Sewer customers in Northern Pennsylvania may soon have to pay triple their current sewer bills due to Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts.
Customers of the Williamsport Sanitary Authority (WSA) and municipalities that contract with it will see the impact on their bills unless some form of federal or state relief kicks in. A typical quarterly sewer bill could increase from about $60 to $190 within the next five years, according to WSA officials.
Removing the nutrients discharged into rivers such as the Susquehanna is a local environmental priority. These nutrients move downstream and increase algae growth, reducing oxygen and depleting aquatic life in Chesapeake Bay.
WSA has projected a $150 million cost for nutrient reduction and related efforts. The state House is currently considering a proposed $300 million nutrient-reduction relief bill.
Source: Associated Press
