Cheswick officials are looking into what caused two excavators to be submerged up to their cabs in mud and water along the Allegheny River bank.
Photos circulated throughout social media Saturday of at least two pieces of heavy machinery being used below the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks by Watercrest Way about 100 yards away from Rachel Carson Park.
Council members speculate it has something to do with Allegheny Valley Joint Sewage Authority’s mandated plant expansion.
Calls to the authority office and several of its board members were not returned Saturday.
“We all saw it on Facebook and we’ll definitely be looking into it,” said council Vice President Frank Meledandri. “We are aware of it, but we’re not sure exactly what’s going on there. It could be the owner of the property doing something or it could be something to do with the new line for the sewage treatment plant upgrade.”
Cheswick Council President Michael Girardi said the excavators are on private property and are being used by either a general contractor or subcontractors, and not borough staff.
One of the excavators apparently is from Zelienople-based Highway Equipment Co. and the other apparently is from Bridgeville-based Anderson Equipment Co.
Messages left with both companies were not returned Saturday.
The Authority plans to expand its sewage treatment capacity from the current 5.5 million gallons a day to 8 million gallons by 2023. Its estimated cost is at least $75 million.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency is mandating the treatment plant upgrade. It’s part of a nationwide effort to prevent raw sewage overflows and inadequately controlled stormwater that discharges into rivers, streams, lakes and other waterways.
In this case, treated sewage is discharged directly into the Allegheny River right next to the plant.
The Authority currently has two pump stations in Cheswick and Harmar and another in Springdale. The pump stations date to 1980.
