Eventually residents in several municipalities are going to see their sewer bills increase because Sharon council voted Thursday to approve a plan to expand the size of the city's sewer plant.

The new plant will cost $20.5 million, said Daniel Goncz, a municipal services group manager with Gannett Fleming Inc., Pittsburgh. The plant will be expanded to treat 8.66 million gallons of sewage a day as opposed to the 4.5 million gallons the plant can treat now, Goncz said.

Sharon had to approve the plan to be compliant with an order by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP ordered Sharon to expand the plant to accommodate the amount of sewage flowing in.

Goncz said the size of the new plant was determined by the amount of usage and growth predictions in Sharon, Hermitage, Sharpsville and South Pymatuning Township.

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