Crews working to upgrade the Upper Montgomery Joint Authority have lost a couple days due to multiple recent snowfalls and heavy rain, according to Glenn Quinn, the executive superintendent. However, he said the planned completion of the project in approximately 18 months remains on schedule.

            "The process has been smooth," Quinn said Tuesday afternoon.

            Work to modernize the facility, located at 1100 Mensch Dam Road in Upper Hanover, will include the construction of a new operations facility, the implementation of a biological treatment process for the removal of nutrients of nitrogen and phosphorous along with a tertiary filtration system. An upgrade to the plant's pumping station and screening system is also planned.

            According to Quinn, the legally required improvements will allow the facility to prepare for stricter nutrient removal standards, allow the facility to better manage that flow and eliminate an antiquated holding tank. The facility – established in 1960 – serves approximately 3,300 customers in the boroughs of Red Hill, East Greenville and Pennsburg.

            Authority officials have awarded more than $19 million to four contractors. They have secured $27 million in interim funding from Fulton Bank ($17 million) and Quakertown National Bank ($10 million) for the project, according to Quinn. He said remaining money will be utilized to pay off past loans.

            Ultimately a 40-year loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, at an interest rate not to exceed 3.635 percent, to the authority will fund the project. According to Quinn, the federal agency will pay off the two interim loans when the project is complete. He said the authority would then begin paying back the USDA.

            Worth & Company, a Pipersville firm, will be paid $16.576 million to complete the general construction. Clipper Pipe from Eddystone is responsible for the HVAC at a cost of $539,000. Myco Mechanical, a Telford firm, has been contracted for the plumbing work at $239,000. Philips Brothers, from Glenmoore, was awarded the electrical contract worth $1.956 million, according to an email from the superintendent.

            Excavation for the construction of the new operations building, the tertiary filtration system and biological treatment process – all of which can be completed without impacting the current system – is underway, according to Quinn.

            The new operations facility, which will house the plant's operators as well as its plans and specifications, will include a conference room and offices. The current administration building will continue to operate, the superintendent said.

            In February, the authority's board of directors approved a sewer rate increase of 7 percent to cover the loan requirements, according to Quinn. He said previously that the increase would be implemented on May 1.