A plan to install public sewage in Connoquenessing Township is being revised.

Lambert Rosenbaum, chairman of the Connoquenessing Township Sewer Authority, said the current proposals for the sewer system are too costly or too invasive, and residents have made it clear that they want a smaller project.

“Our current Act 537 plan we got numbers, and it was $51 million-plus — that's just too large of a cost to get funding,” Rosenbaum said. “What we're looking for is to get a reduced-scope project. We talked ideas and alternatives, so we can make some suggestions to supervisors to what they want to consider for a reduced project scope.”

The township proposed a sewer system to comply with Department of Environmental Protection Act 537. Established in 1966, the act requires municipalities to provide public sewer systems.

The engineering firm Herbert, Rowland & Grubic presented five scenarios to the authority at its July meeting, which ranged in cost from $27 million to $51 million and would serve up to 1,100 customers. Conversations about the scenarios and a potential study on the feasibility of the proposals have halted with the resignation of sewer authority board members.

Rosenbaum said the sewer authority will eventually make a recommendation to the Connoquenessing Township supervisors regarding a sewer plan. He said the sewer authority plans to work with the township engineer and Herbert, Rowland & Grubic to come up with a plan that is feasible.

Getting to that point, however, will take some time, because the sewer authority is still in early stages of revising the original plan.

“That's why we were brainstorming to see what the engineer could come up with,” Rosenbaum said. “You've got to reduce the scope. Maybe consider putting in pressure sewage lines versus a gravity-based system.”

Rosenbaum also said residents of the township have become more and more cooperative with the sewer authority, because a sewer system would affect everyone in the township. He said the sewer authority will likely give the township supervisors an update at their next meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 1.

“We just discussed some ideas, so we're going to submit some ideas to them,” Rosenbaum said.