Investments – BCWSA

UPDATES: 1,211,921.45 FT. OF TELESCOPIC INSPECTIONS & CLEANING COMPLETE AS OF February 13, 2025. See details below.

BCWSA - PROVEN

Investing in Our Communities

The Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority (BCWSA) provides water and sewer services to about 525,000 people across southeastern Pennsylvania, making it one of the largest water and sewer authorities in the Commonwealth. Since 1962, BCWSA has been providing customers with high-quality services while making ongoing investments to an aging system. In December 2022, the Authority sold $197.6 million in bonds, dedicating $155 million to make significant upgrades and repairs across its sewer system with the remaining portion allocated to paying existing debt.

Maintaining an Aging System

Water and sewer service is not something most think about except when it’s time to pay the bills. The infrastructure required to reliably deliver clean water and drain wastewater can be taken for granted – until it doesn’t work. The long-term reliability and vitality of BCWSA services is entirely dependent on the Authority’s ability to repair, replace and expand the systems’ infrastructure. This is something the authority has done for the last 60 years and plans to continue for the next 60 years.

Need for Investments

BCWSA heard from its customers and the communities it serves and declined a $1.1 billion acquisition offer from a private company. BCWSA will remain a public utility and continue to make investments that go beyond just replacing aging pipes and equipment but also supports:

Customer Impact

To provide a revenue source to make the much-needed repairs and upgrades, BCWSA approved to raise almost $200 million through the first of three bond issues to cover an initial list of infrastructure improvements. Payment of the first bond issue raised the BCWSA retail sewer customers’ rates by 10%. The rate increase to wholesale customers overall was about 16%. The rate increases went into effect January 2023.

A Look at Major Repairs Needed

Neshaminy Interceptor – Carries Wastewater to Philadelphia

A Look at Major Repairs Needed

Neshaminy Interceptor – Carries Wastewater to Philadelphia

A Look at Major Repairs Needed

Neshaminy Interceptor – Carries Wastewater to Philadelphia

A Look at Major Repairs Needed

Neshaminy Interceptor – Carries Wastewater to Philadelphia

A Look at Major Repairs Needed

Neshaminy Interceptor – Carries Wastewater to Philadelphia

Capital Improvement Needs - Wastewater infrastructure

Below you can see information on proposals and recent improvements and repairs to the wastewater system.

Project

repair cost

Service area

municipalities

Neshaminy Interceptor

$60M

Lower Bucks County

Bensalem Twp, Falls Twp, Bristol Twp, Newtown Twp, Newtown Boro, Northampton Twp, Middletown Twp, Langhorne Boro, Penndel Boro, Hulmeville Boro and Langhorne Manor Boro

The Neshaminy Interceptor needs significant improvements and upgrades to handle the increased flow. The plan is to bypass and replace the 12 miles of aging pipe infrastructure to mitigate inflow and infiltration for both economic and environmental improvements.

Impact Analysis: view how local municipal systems are impacting the main sewer intake

Upper Dublin Sewer System and Ambler Borough Wastewater Treatment Facility

$17M

Montgomery County

Upper Dublin Township and Ambler Borough

The capital improvement project will upgrade Upper Dublin Township’s sewer system and provide new wastewater treatment capacity to Ambler Borough.

BCWSA will construct a watertight pump station in Upper Dublin Township and install a new 12,000 linear-foot force main, a pressurized pipe that moves wastewater to a treatment plant using pumps or compressors, to Ambler Borough where the wastewater will be treated. The existing 71-year-old treatment facility in Upper Dublin, which is in a floodplain, will be taken out of service and decommissioned.

Telescopic Inspection, Flow Metering, and Repair or Replacement of Sewer Mains

$27.5M

Bucks and Montgomery Counties

N/A

The Authority entered into a consent decree with the US Department of Justice to undertake camera inspection of approximately 800 miles of sewer mains over the next seven years. Once the areas of concern are identified, the Authority is required to undertake the necessary repairs.

Status:

1,211,921.45 ft feet of telescopic inspections & cleaning complete as of February 13, 2025
Upcoming work will continue throughout Plumstead and Doylestown Townships.

Green Street Upgrade

$20M

Doylestown Township

Doylestown TWP, Doylestown Borough

Doylestown Township sewer system is in the process of being expanded and upgraded. Phases I and II are currently being constructed and the latest bonds will support the construction of Phases III and IV. The expansion of the wastewater treatment plant is to handle future capacity from the region necessitated by the current and planned developments, as well as, failing on lot septic system for the next 10 – 15 years.

Lambertville Upgrade

$15M

Lambertville, NJ

New Hope Boro, Solebury Twp and Lambertville NJ

The Lambertville Wastewater treatment plant is physically located in New Jersey, and sewage is umped across the Delaware River via a line over the Lambertville Bridge. The current treatment being undertaken is nearing 80% of its treatment capacity and New Jersey State law requires any wastewater treatment plant operating at greater than 80% capacity needs to be expanded. Expansion of the plant will handle future capacity from the region necessitated by the current and planned developments for the next 10 – 15 years.

Quakertown Plant Upgrade

$15M

Quakertown

Quakertown, Richlandtown Borough and Richland Twp.

The Quakertown Wastewater treatment plant is nearing capacity and the northern part of the county is anticipated to grow rapidly. The expansion will provide for the anticipated growth of the area and will provide for recover of tapping fees due to future development.

CNB Expansion

$15M

Doylestown Township

Plumstead Twp, Bedminster Twp, Doylestown Twp and New Britain Borough

Expansion of the wastewater treatment plant to accommodate wet weather and peak flows. Phase I completed. Phase II currently out to bid.

Old Dublin PS Pumps

$2M

Doylestown Township

Plumstead Twp, Bedminster Twp, and Doylestown Twp

Expansion of the wastewater treatment plant to accommodate wet weather and peak flows.

Replacement of pumps is underway and to date, 2 of the 4 scheduled have been completed. Installation of the second set of replacement pumps is scheduled to occur within the next two months.