Upper Milford Township supervisors will join Whitehall Township in opposing the proposal being considered by the City of Allentown to sell or lease its water and sewer system to a private entity.

At supervisors' Feb. 21 meeting, board member George DeVault raised the issue, saying if the plan goes through, it would have a significant impact on township residents, who get some of their water from Allentown and use Allentown's wastewater treatment plant through the Lehigh County Authority.

DeVault presented findings of a study by Food and Water Watch, based in Washington, D.C. which predict under the terms of a 50-year lease, a typical household's annual water and sewer bill could increase by 338 percent in 2012 dollars.

"It's not really our problem that Allentown needs to shore up its pension plan," DeVault said.

Supervisors Robert Sentner and Daniel Mohr agreed and directed staff to draw up a resolution similar to one already issued by Whitehall opposing the proposal.

"I can't see selling an asset like that," Sentner said.

Township Manager Daniel DeLong agreed with supervisors, saying, "Poor political judgment set up this situation."

He pointed out Allentown's water actually comes from somewhere else, as is the case with most municipalities, but said Pennsylvania laws don't recognize that reality.

"Allentown relies on other communities' land use regulations to keep their water from being contaminated," he said. DeLong said there needs to be more regionalization in managing water use.

Supervisors were told Public Works Coordinator Steve Ackerman looked into the feasibility of using beet juice (or other organic compounds) instead of salt to treat roads in the winter, and found it would not be feasible for Upper Milford.

His report shows studies vary on the effectiveness of using organic compounds. They work well in some midwest states whose winter temperatures tend to be colder than those in this area.

It would also be expensive to ship it from the Midwest, negating any cost savings.

You would still have to use 85 percent salt solution, he said.

"The only way this would make sense is if it really does a better job," Sentner said. "The problem is we still would be using 85 percent salt."

Mohr remarked several people had asked him if the compound would turn their cars red, and he pointed out sugar beets, which aren't red, are used for this purpose.

"I'm glad to see us look at alternatives," DeVault said.

In other business, supervisors asked to have the chiefs of the two fire companies attend the next workshop meeting to discuss a proposal to help fire companies recover the costs of cleaning up hazardous material spills.

They also reminded everyone of the special meeting 7 p.m. March 12 to update the emergency management plan.