$60M For Major Upgrades To Neshaminy Interceptor In Lower Bucks

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA —The Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority has launched a capital improvement campaign that includes $60 million for major upgrades to the Neshaminy Interceptor.

The authority recently announced an investment of $155 million for significant upgrades and repairs across its aging sewer system. BCWSA has sold bonds to fund the first phase of the campaign.

The Neshaminy Interceptor is a large-diameter pipe that carries wastewater from Lower Bucks County to a treatment plant in Philadelphia.

The project will bypass and replace 12 miles of aging pipe infrastructure to mitigate inflow and infiltration for both economic and environmental improvements.

The project impacts Bensalem Township, Falls Township, Bristol Township, Northampton Township, Middletown Township, Langhorne Borough, Penndel Borough, Hulmeville Borough, Langhorne Manor Borough, Newtown Township, and Newtown Borough.

“The long-term reliability and vitality of BCWSA services are entirely dependent on the Authority’s ability to repair, replace and expand the systems’ infrastructure,” said Benjamin Jones, BCWSA’s CEO. “This is something the authority has done for the last 60 years and plans to continue for at least the next 60 years.”

With the Neshaminy Interceptor, BCWSA said the issues are heavy rain events burdening the entire wastewater system as groundwater infiltrates pipes through cracks, leaky joints, and deteriorated manholes. This inflow of groundwater can overload the wastewater
system and potentially cause sewage overflows to creeks, backups, and impaired operations.

BCWSA has created a website, www.BCWSAInvestments.org, to track the status of the infrastructure projects. Here are some of the other projects that are among the planned improvements.

The initial $155 million investment is part of a $197.6 million bond series recently approved by the BCWSA Board of Directors. A portion of the total proceeds are dedicated to refund the Authority’s existing bonds and sewer debt.

Additionally, BCWSA anticipates issuing at least two additional series of bonds within the next five years to finance additional infrastructure improvements.

Patch writer Jeff Werner contributed to this story.