Proposal Would Make Forced Sewer Hookup an Option for Lower Nazareth Residents

About 36 homeowners along Christian Springs Road in Lower Nazareth Township can sleep a little easier tonight -- knowing they may not be facing sewer hookup bills of at least $6,300.

A deal is in the works between the township and the Nazareth Municipal Sewer Authority that would allow residents the option -- instead of the requirement -- to hook up to a new sewer line being constructed as part of the Trio Farms development.  The Christian Springs homes are not part of the development.

The deal was announced at Wednesday's township supervisors meeting.

Several residents at the April 27 Board of Supervisors meeting regarding a letter they had received from the sewer authority.  The letter outlined the costs the homeowners would have to bear if they were forced to connect their homes to the new sewer line.

Albert Kortze, the township’s engineer, explained at last month’s meeting that although the letter outlined a total of $6,300 in costs, residents would mostly likely face more fees associated with rerouting their plumbing.

At the request of the board, township manager Timm Tenges met with Alfred Pierce of , the sewer authority’s attorney.  He described the meeting as “fruitful.”

“I made a proposal to the authority after seeing the letter,” Tenges said.  “The proposal would be to reimburse [the authority] for the capped sewer laterals, and in exchange, they would waive the required sewer hook up and no one would have to hook up at any time unless they wanted to.”

Tenges explained that in order to do this, the township would need to put out $90,000 to cover the costs of installing the lateral sewer hookups for each home.  If a homeowner makes the decision to connect, they would then reimburse the township.

Tenges explained after the meeting that money for sewer improvement projects has continually been set aside for more than 25 years.

This means, according to township solicitor Gary Asteak, the money is not coming out of taxpayers' pockets.

“This is not taking any taxpayer money,” Asteak said.  “It’s coming out of a fund specifically for this purpose.”

Asteak recommended the board approve a motion to authorize and present the proposal to the sewer authority.  The board unanimously approved it.

Residents in attendance -- about 25 -- thanked the board for “going to bat for us.”

The next step is for a formal letter to be sent to the authority. The authority's board would take action at its next meeting.

Tenges assured residents that he does not expect any resistance.