Duane McKee, executive director at the Butler Area Sewer Authority, with the final product at the sewer plant. Solids are mixed with limestone after processing and taken to a landfill.

BUTLER TWP — A tour of the Butler Area Sewer Authority plant on Litman Road and a presentation on the state of authority infrastructure in the communities served shows that many and varied upgrades are needed.

A tour of the 60-year-old plant and a tutorial on all its phases on Thursday revealed that surprisingly few chemicals are used before the liquid byproduct of the naturally processed sewage is discharged into the Connoquenessing Creek across from Cleveland Cliffs.

Duane McKee, BASA executive director, said minimal chlorine is added in the initial stages of processing, and a polymer is introduced to tanks during the separation phase.

After separation and aeration occurs in several steps, the remaining liquid is pumped into a trickling filter tank, where the liquid trickles through 10 to 12 feet of limestone that continues to efficiently and naturally clean the liquid, even after being in place for 25 years.

Items that should not have been flushed are removed, and the solids are removed, drained, mixed with lime and dropped into a dumpster that is taken to a landfill.

“Twenty-four/seven, it never stops running,” McKee said of the plant.

He said 2,000 to 3,000 feet of tunnels beneath the plant contain pipes, heaters and other equipment tend to break down more quickly in a dark, damp, 55-degree atmosphere.

McKee said three compressors in one building are original to the plant’s construction in 1962.

Automation in recent times has allowed McKee to eliminate the 3 to 11 p.m. and overnight shifts while retaining all employees, who now work 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

BASA serves 15,000 customers using 230 miles of sewer line, 6,450 manholes and 23 pump stations.

The BASA plant has the capacity to treat 10 million gallons per day. The current annual average is 6.35 million gallons per day, McKee said.

In a presentation in the BASA office, McKee gave a presentation on the issues and failures occurring underground throughout the authority’s 32.5 square-mile service area, which covers Butler city, Butler Township, Center Township and East Butler, plus portions of Connoquenessing, Oakland, Summit and Penn townships.

Erosion from leaking lines that have exposed the infrastructure of other utilities, rusted manholes with seized valves, rusted pump station pipes, original terra cotta pipe that is crumbling, roots partially or completely blocking pipes, pipes that have been squashed under busy roads, and manhole obstructions are just some of the expensive problems.

Because these issues are becoming financially insurmountable for the authority, BASA is considering a purchase offer of $231.5 million from Pennsylvania American Water Co.

Asked why BASA rates were not increased over the years to keep up with the cost of the needed repairs, Bob Dandoy, Butler mayor, said the goal of all officials in public entities is to keep rates or taxes low while providing the best possible service.

BASA board member Fred Vero said McKee has managed to institute many improvements at the plant and in infrastructure with a limited budget.

Dave Zarnick, Butler Township Commissioners chairman, agreed that the authority has been able to provide reliable service in large part due to McKee’s expertise.

“Duane is not afraid to go to his board and say ‘Hey, we need to fix this,’” he said.

If the sale of the sewer system to Pennsylvania American Water Co. is completed, the proceeds would be divided between Butler and Butler Township.

A severely rusted pipe in a BASA pump station cannot be repaired because its valves are seized. Submitted photo