BY JENN McDOWELL

If voters don’t pass an article proposing an expansion of the sewer treatment plant serving Allenstown and Pembroke at this year’s Town Meeting, there can be no more developments in either town.

The plant’s capacity is for 1 million gallons of sewage per day, and, according to Allenstown Sewer Commissioner James Roger, the plant is already running at full capacity – and sometimes over.

The state Department of Environmental Safety served the plant with a moratorium a few years ago, which prevented the plant from taking on any extra sewage.

If someone plans to construct a home or business in Allenstown or Pembroke, expecting to connect to the public sewer system, they are out of luck unless the plant expansion happens.

“As it stands right now, we’ve reached the capacity of the plant, and we can’t add any more service,” Roger said. “If somebody wants a hook up, we can’t give it to them.”

Dana Clemens, superintendent of the plant, said DES has been involved in the plant’s operations since 2000.

A few times over the past few years, the plant has serviced over its capacity per day, he said.

At last year’s Town Meeting, a warrant article asking voters to approve a plant expansion was of no consequence.

According to Roger, Allenstown selectmen did not approve the article last year, but due to printing deadlines, the warrant was still on the ballot and gained some support from voters, even though it didn’t count.

“We’re hopeful that we can get the selectmen behind us, and then we’ll go to the people and try to give them as much info about it as we can,” Clemens said.

Voters will get several opportunities to become familiar with the proposed expansion plan.

“Our consultant engineer is putting together multiple presentations. We intend to present it to the voters at different meetings between now and March,” Clemens said.

Only two people showed up at scheduled public meetings on the issue last year.

In an effort to soften the financial blow the town would take on with the expansion, Clemens said the plant began to take on septage treatment a few years back to earn extra money.

“Three years ago, when the moratorium hit, myself and the Sewer Commission thought we should do whatever we can to try and assist the town in being able to comply with the moratorium and be able to finance an expansion to the treatment plant,” Clemens said.

The septage service did not impact the treatment plant, and funds made from that endeavor have been set aside in a fund for the plant’s expansion.

“Hopefully by the end of next year, we’ll have made the town around a million dollars,” Clemens said.

Also, many town residents have called in complaints about the smell.

Clemens said they used some of the septage revenue to purchase special covers for the septage tanks that would reduce the odor released into the air.

He added that DES has been monitoring the plant’s use of odor controlling chemicals, and has noted improvement in the smell.

“We’re trying to do everything we can to lessen the impact of our operation on the town’s people,” Clemens said.