UPPER MOUNT BETHEL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At a special meeting for the Upper Mount Bethel Township Planning Commission held June 15, 2023, River Pointe Commerce Park provided Upper Mount Bethel Township and its residents with a second opportunity to learn more about its short and long-term wastewater plans. The planned wastewater and water systems are proposed to be dedicated to a public authority, which is in line with the Upper Mount Bethel Comprehensive Plan and is encouraged by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC).
The project’s Engineer, Frederick Ebert, P.E., president of Ebert Engineering, Inc., presented a detailed PowerPoint presentation on the permitting process, design of the system, and financial projections with the hopes to be able to answer outstanding questions and concerns and to dispel any misinformation that may be out there during the Q&A session.
It was noted during the presentation that each building occupant would have to pretreat wastewater to a domestic standard before the waste would be permitted to enter the public system. An Industrial Authority would provide the municipality with the ability to monitor and review the wastewater and water needs required by each specific user.
The project’s wastewater treatment plan is designed for this purpose, as well as to allow the township to meet its residents' needs and Upper Mount Bethel Township’s municipal capacity requirements. The discussion, led by Frederick Ebert, president of Ebert Engineering Inc., focused on three key elements of the wastewater treatment plan:
- Meeting Municipal Resident Needs. The drip field on township land will be used exclusively to meet residents' and township needs. It was clearly conveyed that this drip field will not treat wastewater from the development. This clarification alleviates concerns about the drip field, its ownership, purpose, and use, which remains under the township’s jurisdiction and use.
- Meeting and Exceeding All Federal, State, and Local Water Quality Requirements. All future engineering, design, testing, and monitoring of the drip field and treatment facility will be conducted under the strict scrutiny and oversight of the DEP, as well as Federal and State agencies and authorities. Last night's informational meeting was another step in what will be a lengthy process that requires continued government supervision to meet stringent environmental requirements as prescribed by these authorities. In addition to regulatory safeguards, an Authority would oversee continuous monitoring and regulatory compliance.
- No Cost to Taxpayers. Once River Pointe receives permits, it will design and build the treatment facility at no cost to taxpayers and will pay for any operating deficit. The projected cash flows show positive operating cash flow by the time the facility reaches an annual average flow of 75,000 GPD. All plans will be reviewed and approved by an authority engineer. The system will be operated and managed by a licensed sewage professional.
“We appreciated the second opportunity to present our wastewater treatment plan to the Planning Commission and Upper Mount Bethel Township residents. Our intention is to continue to be transparent with every aspect of this project as it is being developed. Like any development project, plans are underway to address and mitigate post-development impacts and/or concerns in both Upper Mount Bethel Township and the Borough of Portland. We look forward to providing continued open communication and insight on any outstanding questions as we move through the development process,” said Lou Pektor, President of River Pointe Commerce Park.
About River Pointe Commerce Park
Located within a one-day drive of one-third of all U.S. consumers, River Pointe Commerce Park is a proposed industrial development that will attract world-class manufacturers to Upper Mount Bethel Township, Pennsylvania. Ideally located within 1.5 miles of Rt. 80, and offering drivable access to the ports of New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, River Pointe Commerce will generate an estimated 4,000+ good-paying jobs in manufacturing while generating much-needed tax revenue for the town and schools by increasing real estate tax revenue and earned income tax. For more information, visit www.abettermtbethel.com.
