At the regular CWSA board meeting on Nov. 15, Board Chairman John Schreiner reported that the board met with Allentown City officials on Nov. 13 regarding the lease of the Allentown Wastewater Treatment Plant.

"The biggest issue that we have after the meeting is that we still can't assess the impact that a lease would have on our rate payers," said Schreiner. Other municipalities that send sewage to the plant for treatment echo Schreiner's point.

According to Schreiner and verified by CWSA attorney Jack Stover, the 167-page proposed lease keeps the existing agreement between CWSA and Allentown in place.

"But that really doesn't tell us much," said Schreiner. "We pay a percentage of the operational cost of the plant based on how much sewage we send, but we don't know what costs will be included in the new base."

CWSA has aggressively pursued corrections to reduce infiltration into the sewage system from rainwater and underground sources as mandated by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency. The system managed by CWSA was flow meter tested almost a year ago and passed with excellent reviews from the independent evaluator. The board has in progress a major project to revamp sewer pipelines along Coplay Creek and has conducted house-to-house inspections to check for storm water infiltration.

"Allentown is under the same EPA mandate that we have, but they aren't as far along," said board member Joseph Marx. "Who is going to pay for the cost of meeting their [Allentown's] EPA mandates?"

Schreiner announced a resolution from Coplay Borough Council opposing the lease of the plant. The resolution adds a similar response from Whitehall Township's commissioners.

"The problem, as I interpreted it from our meeting with Allentown, is they don't have much of a choice. The city may go into receivership if it can't get this lease done," said Marx. "They are out of revenue options."

Schreiner reinforced Marx's comment. "The revenue is a problem caused by years of mismanagement. Should we pay for problems that they caused themselves? We don't think so." he said.

Adding focus to the concern, Plant Manager David Harleman prepared the preliminary budget for 2013.

"We have no rate increases planned for 2013, but…," he said. Of more than the $3 million dollar budget, half of the projected expense goes to Allentown for sewage treatment charges.

"Any increase in the amount that we get billed from Allentown will impact our local rates," said Schreiner. "We should not be punished because we are running an efficient operation." He fears that the reimbursement to Allentown could increase by 10 percent or more.

In other business, Darryl Jenkins, CWSA's engineer, reported that the Coplay Creek interceptor project is proceeding on schedule. To date, 6,000 of the project's 25,000 feet of pipe are completed. Jenkins approved funds to pay contractor Jao & Bradley for work completed.

"We have finished the most expensive part of the project," said Jenkins.

Harleman indicated that CWSA will be reimbursed $116,000 from PennDOT for relocating sewer lines in connection with the new Lehigh Street bridge.