Tom Alvaré, acting on behalf of his family and the residents of Plumstead Township, filed a Petition to Intervene in the proposed settlement intended to resolve a lawsuit brought by the Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority (BCWSA) against Plumstead Township. 

Despite the objections of two of the five supervisors and of the Township’s Environmental Advisory Council, the majority of the Plumstead Township Board of Supervisors (Stacey Mulholland, Vince Formica and Frank Froio) has indicated its willingness to settle the suit by allowing over 1200 additional sewer hookups that would transport well water outside the township in lieu of local treatment options that would provide the benefits of groundwater retention. Also, in spite of a recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey which indicated that Plumstead Township’s groundwater supplies are extremely limited and fragile and while, at the same time, the Township has stated that an additional and more specific study would be conducted for Plumstead Township, the majority of the Board has indicated its willingness to rush to settlement without the results of the new groundwater study.

The majority of the Board has not clearly explained the proposed benefits and/or the potential negative impact of the settlement.  Should the Township agree to the proposed settlement they will jeopardize Tom's rights and the rights of all other Township residents whose well water might be affected. Tom's purpose for filing the Petition to Intervene is to seek:

·         Full disclosure of the terms of the proposed settlement

·         Scientific proof that exporting well water through additional sewer lines will not negatively affect his well and the wells of those who share the same sources of well water in the areas affected by the proposed new sewer lines

·         Assurance that the proposed settlement will not weaken the ability of the Township to enforce responsible groundwater retention and management when faced with challenges for new development that would require exporting groundwater through additional sewer lines

·         Assurance that the proposed settlement will not violate other agreements made with landowners and developers that have approved alternative local sewer treatment options

·         Assurance that Township residents will not be forced to hook-up to new proposed sewer lines, especially at their own expense

·         Assurance that the Township, its solicitor, and/or the BCWSA will bear the cost to drill new wells for residents who may lose water quality or water supply resulting from the short- and long-term impact of the additional sewer lines brought about by the settlement

·         Assurance that any of the new sewer lines proposed in the settlement will not go beyond the region specified in the Township’s already approved 537 plan (the area between routes 611 and 413)

Although Tom is a candidate for Township Supervisor in the upcoming November election, this issue goes far beyond politics as it potentially affects all residents in the Township directly and indirectly.  Our Township Supervisors, regardless of party affiliation, must fight to protect our sovereignty over one of our most precious resources, our water supply.

Thomas N. Alvaré