PFAS Water Treatment System Installed At Hatboro Plant

We are a grassroots organization of citizens from both Middletown and Newtown… Donna Salvucci needs your support for HELP US TO STOP THE NEWTOWN SEWER PLANT!

LINK: https://gofund.me/7a5d5921

At the January 22, 2025, Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Middletown resident Ray Post - a professional engineer with 49 years of experience in water treatment - commented on the amount of Phosphorus and Nitrogen that the proposed #NewtownPA Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) will release into the already environmentally "impaired" Lake Luxembourg.

Mr. Post used numbers from the Wolcott WWTP to calculate his estimates for the Newtown plant that will be patterned after the Wolcott plant.

Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that a bipartisan coalition of states and other parties have reached a $7.4 billion settlement, in principle, with members of the Sackler family and their company Purdue Pharma, Inc., for their role in fueling an opioid crisis that continues to devastate families and communities across Pennsylvania.

The settlement is subject to court approval, and preliminary figures indicate Pennsylvania will receive up to $212 million from the settlement, with payouts happening over the next 15 years.

“No dollar amount could ever replace what has been lost due to the opioid epidemic, but this settlement will go a long way in bolstering treatment resources and helping Pennsylvanians achieve recovery,” Attorney General Sunday said. “This epidemic, no doubt, was fueled by Purdue Pharma’s manufacturing and deceptive marketing of OxyContin, a highly potent and addictive drug. Dependency on the drug ruined countless lives, while the Sackler family and Purdue made more than $35 billion from its distribution, profiting off of the suffering of others.”

If approved, the settlement will deliver funds to the participating states, local governments - including Newtown Township - affected individuals, and other parties who have previously sued the Sacklers or Purdue.

A significant amount of the settlement funds will be distributed in the first three years, with the Sacklers paying $1.5 billion and Purdue paying nearly $900 million in the first payment, followed by $500 million after one year, an additional $500 million after two years, and $400 million after three years.

More details...

At the January 22, 2025, Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Middletown resident Gloria Post commented on the potential for releasing PFAS "forever" chemicals into Lake Luxembourg via the effluent of the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) proposed by the Newtown Sewer Authority.

I mentioned this at aSewer Authority meeting as well as at the Newtown Environmental Advisory Council (EAC). At the Sewer Authority meeting it was suggested since PFAs will be removed from Newtown drinking water (read "#NewtownPA Artesian Water Wins Zoning Variances to Build PFAS Filtration Facility"; https://sco.lt/7nmpd2) and thus not be present in Waste Water processed by the WWTP. Ms. Post pooh poohed this notion, pointing out sources of PFAs other than drinking water that end up in waste water sent to the plant and then onward to Lake Luxembourg in the effluent.

Newtown Township looking at improving pedestrian safety along the Newtown Bypass, with a focus on the Summit Shopping Center crosswalk.

The township engineer is preparing pedestrian safety information for PennDOT to review.

“We’re going through PennDOT’s checklist of items. Once we provide them with this information, they can analyze it and make recommendations,” Dominic Cundari, the township engineer, explained.

The safety review comes after a Middletown Township resident raised concerns about the crosswalk and right-hand turns from Summit Shopping Center onto the bypass, which is the border for Newtown and Middletown townships.

Supervisor John Mack stressed the need for teamwork between Newtown and Middletown townships. “Middletown expects us to take the lead, but I’m not sure that’s the right approach. We need to work together on this,” he said.

This presentation was made at the special 20 January 2025 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting that was attended by 18 people (14 from Middletown Twp and 4 from Newtown Twp).

This SPECIAL Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting focused on a review of a citizen’s group's planned actions to oppose the proposed Newtown Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). This sewage treatment plant would be located off the Bypass adjacent to the Wawa now being constructed on the corner of the Bypass and Lower Silver Lake Road.

As you may know, the Newtown Joint Municipal Authority is engaged in an ongoing project to build their own wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in a location that is immediately adjacent to Middletown Township.

At the 13 January 2025 Middletown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, the township's Solicitor and Engineer reviewed plans for how the township can make sure it is involved in the approval process and make their feelings known, especially with regard to the environmental impact.

Calling itself "Stop the Newtown Sewer Plant," the group sent out a flier announcing plans to organize against the project (see image above).

“It is our hope that creating this network will help us to spread accurate and crucial information regarding the sewer plant project to the residents of our neighborhoods,” said the flier.

More...

[Published in Bucks County Courier Times on Sept 15, 2013]

A seeming tidal wave of resident opposition swayed the Newtown Township supervisors to unanimously give a thumbs down to a proposed sewage treatment plant in the township. 

The plant had been proposed by the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority for a spot on the south side of the Newtown Bypass between Routes 413 and 532. The NBCJMA serves more than 8,600 sewer customers in Newtown Township and Newtown Borough.

At Wednesday night’s [Sept 11, 2013] standing-room-only meeting, after almost two hours of public comment almost all against the plant, the Newtown Township supervisors voted 5-0 to not include the treatment plant in the township’s upcoming 537 plan update that will outline how officials plan to handle sewage in the future.

Also, the supervisors directed township Manager Kurt Ferguson to send a letter to the Newtown authority asking it to “cease any further exploration” of the treatment plant proposal.

More...

This is my personal summary of the January 6, 2025, meeting of the #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.

Agenda Items, Discussions, Decisions, and More

• Reorganization Notes
• Public Comment
  • St. Mary's Chief of Surgery Regarding Proposed WWTP
• Engineer’s Report
• Other Items of Interest
  • Official Video

What Residents are Saying about Proposed Sewage Treatment Plant, Year 2024 in Images, Middletown & Newtown Need to Collaborate to Improve Pedestrian Safety Crossing the Bypass!, more...

