Restaurants, unlike private citizens, will not be given a choice of whether to connect to the public water system.
By: Linda Seida
NEW HOPE There’s good news and bad news for the town’s commercial district as the second phase of construction for a new public water system begins.
The good news is the businesses in the heart of the borough will be spared any related disruption until after the holiday season, according to Borough Council President Richard Hirschfield.
Shopkeepers, restaurateurs and others in the commercial district took a direct hit earlier this year when the free bridge that connects the borough to Lambertville closed for repairs five days a week for about six months.
Construction in the commercial district will begin in January, Mr. Hirschfield said.
The bad news is restaurants, unlike private citizens, will not be given a choice of whether to connect to the public water system. Eateries will be required to connect to the system rather than depend on private wells, according to Mr. Hirschfield.
The decision was made earlier this month by the Bucks County Commissioners, which made the ruling based on a recommendation from the Bucks County Department of Health.
A representative of the engineer hired by the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority to oversee the work will be present at Borough Council meetings in the coming months to answer questions and address concerns from borough residents or business owners. The engineer also will report on the progress of the project.
The second phase of construction will include Lower Old York and Sugan roads, Kiltie Drive, Riverstone Circle and Bridge Street north to the Solebury border.
The work will continue through June. Roads will remain open to traffic.
Phase I, completed earlier this year, brought public water to properties along South Main Street to Randolph Street and New, Waterloo, Mechanic and East Ferry streets.
Only a few weeks remain for residents who live along the Phase I route to take advantage of a discounted connection fee offered by the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority. The authority has reduced the fee from $2,950 to $1,500 until Dec. 31.
Residents still must obtain a connection permit from the borough, but the borough has waived the fee for the permit until Dec. 31.
The sewer authority and the borough will offer similar monetary incentives to property owners who hook up along the Phase II route when it is completed later this year, according to Mr. Hirschfield.

