Sewer authority looking to retire old pipes; funding an issue
The clay sewer pipes throughout Saxonburg, which represented the latest technology when they were installed in 1957, need to be replaced.
Paul Cornetti, manager at the Saxonburg Area Authority, said on Wednesday that the majority of clay pipes in the borough are causing the flow rates at the authority to increase during rain events.
“They are prone to infiltration of storm- and groundwater,” Cornetti said.
The total cost to replace the faulty clay pipes is estimated at almost $4.2 million.
The authority received a county infrastructure grant of $664,000, and agreed to provide $500,000 in matching funds.
That total leaves the authority $3 million short.
Cornetti said the matter will be discussed at a future authority board of directors meeting.
He said the board may decide to replace a portion of the clay pipes, or make another decision on the project and its funding.
Cornetti said because the entire project is not funded and the board has a decision to make regarding how and when to move forward, there is no timeline on when work could begin.
“It’s too preliminary,” he said.
