Paul Sybert, chairman of the Butler Area Sewer Authority board of directors, right, listens to details of Pennsylvania American Water Company's offer of $231.5 million to purchase the sewer system. The announcement of the potential sale was made at a BASA board meeting Tuesday, Sept. 13. Thomas Wyatt, center, partner at Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel, special counsel to BASA during the sale proceedings, explained the benefits of the offer to the board and public, while attorney David Nasatir, left, looks on. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

BUTLER TWP — The Butler Area Sewer Authority has received an offer of $231.5 million to purchase the system. The offer, from Pennsylvania American Water Co., would be the second-largest purchase the company has made statewide.

The offer was announced at the authority’s board of directors meeting Tuesday morning. The deal could close next fall if the process goes according to plan.

Pennsylvania American sweetened the deal for customers by also announcing a pilot program.

Under the program, the company would pay to repair or replace “lateral lines,” the pipes that carry sewage from customers’ homes or businesses to the public sewer line.

Currently, customers are responsible for their own lateral lines, which cost an average of $8,500 to replace.

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