North Huntingdon sewage authority hikes rates

Under a new agency budget, North Huntingdon Township Municipal Authority customers are paying an additional $1.50 a month for sewage service, and tap-in fees will increase by $250.

A $10.3 million operating budget approved by the authority raises the monthly rate for sewage service from $52.30 for residential customers to $53.80 a month, the authority said. The rate increase went into effect May 1.

The hikes were required because the Western Westmoreland Municipal Authority raised the rates it charges for processing sewage from about half of the municipal authority’s 12,489 customers as of Jan. 1. The hike also was needed because the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority raised rates by 7% for the 300 customers served by that authority’s treatment plant, said Michael Branthoover, executive director of the North Huntingdon municipal authority. The increase for Alcosan customers is the first of annual increases planned for the next five years.

The tap-in fees will increase from $4,900 to $5,150 effective July 1. The fee is calculated based on guidelines and requirements established in the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Act.

The North Huntingdon municipal authority, which has 21 full-time employees, operates and maintains more than 260 miles of sewer lines, 6,000 manholes, 14 pumping stations and a treatment facility capable of handling 3.31 million gallons daily.