- Home
- Departments
- Sewer
- Sale of Township Sewer System
Sale of Township Sewer System
The Board of Supervisors of Willistown Township held a special public meeting on Friday, April 14, 2023 and voted to terminate the Asset Purchase Agreement with Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater, Inc.
Consolidated Overview of Process
Sewer Sale Exploration
- January 27, 2020 - Board approved valuation of the system by PFM at the Board of Supervisor public meeting
- April 27, 2020 - Board authorized PFM to proceed with exploration of sale at a Board of Supervisor public meeting
- May 26, 2020 - Board approved the appointment of special engineering services and general and special counsel legal services for the evaluation and sale at a Public Meeting
Sewer Sale Bid and Process
- September 22, 2020 - Request for bids is Issued
- October 12, 2020 - Township staff and PFM reviewed bid received from Aqua
- October 29, 2020 - Board of Supervisors special public meeting to present results of bid process
- November 9, 2020 - Board of Supervisors public meeting to review results and offer clarifications; Board authorized advertisement of public notice regarding Asset Purchase Agreement
- December 14, 2020 - Board of Supervisors held public hearing to approve the Asset Purchase Agreement and Ordinance 5 of 2020 for the sale of the sewer system to Aqua was approved
Public Utility Commission Approval Process
- Dec 2020 - July 2021 - Engineering and Utility Valuations mandated by PUC are conducted
- August 3, 2021 - Aqua filed an application for approval of the sale with the PUC
- February 24, 2022 - Two Public Input Hearings held by PUC
- July 8, 2022 - PUC approved the sale of the sewer system
Sewer Customer Benefit Committee Minutes
- Public Meeting April 8, 2021
-View the Zoom Recording - Public Meeting April 15, 2021
-View the Zoom Recording - Public Meeting April 22, 2021
-View the Zoom Recording - Public Meeting May 5, 2021
-View the Zoom Recording
Termination of Sale
- April 14, 2023 - The Willistown Board of Supervisors passed Resolution 11 of 2023 authorizing notice terminate the Asset Purchase Agreement with Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater, Inc. Notification was subsequently made via a Notice of Termination.
- Why is Willistown selling the sewer system?
-
By exiting the business of sewer system operation, the Township can better focus on core government functions while ensuring the residents are still offered safe and reliable sewer service by a Commonwealth-regulated utility. In addition, the funds generated by the sale will be used to pay off sewer debt. The sale also allows the Township and ratepayers to avoid future costs of sewer system upgrades. Furthermore, it was concluded that a utility company such as Aqua could maintain the sewer system as it ages at a lower cost than a single municipality.
- Who approved the sale of the sewer system?
-
The Asset Purchase Agreement was approved by the Township Board of Supervisors in December of 2020, but it required further approval at the State level. The sale was subsequently approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) in July of 2022.
- Didn’t an Administrative Law Judge recommend against the sale?
-
Yes, but the PUC is not bound by the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
- Isn't there an option to terminate?
-
Yes. Board of Supervisors Chair Bill Shoemaker addressed this in the statement on September 26, 2022. The "Outside Date" was extended by Aqua as indicated in this letter. By the adoption of Resolution 11 of 2023, the Board authorized the sending of a notice of termination, which was accordingly sent on April 15, 2023.
View the earlier iteration of the FAQ Sheet From September 12, 2022 Board of Supervisors Meeting.