In the greater Hazleton area sewer rates are expected to go up, in part to protect oysters. The money is needed to pay off a $33 million construction loan.
The Greater Hazleton Joint Sewer Authority plant in West Hazleton processes wastes from 22,000 homes and businesses every day. That treated water flows to the Susquehanna River and eventually, the Chesapeake Bay. To make the waste water even cleaner, ground was broken Friday for an additional stage of filtering.
"What we don't want to do is discharge nutrients to the bay and what will happen is oysters will suffocate because of the algae blooms and the nutrients are counter productive to the environment," explained Chris Carsia of the Greater Hazleton Sewer Authority.
"Now this is ridiculous! I am a fish lover but aren't humans supposed to come before oysters?" asked Donna Bean of Hazleton. She is one of the sewer authority's 22,000 customers. She's just learning that sewer rates could rise to help pay off the $33 million loan for the new filter plant.
"I am struggling now to stay in my own home and I have a hard time struggling and making ends meet. I want to take care of myself. I want to stay at home and pay my bills but I can't continue to do this because things keep going up," Bean added.
"Currently we're about $260 annually and we expect them to go in the $300 range come 2011 and that's per household," Carsia said of the sewer rates.
The project, which is mandated by the state department of environmental protection, has already started.
The Greater Hazleton Joint Sewer Authority plant in West Hazleton processes wastes from 22,000 homes and businesses every day. That treated water flows to the Susquehanna River and eventually, the Chesapeake Bay. To make the waste water even cleaner, ground was broken Friday for an additional stage of filtering.
"What we don't want to do is discharge nutrients to the bay and what will happen is oysters will suffocate because of the algae blooms and the nutrients are counter productive to the environment," explained Chris Carsia of the Greater Hazleton Sewer Authority.
"Now this is ridiculous! I am a fish lover but aren't humans supposed to come before oysters?" asked Donna Bean of Hazleton. She is one of the sewer authority's 22,000 customers. She's just learning that sewer rates could rise to help pay off the $33 million loan for the new filter plant.
"I am struggling now to stay in my own home and I have a hard time struggling and making ends meet. I want to take care of myself. I want to stay at home and pay my bills but I can't continue to do this because things keep going up," Bean added.
"Currently we're about $260 annually and we expect them to go in the $300 range come 2011 and that's per household," Carsia said of the sewer rates.
The project, which is mandated by the state department of environmental protection, has already started.
