Notice is hereby given that the Berwick Area Joint Sanitary Authority (BAJSA), Columbia County, proposes to provide sanitary sewer service for areas in South Centre Township pursuant to Act 537 Plan Update following a 30-day public comment period hereby established. The purpose of this Act 537 Plan Update is to outline the installation of a new public sanitary sewer system in South Centre Township which will then convey all sewage to the BAJSA Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) located at 383 South Eaton Street, Berwick, PA 18603.

The purpose of this Act 537 Plan Update is to facilitate the installation of a new public sanitary sewer system in South Centre Township, which will convey all municipal sewage to the BAJSA WWTP. South Centre Township is currently served by on-lot sewage disposal systems (OLDS), many of which are defective and a risk to the health and safety of the Township residents. The proposed installation of a new public sanitary sewer collection system will eliminate the risks to the residents and provide a sewer system that will be capable of expansion, if desired. The selected alternative to install a public sanitary sewer system throughout South Centre Township and convey the sanitary sewage to the BAJSA WWTP has been determined to be the most cost effective and beneficial alternative for the residents and businesses within South Centre Township. Other alternatives considered and deemed less advantageous include: 1. Retain and modify existing private WWTPs; 2. Convey sewage to the Bloomsburg Municipal Authority WWTP; 3. Construction of a new WWTP in South Centre Township.

Upgrades will be made with a new BAJSA Briar Creek Pump Station adjacent to the existing Pump Station #1 and existing gravity line. A new force main will be installed from the new Briar Creek Borough pump station to Welliver Road (Barran Farm Lane). Additionally, a new pipe will be installed from the new BAJSA pump station in Briar Creek Borough to Manhole #24 on US Route 11. This will not only handle the flow of South Centre Township, but also provide expected additional development in Mifflin Township and Briar Creek Borough.

The proposed South Centre Township connection to the BAJSA system is in Briar Creek Borough at Manhole #24 on US Route 11. In addition, four pump stations will be constructed in South Centre Township on either Township owned properties or acquired easement locations. These pump stations will connect to South Centre pressure sewer and gravity sewers.

BAJSA will set the user fees. Treatment costs in South Centre Township per EDU per unit are the same for users in all municipalities in BAJSA. The South Centre Township connection fee rate will be set based on PENNVEST grants received, interest rates and operation/maintenance costs.

Individuals interested in reviewing a copy of the Act 537 Plan Update may do so by visiting the Berwick Area Joint Sanitary Authority website: (https://berwicksewer.org/), South Centre Township Police Department Facebook page: (https://www.facebook.com/SouthCentrePD), Briar Creek Borough website: (http://briarcreekboro.org/), Berwick Borough website: (https://berwickborough.org/) and/or a copy of the Act 537 Plan Update can be accessed at the South Centre Township Municipal Building located at 6260 4th Street Bloomsburg, PA 17815. The public may submit written comments on the Act 537 Plan Update to South Centre Township (6260 4th Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 or via email to: scsec@southcentre.us) during the 30-day public review and comment period, which will commence on July 16, 2026 and terminate on August 15, 2026.

Berwick Area Joint Sanitary Authority
Ms. Gloria Bobersky, BAJSA Manager

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