Middletown Township finds itself at a pivotal moment as residents voice concerns over a proposed $128 million wastewater treatment plant by the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority. The project is aimed at addressing capacity issues and enhancing local control over wastewater management with advanced Aqua Nereda technology, which can treat up to 2.5 million gallons per day. Positioned on a 17.5-acre site bought earlier this year for $9 million, the plant will discharge treated water into either Core Creek or Neshaminy Creek. The location near Lower Silver Lake Road, University Drive, the Newtown Bypass, and the border with Middletown Township has stirred significant local apprehension, highlighting the community’s complex relationship with infrastructural developments.
Residents’ Concerns Over Proximity and Odor
During a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, numerous Middletown Township residents voiced their fears about the new wastewater plant being too close to homes, businesses, and community spaces. The main concerns included potential odors, impacts on property values, environmental and health risks, and daily life disruptions. Representing the authority, engineer Terry Funk and Vice Chairperson Jerry Schenkman sought to ease these worries by assuring residents that modern technology would minimize both odor and noise. They also emphasized the long-term cost savings the new plant could bring compared to remaining reliant on the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority.
A recurring worry among the residents is the emission of unpleasant odors. Gary Sondermeyer, an environmental permitting official, highlighted the notorious difficulty of completely eliminating odors despite advancements in plant technology. Echoing his sentiments, residents like Peter Jordan argued that any technological malfunction, such as a pump failure, could release harmful sewer gases into surrounding neighborhoods. In response, Funk cited successful odor control at similar advanced designs, such as one implemented in Kansas, demonstrating that modern technology could indeed mitigate this issue effectively.
Impact on Property Values and Local Businesses
The proposed plant’s proximity to various small businesses, daycares, gyms, and a developing Wawa convenience store has also led community members to express anxiety. Sondermeyer and other residents worried about the potential decrease in property values due to having a wastewater plant nearby, suspecting that it might negatively influence real estate desirability in the area. Skepticism ran high regarding the authority’s claims of the plans being preliminary, with residents suspecting that the project’s approval was imminent due to the significant preliminary investments, including the $9 million site purchase made earlier this year.
Environmental impacts and health risks were other major areas of concern. Andy McAloon, from the Middletown Township Environmental Advisory Council, raised issues about potential flooding resulting from the plant’s discharge into local waterways, like Core Creek. Terry Funk sought to calm these fears by explaining that their modeling assured acceptable water discharge levels. Despite these assurances, council member Kevin Deeny expressed worries about the water quality in Core Creek Park, a valuable local environmental and recreational asset. Furthermore, resident Felecia Alexander shared her personal experience of developing a brain tumor due to previous toxin exposure, underscoring her concern for her grandchildren’s health and others in the community.
Legal and Political Dimensions
Amid this intense discourse, several speakers urged Middletown Township officials to explore legal means to challenge the plant’s progression. Attorney Melissa Murray Rigney dismissed the authority’s reassurances regarding the project’s preliminary status and instead pushed for immediate local government action against the proposed development. This reflected a broader trend wherein communities grapple between meeting infrastructural needs and maintaining environmental conservation. The authority’s proposed plant aims to avoid rising charges from the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority, whose rate increases are driven by the $60 million upgrade to the Neshaminy Interceptor, a regional wastewater conduit. However, the project bred mistrust among residents, conditioned by past unsuccessful proposals, such as the 2013 endeavor near George School and Crown Pointe, fostering skepticism about current feasibility and future implications.
Community Engagement and Decision-Making
Middletown Township is at a critical juncture as residents raise concerns about a proposed $128 million wastewater treatment plant by the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority. This project aims to resolve capacity issues and improve local control over wastewater management by utilizing advanced Aqua Nereda technology, which can process up to 2.5 million gallons per day. The plant is planned on a 17.5-acre site purchased earlier in the year for $9 million, and it will discharge treated water into either Core Creek or Neshaminy Creek. The chosen location, near Lower Silver Lake Road, University Drive, the Newtown Bypass, and close to the Middletown Township border, has triggered notable local unease. This situation underscores the community’s intricate relationship with infrastructural developments, as the impact of such large-scale projects often raises questions and concerns among local residents. It’s a significant issue that reflects broader themes of development and community involvement.