At the 6 January 2025 Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) public meeting, David Hardeski, Chief of Surgery at the St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown, expressed concern about the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) proposed by the Newtown Sewer Authority. For more on that, read "Residents Have Concerns Regarding Proposed Sewage Treatment Plant"; https://rebrand.ly/WWTPsvy_PatchArticle

"This 'smell radius' may extend into the property currently occupied by St. Mary's Medical Center and I worry about the impact on this institution," said Dr. Hardeski.

At the 16 October 2024, Newtown Sewer Authority Board meeting, Mr. Mark Friend, who lives at 15 Stoopville Rd in Newtown, questioned the high increase in his sewer bill. Mr. Friend has well water. His sewer rate increased from $90 per quarter at the end of 1992. In 2023 the rate went up to $125. Now (2025) the rate is $183 per quarter. A 100% increase over 2 years. Hear what the sewer authority told him.

The Newtown Sewer Authority presented details of its plan to build a Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) on Lower Silver Lake Rd at the December 11, 2024, Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting where several local area residents spoke up against the plan.

I was interested in what other residents had to say about this plan. So, I created a Sewage Treatment Plant Survey. I asked respondents what, if any, were their concerns and questions. To date (1/3/25) 171 responses have been collected.

I summarize the results, including comments, in this Patch article...

Welcome to “The Year 2024 in Images.” There were many unique and interesting issues that I as a Newtown Township supervisor confronted in 2024. This is a selection of images and stories that document what I consider the most important news items and issues of interest to Newtown Township PA residents.

At the 16 December 2024 Middletown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Middletown Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) Vice Chair Andy McAloon expressed concerns about potential flooding caused by the plant, which will dump million of gallons per day of effluent into Core Creek.

At the 16 December 2024 Middletown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Kevin Deeny - a member of Middletown's Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) - expressed concern about the environmental impact of the planned sewage treatment plant on Lower Silver Lake Rd bordering Middletown.

Middletown Township residents packed the Board of Supervisors meeting Monday evening to sound off against a planned wastewater treatment plant.

The Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority, responding to an invitation from local officials, detailed plans for a $128 million wastewater treatment facility intended to address capacity issues and provide greater local control over wastewater management.

Environmental Concerns

Andy McAloon, the vice chairperson of the Middletown Township Environmental Advisory Council, raised concerns about flooding that could come from the plant putting water in area waterways, like the Core Creek.

Kevin Deeny, a member of the Middletown Township Environmental Advisory Council, said he only heard of the plan after reading news reports about it recently. He stated that he has concerns about environmental impacts of the plant, including potential water quality impacts on Core Creek Park.

[Read FULL TRANSCRIPT of their comments.]

Read More...

It was standing room only at the 16 December 2024 Middletown Township Board of Supervisors meeting. Dozens spoke out against the Newtown Sewer Authority's (NBCJMA) proposed sewage treatment plant to be located on the border with Middletown. Here are just a few short snippets of comments I heard:

“…it’s been said that nobody in Newtown Township is affected by this… but, I’m upset because it affects Middletown! Newtown – be neighborly and consider your neighbors!”

“Remember Elcon! Pass a resolution opposing this plan.” [Read “Victory! Falls Supervisors Reject Elcon Plan”; https://sco.lt/5QNYOG]

“State of the art does not mean odor free!”

“That stink goes a lot further than a mile!”

“…address the flooding problem.” [Environmental Advisory Council member]

“We're interested from a water quality standpoint from environmental standpoint…” [Environmental Advisory Council member]

“It is late in the day… go to court. Let them eat that!”[Free advice from a lawyer.]

“When I saw those charts, which were thoroughly disingenuous, my eyes almost popped!” [Banker who works with numbers all day]

“We have a rule in the classroom… clean up your own mess! If you build a sewage treatment plant in Newtown and you leave your mess for Middletown to clean up, you're not playing nice in the sandbox.” [Former kindergarden teacher]

“The sniff test is subjective. Children on the spectrum ]at a school 900 feet from the proposed site] can be hypersensitive to smells and can smell things that you or I cannot smell. Consider those with special needs.”[Psychologist]

“What was missing here was the study. A lot of stuff is being done under the table. We really got to know what’s going on. Time is of the essence. When shit hits the fan it will be too late.” [Retired engineer]

“What I’ve seen here today is lack of credible data to support their project. There has to be a risk analysis study.” [Actuary]

This is my personal summary of the December 11, 2024, meeting of the #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS).

Agenda Items, Discussions, Decisions, and More

• 2025 Budget Adoption
• Public Comment
  • Delancey Court Residents Vs. 413 Durham Rd Project
• NBCJMA Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) Presentation
  • View the Entire Presentation
  • Why is the Authority Pursuing a New WWTP?
  • Life Cycles Cost Comparison – BCWSA vs New WWTP
  • Comments From the Public
• Electric Vehicle Charging Station JMZO Amendment
• November 2024 Police Report
• Other Items of Interest
  • My Detailed Notes
  • Official Video

At the 11 December 2024 Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, several knowledgeable Newtown and Middletown residents made comments regarding NBCJMA's (aka Newtown Sewer Authority) proposal to build a state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant on Lower Silver Lake Road.

See the NBCJMA's presentation before the BOS...https://rebrand.ly/NBCJMApreso11dec2024 

Newtown resident Frank McCarron had concerns about the cost estimates and especially regarding the projected rate increases. Middletown residents - including Gary Sondermeyer and Peter Jordan - were concerned about the odor and were skeptical that there would not be any odor. Mr. Sondermeyer is an expert in these matters.