Sharpsville council Wednesday answered residents’ questions concerning the borough’s water treatment plant and Consumers Pennsylvania Water Co.’s recent offer to buy the plant.

Council revealed at last month’s meeting Consumers had contacted the borough about purchasing the water plant. Money was not mentioned in Consumers’ offer and council has not made a decision. In October, a representative from Consumers toured the facility.

When asked by former council member Gary "Gus" Grandy if the plant was for sale and if council wanted to sell it, Council Vice President Thomas Lally said he did not want to sell it. Councilmen Jack Cardwell and Robert Piccirilli also said they did not want to sell it.

"I’m opposed to selling it. There would have to be some convincing information before I change my mind," Cardwell said.

Grandy asked council to take a good look at the water plant because it brings money into the borough. Solicitor Joe Joseph said the borough does not make a profit on the plant, but the plant generates working capital, which is used to alleviate expenses in the borough without raising taxes.

Lally, sitting in for Council President Alex Kovach, said extensive work had to be done at the plant in order to expand service in South Pymatuning Township. Right now there’s no hurry to expand the plant unless the demand increases in the near future.

Borough Manager Michael Wilson said preliminary engineer’s estimates indicate it would cost about $3 million to build a new plant or $1 million to upgrade the plant. He said the borough was looking into building a new plant before Consumers approached with the offer.

The plant services a portion of South Pymatuning Township, including Dean Dairy Products Co. on Oneida Lane and between 140 to 150 homes in its vicinity.

Wilson said South Pymatuning was set up to be serviced in phases. The service is in Phase 1. Phase 2 would expand the existing system into new housing developments and Phase 3 would take service toward state Route 18.

The plant can produce 1 million gallons of water a day and sells three-fourths of that amount. The plant cannot produce enough water for future expansions, Lally said.

Resident Mark Podralski raised a question about government standards and how long the borough has to update the plant to meet changing standards.

Councilman Guy Moderelli said the plant meets all state and federal standards.

Wilson said the plant is the best it’s ever been and that the water is passed through the most rigorous filtration system the state Department of Environmental Protection has. Wilson said the next big change in government regulations could be in two to three years.

Wilson said the borough has put about $250,000 into the plant in recent years to improve the system and to put in new lines. He said rusty water problems on 8th and 9th streets have been fixed. A rusty water problem on 10th Street that was raised at the May council meeting is being fixed, he said.