil engineer for Gibson-Thomas Engineering, the proposed expansion — once finished — will bring hydraulic capacity at the plant from 0.89 MGD (million gallons per day) to 1.3 MGD. Siler says that this expansion is necessary to support future development in Buffalo Township.

“We’re rapidly approaching the limit,” Siler said. “With any future development in the township, we have to be prepared to accept that existing additional hydraulic loading.”

The capacity expansion will involve the construction of new aeration tanks, sludge holding tanks, and a new equipment building, along with a new connection between the Monroe Road pump station to the sewage plant, consisting of 7,100 feet of new 16-inch force main, or pressurized sewer pipe.

The site of the sewage plant expansion intersects with land that is part of the Butler-Freeport Community Trail. Siler assured the board of supervisors that the construction process would minimize disruptions to trail users, as well as any regularly scheduled events on the trail, such as 5K races, half-marathons and bike rides.

“There's going to be some coordination and some maneuvering we have to do,” Siler said. “We’ll have to deal with the trail people to make sure we try to minimize our disruptions to the trail users and whatnot.”

According to a representative from Gibson-Thomas, construction on the facility expansion is not likely to commence until 2027, while the Municipal Authority seeks the necessary construction and operating permits.