The Newtown, Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (Authority) has decided to halt all work on the proposed wastewater treatment facility.

The Authority had been actively pursuing construction of a brand-new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility on a 17.5-acre parcel between the Newtown Bypass and Lower Silver Lake Road.

Gaining control of spiraling sewer rate hikes was the impetus for the Authority’s pursuit of this project. After much research, the Authority board and its professionals envisioned construction of a new plant as the best means to prevent spiraling rate hikes levied by the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority and the Philadelphia Water Department. As a customer of these entities, the Authority has no say about how often or how steep rate increases will be and therefore is forced to pass along higher rates to the Authority’s 9,000 customers.

However, the Authority, during its Tuesday, March 11 board meeting, voted to stop all work on the proposed project. The vote came on the heels of opposition from community members, as well as the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors.

At this juncture, the Authority has no plans to advance this project. In the interim, the Authority retains ownership of the land where the plant had been proposed and will keep the public apprised of any next steps or updates in that regard as they become available.

The Authority thanks the public, as well as our customers, for their interest and feedback as it relates to this project.