(2/23) Carroll Valley Borough welcomed the groundbreaking state-of-the-art public wastewater treatment plant on February 2nd. Borough officials and local representatives alike dug shovels into the chilly ground of Sanders Road to begin the expansion of sewer coverage to the community.
Located at the current Wastewater Treatment Plant on Sanders Road, the new plant is prepared for the same plot of land just feet away from the current system.
The existing wastewater treatment plant was built in the early 1960s, predating the incorporation of Carroll Valley, which will soon be celebrating its 50th anniversary. The wastewater treatment plant was originally designed to treat wastewater from the old Liberty Mountain Resort facilities before becoming a public system.
Although the plant has not had any issues with compliance, the new system with state-of-the art equipment will ensure everything is smooth sailing for future compliance.
"We are a vibrant, growing community and we want to be prepared," Borough Manager David Hazlett said.
The current system has begun to age out of repairs. Maintenance items are limited, and replacement parts are harder and harder to come by. The borough is selling some of the previous equipment online and all the income from the sales will be put toward funding for the new plant.
The Carroll Valley Borough Sewer Department serves over 500 residences, several businesses, and nearly 100 holding tank customers, according to the borough website.
Hazlett credited the immense dedication of Sewer Treatment Plant Operator Jed Fetter as the reason the plant has continually operated and functioned so well.
The bid for construction came in at approximately $5.3 million and was awarded to Hickes Associates of Alexandria, Pa. in August 2023. State Representative Dan Moul, (who was among the groundbreaking attendees) helped secure a $700,000 state water infrastructure grant to outset costs, Hazlett said.
The grant is designed to aid municipal sewer and water projects, including the construction of drinking water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer projects, as well as flood control projects and the rehabilitation of high-hazard unsafe dams.
The new plant will increase capacity and open amenities to areas not yet serviced, including an additional 350-400 residents, as well as continue servicing Ski Liberty.
The old line will be kept on through sequencing and will be carefully taken offline one part at a time to ensure sewer needs continue to flow smoothly to all residents, businesses, and holding tank customers without any interruptions, Hazlett assured.
By utilizing new, updated technology, the new sewer plant will also be reducing the Borough’s carbon footprint instead of expanding it. For instance, the lagoon that surrounds the plant is a wastewater treatment plant method dating back to the 1960s and will be replaced with more efficient UV lighting, he said.
The new plant also offers easy expandability allowing for borough growth, he said, noting the current plant doesn’t even have availability for staff restrooms.
The first item of construction will be to install a temporary bypass line to a proposed manhole followed by demolition of the lagoon; this is scheduled to begin mid to end of February. Construction for the new plant is expected to take approximately 400 days.
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