FALLSBURG — The Town of Fallsburg is looking to upgrade the more than 60-year-old South Fallsburg Wastewater Treatment facility, which serves homes in Woodbourne, Hurleyville, Old Falls and South Fallsburg.

During the Fallsburg Town Board meeting on April 11, Delaware Engineering D.P.C. conducted a presentation on the proposed upgrade to the South Fallsburg site.

There are three wastewater treatment facilities in the Town of Fallsburg - South Fallsburg, Loch Sheldrake, and Mountaindale.

Helen Budrock from Delaware Engineering D.P.C. said the sewer upgrade usually takes “three to five years from planning all the way to construction.”

According to Budrock, if approved, the upgrade construction can start as early as 2024. Construction is estimated to be completed in either 2025 or 2026.

The project’s total cost will depend on the new State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit that is needed. The plant is allowed to treat up to 3.3 million gallons per day, and the new permit would allow the capacity of 4.5 million gallons per day to get treated.

The application for the upgrade also needs approval from the Delaware River Basin Commission as the plant discharges its treated wastewater into the Neversink River, which is located in the Delaware River Watershed.

Currently, the Town of Thompson is upgrading its sewer plants with costs between $14 million to $27 million. Fallsburg plans to seek grant funding to help pay for the upgrade and also charge residents to help defer the cost.

“Everybody that is connected to the sewer system, regardless of whether or not their waste goes to the South Fallsburg Plant, will pay a share of the upgrade cost,” said Budrock.

She said once the permit is finalized, there will be time for public input on the proposed project and more information on the cost for residents.

As Fallsburg grows with new housing projects being developed, the flow to the South Fallsburg facility has increased. The upgrade will help meet those growing needs, especially during July and August when the population in Fallsburg more than doubles.

The town has established an information website that discusses the upgrades, which can be found at Fallsburgsewerupgrade.wordpress.com.

Furthermore, an information session will be held on Sunday, May 1, at the Senior and Youth Center on 12 Laurel Avenue in South Fallsburg.

The meeting will be an in-person-only meeting and will not be broadcast on Zoom, and an additional presentation from Keystone Engineering will be held on May 9.